NMCC Eagles soar at homecoming

The 2024 homecoming queen and her court are all smiles prior to the start of the New Madrid County Central High School's homecoming football game. Pictured from left are: Ella Kate Courtois, sophomore maid; Taylor Shaw, senior maid; homecoming queen Destiny Hughes; Allie Kenedy, senior homecoming maid; Emma Howard, junior maid; and Emmaline Underwood, freshman maid. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

NEW MADRID, Mo. - The New Madrid County Central High School 2024 homecoming theme was “Ride the Wave to an Eagle Victory!” This year the NMCC Eagles football team certainly did with a commanding 62-14 victory over the Malden Green Wave.

Prior to the game, was the introduction of the 2024 football royalty and the crowning of Destiny Hughes as this year’s queen.

Hughes is the daughter of Lee Hughes and Marsha Howard. A member of the NMCC softball, basketball and volleyball teams, she is also vice president of the Student Council and the National Honor Society. In addition she is a member of Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The New Madrid County Central High School Eagles prepare to start their game against the Malden Green Wave by breaking through the cheerleaders' banner on Friday night. The Eagles would go on to win the Oct. 11 homecoming game against Malden 62-14. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Hughes was escorted by Cee Closheim, the son of Frank and Barbara Closhiem. A foreign exchange student from Germany, Closheim is a member of the NMCC football, basketball and track teams and a member of the Student Council.

Crowning the 2024 homecoming queen was Shawna Robinson, the 2023 football homecoming queen and a 2024 graduate of NMCC. Currently Robinson is attending Three Rivers College where she is a cheerleader and majoring in nursing.

Her escort during the ceremony was Zack Gamblin, a senior on the football and track teams. Gamblin is the son of Carolyn Rangel.

Some of the members of the New Madrid County Central High School Class of 1994 returned for their 30th reunion as part of the NMCC football homecoming on Oct. 11. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Serving as the senior maids were Allie Kenedy and Taylor Shaw.

The daughter of Gary and Christie Kenedy, Kenedy is president of Future Business Leaders of American and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Also she is secretary of the National Art Honor Society and historian of the Student Council as well as being a member of the Beta Club, 4.0 Club and the Nest.

Escorting Kenedy was Connor Henderson, son of Jim and Sarah Henderson. Henderson is a member of the NMCC wrestling and track teams, the marching band, the 4.0 Club and secretary of the Beta Club.

A member of Future Business Leaders of America Beta Club, Student Council, band, National Honor Society and the varsity cheerleading squad, Shaw is the daughter of Jerry and Toshia Shaw.

Shaw’s escort was Trae Hydle, son of Nichole Hydle. He is a member of the football and track teams and the Beta Club.

This year’s junior maid was Emma Howard. The daughter of Clarence Howard and Paula Barnett, Howard is an NMCC cheerleader and a member of the volleyball and softball teams. Her other activities include Student Council, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Beta Club.

Malakhi Hughes escorted Howard. A member of the NMCC football, basketball and track teams, Hughs is also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta Club and Student Council. He is the son of Lee Hughes and Marsha Howard.

Ella Kate Courtois, the daughter of Joe and Amber Courtois, served as the sophomore maid. A member of the NMCC softball team, Courtois also is involved in Student Council and Future Farmers of America.

Escorting Courtois was Nolan Mungle, the son of Heather Medlin and Shannon Mungle. A member of the NMCC football and golf teams, Mungle is also a member of Future Farmers of America.

Freshman maid Emmaline Underwood is the daughter of Josh and Lou Underwood. She is a member of Student Council, Beta Club, Future Farmers of America and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Serving as her escort was Jake Roach, son of Rae Jean Haines. Roach is a member of the school’s track and football teams.

From Oct. 7 through 14, the New Madrid County Central High School Student Council hosted a variety of spirit contests for students.

Taking top honors in the spirit dress competition were the NMCC seniors followed by the sophomores in second place, juniors in third place and freshmen in fourth place. The parade winners were the sophomores. Second place went to the juniors, third place to the freshmen and fourth place to the seniors.

At the pep rally, the juniors were named number one with second place going to the seniors followed by third place to the freshmen and fourth place to the sophomores.

The overall honors were awarded to the NMCC junior class. Tied for second place were the sophomore and seniors with the freshmen class placing fourth.