At first, junior Jeremiah Head tried out to be a mascot because it meant he could get his required fine art credit out of the way.
Mascotting, however, ended up being something much more than just a credit for Head. He found unique ways to express himself throughout the years, and it gave him an opportunity to be silly.
“I thought it could be pretty fun, because I like to mess around with people,” Head said. “So I thought it could be fun to mess around and get a credit out of the way.”
This year, Head became an All-American mascot during the NCA cheer camp at the Moody Garden Center in Galveston. He was then invited to participate in the halftime show for the Citrus Bowl in Orlando with other All-American mascots from across the country. He performed at halftime of the game between the University of Texas and the University of Michigan.
“The feeling I had standing in the tunnel of the Citrus Bowl stadium was crazy,” Head said. “I cannot believe how many people were about to watch me, of all people, perform.”
Mascotting was overwhelming at times, but Head was always able to balance the responsibilities that came along with it. He showed up in his mascot gear to work at Powder Puff games, Senior Sunset, football games and more.
“By the end of the first season, he was having a really good time,” said his mom Theresa Robison, a math teacher on campus. “He’s very committed to it.”
There is a lot of balance that has to be there in order for mascots to be a representative for the whole student body and then to also be a student in general.
Luckily for Head, mascot duties are split with multiple students. Sophomore Bennie Sweet, freshman Owen Carpenter and senior Ella Yarbrough are the other mascots that help out with school events. If there are multiple events on the same day, they can split up. They are also able to work certain nights so others can have the day off.
Each mascot has their own event and plan laid out for each week.
“It is neat to watch them be the mascots and interact with the entire student body,” Robison said. “They’ve gotten so much more involved, because Ms. (sponsor Natalie) Johnson wanted them to not just to be football. She wanted them to be the face of KPark.”
What started as a way to get a fine art credit out of the way, turned out to be one of the most fulfilling things Head could be involved in during high school. Mascotting is considered a fine art because of its connection with cheer, which incorporates dancing. Cheer is also an athletic credit. So, Head’s participation knocked out both graduation requirements.
“Mascotting has probably been the most fun experience I’ve had,” Head said. “All the people I get to meet and the memories I have are unforgettable. I had my ‘I made it moment’ (at the Citrus Bowl) and to this day, I still haven’t forgotten that feeling.”
