Hutchinson High School transformed its annual homecoming parade into a vibrant celebration of the 1980s last week, featuring elaborate floats and nostalgic themes. The event showcased a giant cassette tape, a Tetris game on wheels, and the iconic Ectomobile from “Ghostbusters,” captivating students and faculty alike. The school, which lacks a traditional football team, has created a unique homecoming tradition since 2008, celebrating student creativity through themed floats designed by various Career Clusters.
The event is the brainchild of Ben Johnson, an Arts and Audio/Visual teacher, who noted the school’s distinctive approach to homecoming. “We were seeing other schools have homecoming but with no football team, we never had a reason to,” Johnson explained. Each of the five major Career Clusters—Automotive, Arts and A/V Technology & Communications, Information Technology (IT), Architecture and Construction, and Health Science—competes by designing and building floats that reflect both their field and the parade theme. This year’s focus on the 1980s inspired a full fleet of vehicles inspired by the classic film “Tron,” self-driven creations from the automotive cluster, and even a life-sized Pac-Man.
Students from the Arts and A/V cluster brought the 1980s to life with a display featuring famous musicians and Billboard Top 100 hits. In a playful twist, the Architecture and Construction cluster showcased a handmade arcade game while the IT cluster programmed a live version of Tetris. The Health Science cluster contributed with a creatively repurposed hearse-ambulance, adding a ghoulish element to the festivities.
Junior Axel Bauther, donned in a teased hairstyle reminiscent of Madonna, expressed enthusiasm for the event. “To see the end product of everyone else’s creativity and ideas come together into one amazing presentation like this is so fun,” Bauther said. Each cluster is provided with a shopping cart to incorporate into their designs, a tradition that has evolved over the years. Originally loaned by a local parent, these carts have become a staple, with students creatively repurposing them for their floats.
As a senior, Tempest Dooley is participating in her last homecoming. Her Health cluster prepared extensively, even ordering authentic Ghostbusters flight suits complete with proton packs. “Our poster was done by some of our best artists, and it’s based off the original ‘Ghostbusters’ design, like the cartoon,” Dooley remarked, highlighting the collaborative effort involved.
The competition for the coveted trophy, topped with a gold-painted Barbie shopping cart, has become a highlight of the event. Rhonda Pemberton, a judge for this year’s parade, shared her difficulty in judging the floats. “I’ve never done it before and I’m having a hard time not giving everyone 10s,” she said, reflecting the impressive creativity on display.
The Automotive cluster claimed the grand prize this year, marking their sixth win overall, the most of any cluster. “One-fifth of the school is very happy and the other four-fifths are all screaming controversy,” Johnson noted, adding a light-hearted perspective to the competitive spirit.
On 21 November 2023, students lined the halls to watch the floats parade around the school, cheering and catching candy before heading into the gym for a homecoming assembly. Leading up to the event, the school hosts a spirit week, culminating in a homecoming dance on Friday night.
“The uniqueness of Hutch is the bonding of the kids around their career clusters,” Johnson said. This collaboration across grades and classes fosters a sense of community, enhancing the overall school experience. “You’ll see a real bond formed over all of these grand events that makes that community and that family, that is Hutch, so special,” he concluded, emphasizing the event’s significance in building lasting connections among students.
