The Royal

The Student News Site of Hempfield Area High School

The Royal

The Royal

The Final Moments
The Final Moments
May 15, 2024
The Last Ride
The Last Ride
May 8, 2024

She Said, “Yes!”

HOCO Proposals Begin
Jayci+Stape+with+HOCO+date+Darren+Ruffin
Mrs. Ashley Testa
Jayci Stape with HOCO date Darren Ruffin
Ruffin poses under his HOCO Proposal in the high school cafeteria. (Mrs. Ashley Testa)

Senior Darren Ruffin took a big chance asking Jayci Stape to homecoming in front of a cafeteria full of students. With the help of teachers and administrators, Stape was ushered to the cafeteria where the TVs read, “Forget touchdowns; I want to score a date to homecoming with you.”

Surprised but happy, Stape said yes, and cheers erupted from the students eating lunch.  We can’t wait to see this couple all dressed up on homecoming night.

Are you planning to ask someone to homecoming? Send pictures or videos into The Royal so we can capture the HOCO Proposals as we await homecoming weekend and the big dance on October 14, 2023.

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About the Contributor
Alyssa Manderach
Spartan pride runs deep for Alyssa Manderach, who is originally an Ocean City, Maryland native. She has spent the last 7 years working to embrace what it means to be a part of Hempfield Area. The Royal has been a dedicated passion of hers since she started writing for it two years ago during her sophomore year. Her work preserving events and memories for the newspaper has pushed her to pursue a career in journalism after graduating from college. Much of her time is also spent volunteering and working with the school as president of United Spartans. Between her time in these organizations, as well as many other clubs and honor societies, she has seen the opportunities to volunteer with local organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Beverly's Birthdays, and Westmoreland County Food Bank. Her plans for the upcoming years involve attending a four-year university, studying communications with a focus on media, so that hopefully she can enter the journalism field as a writer or editor.