An explosive thrill of excitement could be heard from Sparks Stadium’s student section, where the Homecoming game takes place. The drum line speeds up in tempo, beating throughout the entire stadium and within each student as they chant in unison “Purple Power.”  

Senior Grant Huson knows this all too well, as he believes that school spirit is a crucial part of building community. A purple and gold community that extends beyond the school walls and spreads out into the neighborhood. This palpable sense of school spirit. 

“School Spirit, to me, is getting involved with your school,” Huson said. “It can take many different forms. It could be being in the Leadership class, going to a sports game, or going to after-school events, being in clubs.” 

Huson believes that there are so many ways a person can show their spirit at school.  

“But I think the important part about school spirit is that you show it,” Huson said. “That can be difficult for some because they can be shy, where they don’t want to go to things, and they don’t want to reach out too much. But I think it’s important, because once you do that, you get more involved with your school, you meet new people, and you overall, just have a better time in high school.”  

According to Huson, the main reason he has school spirit is because he likes to encourage others to get excited about things. 

 “High school can be kind of a drag sometimes, and so I try and use my school spirit to get other people more spirited and get them more excited to come to school, do the activities, go to sports games and be involved with their school,” Huson said.  

Many people know Huson as “Purple Guy,” what he describes as a physical embodiment of school spirit. He shows up decked out in purple and gold, screaming and jumping up and down in the student section. But regardless of the situation, whether he shows up as the ‘Purple Guy’ or Grant Huson, he never stops finding ways to show his school spirit.  

“My favorite way to show my spirit is being ‘Purple Guy’,” Huson said. “I dress up in purple and gold with a Viking helmet on. I’m almost like a physical representation of spirit. People like to see that because they think it’s funny. I will get super spirited, and I will get loud at sports games, so I like to show my spirit that way. But also in other ways, I like to match the theme usually, So, if I’m not ‘Purple Guy,’ I’m usually rocking along with the theme.”  

Huson believes it’s important to encourage enthusiasm among students because high school can be challenging. 

“I feel like I need people to be more excited because high school is boring and difficult sometimes, so when I get down on myself because of high school, a thing that helps me is going to a sports game or getting involved with a school or being spirited in some way, that usually helps me. So, I figured that if I get other people to do the same thing, we can have a better school community,” Huson said. 

As this year’s drum major, senior Licy Alejandre says school spirit exemplifies her experience in band, leadership roles and admiration for passionate peers. Alejandre says her favorite event has been leading and conducting the band during the pre- game marching performance at football games.  

“I’m drum major this year so being able to conduct the band and leading them by marching before the football game has been my favorite thing,” Alejandre said. 

 Alejandre says that being able to participate in band has given her the opportunity to demonstrate school spirit through their musical performances at football and basketball games, allowing them to be an integral part of school spirit. 

 “I would say being in band has allowed me to express school spirit through our performances in the football and basketball games, allowing us to be a part of something that’s like the center of school spirit,” Alejandre said. 

Alejandre thinks that school spirit can be shown in various aspects, but at its core it’s about being engaged in any school-related activity, regardless of its scale, and approaching it with genuine enthusiasm.  

“I think school spirit is a lot of things, but I think just being a part of something no matter how big or small it is and always doing it with a passion shows school spirit,” Alejandre said. “For me it means participating and building relationships with those around me being in sports, band, and clubs has truly helped me build relationships and be a part of something school related.” 

Senior Leila Surratt says that she finds her school spirit through active participation in the HOSA club and her enthusiasm for her nursing assistant club. 

“What gives me school spirit is being able to do stuff for HOSA club and coming to school to do my nursing assistant class,” Surratt said.  

Surratt says that she particularly enjoys her school spirit by engaging in club activities, which allows her to collaborate with others and contribute to event decorations. 

“My favorite way to show school spirit is being able to participate in clubs because I get to work with people and being able to help decorate for events,” Surrat said.  

As a sophomore, Jakub Kruse says that school spirit to him is about embracing your school’s community, participating in traditions like spirit days and football games, and showing pride and enthusiasm for your community through active engagement and support. Kruse says that school spirit is about demonstrating pride in one’s school through active effort. 

“I think school spirit is trying to show people that you take pride in attending the school you do. It’s about showing enthusiasm and pride, as well as support for friends and others. It’s about being a part of school traditions and being engaged in the school’s community as well as supporting it,” Kruse said. 

 According to Kruse, you are not given school spirit, but it is a mindset that grows over time and brings connection and community. 

“I don’t think anything necessarily gives me school spirit but its more about your mindset and perspective of the school and its community,” Kruse said. “I think for me, it’s the fact I know so many people here and get along with them, that lets me take pride in attending PHS.”  

Kruse says that for him color spirit and football games that follow them are highlighted as significant events for school spirit.  

“The event that I think that has the most spirit is either the color spirit days or the football games that follow those spirit days. Dressing up doesn’t require a lot of effort so many people do it and at the games, everyone’s there just to have fun and support our football team which makes a kind of sense of community. Personally, I like to show my spirit by dressing up for spirit days and try to work with leadership to organize events and activities for the school,” Kruse said.