"LIGHTING OF THE CC" TOUTS COUGAR PRIDE DURING HOMECOMING WEEK

Candles and electric lights form the words of Cypress Creek’s 2015 homecoming theme, “House of Blue,” at the annual “Lighting of the CCs” event on Sept. 16. (Photo courtesy Amber Stephens)
 
By Hala Khan, Cypress Creek HS 

Sept. 21, 2015—Cypress Creek High School held its fourth annual “Lighting of the CCs” event on Sept. 16 at Pridgeon Stadium in advance of the Cougars’ homecoming game and dance.

The event was free to the public, and students and other guests were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items that were donated to the Houston Food Bank. The school has collected more than six tons of food in the past four years. This year’s “Lighting of the CCs” marked a special moment for the class of 2016, as it was the first class to have the tradition in all four years of high school.

Cypress Creek students anticipate the lighting of candles and electric lights at the “Lighting of the CCs” event on Sept. 16 at Pridgeon Stadium. (Photo by Grace Grantham, Cypress Creek HS)
The event showcases the students’ school pride that goes along with their homecoming week by highlighting sports teams and extracurricular groups, and ends with a finale of the lighting of candles and electric lights to spell out the annual theme, “House of Blue.”

Varsity cheer coach and Government AP teacher Nicole LeClaire started the tradition for Cypress Creek.

The lit-up letters for Cypress Creek’s homecoming theme, “House of Blue,” illuminate Pridgeon Stadium on Sept. 16. (Photo courtesy Amber Stephens)

“It was a tradition that I brought from my high school in El Paso; they did something similar to it and I always enjoyed it when I was in high school," she said. “It became such a popular idea that I had to start coordinating with the district to move it to Pridgeon, and now we’re in here.”

After seeing how far the tradition has come, LeClaire said she is extremely proud.

“It was my idea, but it couldn’t happen without everyone coming together to make it work,” she said. “I’m extremely proud of everyone helping to put it together, from the setup, to the performances to the food drive—I think it’s really, really cool.”

Sophomore band member Scott Williams said the event plays an important part in Cypress Creek’s school pride.

“I like going to see all the different groups and a bunch of different performances, and seeing all the other extracurricular groups at Creek,” he said. “I think it definitely reminds people a lot about homecoming and gets them really hyped up for it.”

Cypress Creek Silverados drill team members perform for the crowd in attendance at the annual “Lighting of the CCs” at Pridgeon Stadium on Sept. 16. (Photo by Grace Grantham, Cypress Creek HS)

Senior Silverados drill team member and Homecoming queen nominee Meredith Bowman praised the school collecting more than six tons of food in four years.

“We collect perishable goods that we get to give to people who need it,” she said. ‘It shows our spirit and we all have tons of fun out here on the field and then when all the lights turn off and you see it all lit up, it’s so pretty.”

Associate Principal Rashad Godbolt said he’s thankful to the Cougar Nation for coming out and always being supportive.

“It’s no accident that when you become the number one student body in the country that you have to start certain traditions,” he said. “’Lighting of the CCs’ has become a major tradition to help us prepare ourselves as one of the best student sections across the country.”

Members of the Cypress Creek marching band perform at the annual “Lighting of the CCs” event at Pridgeon Stadium on Sept. 16. (Photo by Grace Grantham, Cypress Creek HS)

The event shows a sense of pride and community, according to LeClaire.

“It’s just one night for us to come together and celebrate being Cy Creek and showcasing our kids,” she said. “It’s Creek’s tradition, nobody else does it; it's ours and that makes me very proud to see the students and community get excited about it and I just love it. It’s ours. We own it.”