Homecoming Ceremony 2024

Gianna Viso, Staff Writer • November 19, 2024

On Oct. 25, 2024, Becton Regional High School’s annual Homecoming Ceremony was held at Riggin Field, where Becton played against Saint Mary’s High School.

Each year, Becton holds a ceremony to recognize six students as Homecoming Royalty. To be nominated for Homecoming King or Queen, candidates should exhibit an authentic enthusiasm and spirit for our school, actively participate in clubs and extracurricular activities, and demonstrate leadership qualities. The nomination poll was active for four days and open to all students, then students voted school-wide again based on the top six students nominated. Conclusively, this year’s court members were Alyson Alcantara, Rachel Chen, Katie Bosica, Daniel Lorusso, Jonathan Palsi and Brandon Osorio.

Some of the Student Council members who helped decorate the float!

To ensure a seamless ceremony, Ms. Daniella Polmann, Student Council Advisor, and Ms. Jessica O’Driscoll, Student Activities Coordinator, take several careful steps in preparation. First, Ms. Polmann collects votes to determine the court members, and later the King and Queen. Once the top six nominees are set in stone, she gathers a biography from each individual to be read aloud at the ceremony as well as crafts a ceremony script for the annoucer.

Next, Ms. Polmann arranges for the flowers and crowns. The Queen’s flowers are sourced from Bill O’Shea’s Flowers, while Anderson’s provides the crowns and tiaras. As the big day approaches, Ms. Polmann and the Student Council work tirelessly to ensure a flawless ceremony. They carefully coordinate the New York City-themed dance and the blackout game, incorporating black-dipped red roses adorned with embellished diamonds, all while putting the final touches on the float to create a truly memorable celebration.

The ceremony begins at halftime, where all six nominees gather on a float and are driven around the track, allowing them to be celebrated and admired by the audience. Each nominee is introduced with a brief biography, read aloud for the audience, before the King and Queen are announced.

Katie Boscia and Brandon Osorio– our 2024 Homecoming King and Queen!

Seniors Katie Boscia and Brandon Osorio took the stage as they were crowned Becton’s 2024 Homecoming King and Queen.

Boscia is a Varisty Cheerleader at Becton, but outside of school, Boscia has dedicated nearly 15 years to gymnastics, including 12 years competing on a Junior Olympic team. Her extensive experience demonstrates her commitment, discipline, and perseverance in the sport. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Boscia holds a USA Safety and Risk Management certification and currently works as a gymnastics coach. This highlights her leadership skills, responsibility, and passion for mentoring others.

Reflecting on her achievement of Homecoming Queen, Boscia expressed her pride, “I feel happy and proud of myself because being Homecoming Queen has been a goal of mine since my sophomore year.”

Osorio is an active member and captain of the Varsity Football Team, as well as a member of the Track and Field Team. Outside of school, he mentors and trains younger athletes at the gym. His motto is to “strive day-by-day for self-improvement, aiming to be better than who I was yesterday.” Achieving a distinguished title among his peers has always been a goal for him, and he is incredibly grateful for the opportunity, calling it “one of the most meaningful moments of my life.”

Homecoming Court Royalty: Alyson Alcantara and Daniel Lorusso!

Becton’s first runners-up were seniors Alyson Alcantara and Daniel Lorusso.

Alcantara is deeply involved in extracurricular activities, actively participating in the Environmental Club, Horticultural Club, Paw Club and Latinos Club. She also plays on the Varsity Girls’ Soccer and Basketball teams. Outside of school, Alcantara organizes charity soccer matches and dedicates her time to community service. Alcantara describes the ceremony as a highly enjoyable experience, “I enjoyed hearing and seeing my friends cheering for us in the stands, as well as supporting my peers alongside me.”

Lorusso, known for his participation on the BRHS baseball team, also works at a local restaurant and volunteers at his grandmother’s food pantry. He described the atmosphere of the ceremony as “awesome,” recalling the excitement of the “feel-good moment” when everyone cheered him on. Lorusso believes his nomination was a result of his kindness. Reflecting on his time at Becton, he shared, “Becton means a lot to me. These past four years have been amazing. It has been so special to meet new people and make memories.”

Homecoming Court Royalty: Rachel Chen and Jonathan Palsi!

Second runner-ups were Rachel Chen and Jonathan Palsi.

Chen is actively engaged in her community. She is the president and an active participant in Becton’s Unified Club. She demonstrates leadership and teamwork through her collaboration on fundraisers, field trips, and other club activities. Additionally, her work at her family’s restaurant highlights her strong work ethic and commitment to her family.

Chen recalls the ceremony as welcoming, “The homecoming ceremony made everyone feel included and get a chance in the spotlight.” To Chen, Becton has brought her nothing but positive and great opportunities.

A well-rounded athlete, Palsi has excelled across multiple sports, showcasing his leadership as a two-time Varsity Football Captain while also contributing to the Basketball and Track and Field teams. Palsi was even awarded NJIC Player of the Week in his senior year for football, after overcoming a substantial injury to his collarbone last season. His peers’ decision to nominate him reflects the respect and admiration they have for his resilience, highlighting his dedicated character.

Palsi beleives he was nominated because he treats the underclassment with respect, “I try to give them advice on how improve.” He additionally shares that he was honored to be standing next to the other nominees who are especially friendly and kind. Overall, he felt the ceremony was well-organized and enjoyable, offering a chance to reflect and take a meaningful break from the intensity of the game.

Overall, the members of the Homecoming Court were both honored and excited to be recognized by their peers and classmates. Congratulations to our 2024 Homecoming Royalty Court!

About the Contributor

Gianna Viso, Staff Writer

Gianna Viso is currently a senior at Becton, and this is her first year writing for The Cat's Eye View! Viso's friends would describe her as very talkative, extroverted, friendly and a kind person. Viso chose journalism as a way to express her social nature and showcase her interests. Currently a Varsity Cheerleader, a Boys' Baseball Manager, and a member of the Prom Committee during her junior year, it is clear that Viso enjoys staying busy. Her outgoing personality shines through, especially since she won Prom Princess last year! Viso loves to spend time with friends and family, as well as listen to music. Her favorite musical artist is SZA but she enjoys all kinds of genres. Another fun fact about Viso is that she is actually the last of four Viso siblings to graduate from BRHS! Viso is still uncertain about her future career path in college, but she has been working at a popular coffee spot in the community, Red Kettle, for about a year now and loves it! Viso truly appreciates the strong work ethic she has developed at Red Kettle, valuing the skills and dedication it has instilled in her. So, if you are in need of a hot cup of coffee to energize your study sessions, stop by and let Viso share her top recommendations! We are excited to see Viso "perk up" the CEV!