The Washington Township Schools Foundation welcomed a record-breaking 1,800 students members of our WT community to our annual Homecoming Tailgate on Friday, September 25, 2026, including families, faculty, staff, and alumni.

After several years at the softball field due to campus construction, the celebration relocated to the beautiful lawn behind the tennis courts overlooking North Central’s football stadium. The expansive space provided the perfect backdrop for one of the largest Homecoming Tailgates in Foundation history.

School Spirit in the Spotlight

To kick off the evening, local celebrity and WISH-TV personality Anthony Calhoun (AC) joined the North Central student section for an exciting school spirit competition. Students showed off their Panther pride with a student DJ, cheerleaders, acrobatic stunts, and plenty of enthusiasm as they competed for the coveted “Zone Banner.”

The energy continued throughout the evening with music from Red Squad Entertainment and performances from cheerleaders representing all three educational levels: Willow Lake Elementary, Northview Middle School, and North Central High School. 

As always, the Marching Panthers, led by Mr. Brinkman, carried on the beloved tradition of leading the band and cheerleaders on a spirited march through the tailgate and into the football stadium.

A Celebration Around Every Corner

The energy continued throughout the evening with music from Red Squad Entertainment and performances from cheerleaders representing all three educational levels: Willow Lake Elementary, Northview Middle School, and North Central High School. As always, the Marching Panthers, led by Mr. Brinkman, carried on the beloved tradition of leading the band and cheerleaders on a spirited march through the tailgate and into the football stadium.

One of the event’s most popular attractions was the Passport Trail, featuring 15 activity stations hosted by community organizations and Foundation sponsors, including Body Outfitters, Holland Orthodontics, Mathnasium of Nora, and Raising Cane’s. Participants who collected stamps from at least 10 stations earned fun prizes distributed by our dedicated Alumni Committee volunteers.

Once a Panther, Always a Panther

Homecoming is also a special opportunity to welcome Panther alumni back to campus. This year, the Foundation hosted reunion tables for the Classes of 1966, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006. Alumni gathered to reconnect, share memories, and take part in another cherished tradition: the annual alumni group photo.

Additional alumni-focused activities included partner tables hosted by alumni-owned businesses and organizations, including Cruise Planners and the Children’s Policy & Law Initiative of Indiana.

The Future of Panther Pride

Current Panthers also showcased their talents and interests through a variety of student-led booths and demonstrations. Event attendees enjoyed presentations from organizations such as the National Chinese Honor Society and Chinese Club, the NOBCChE STEM Club, the North Central Latin Club, North Central & Northside Lacrosse, and the North Central Softball Team.

The North Central Class of 2030 celebrated its first Homecoming with a tent of its own. The first 100 freshmen who stopped by received a gray class-color bandana to wear to the game, creating a visible display of freshman pride throughout the evening.

One District, One Tailgate

The J. Everett Light Career Center once again served up crowd-pleasing tailgate favorites, including cheeseburgers and hot dogs, while also offering trendy dirty sodas. A fan favorite was the Strawberry Shortcake mocktail, featuring cheesecake syrup, whipped cream, and real strawberries.

All 14 Washington Township schools were represented at this year’s event, including the new Washington Township Online Academy. The Early Learning Center also made an expanded appearance thanks to a Foundation grant that funded a branded tent and tablecloth. The ELC used the occasion to introduce its new mascot, Cappy the Caterpillar, who quickly became a crowd favorite.

Mascot Mania

All of the district mascots generated excitement with the debut of Mascot Trading Cards, creating a new collectible tradition for students and families. The question on everyone’s mind: Who will be the first to collect the complete set?

The excitement carried over into halftime of the North Central football game, when 611 fan votes determined the starting order for the second annual Mascot Race. Panther Pete and Foundation President Kenda Friend held the finish-line ribbon as district mascots raced toward the goalposts. The competition featured Cappy the Caterpillar, Chompy the Gator, Howie the Husky, Wilson the Wildcat, Phineas the Fox, Groovy Grizzly, Jewel the Panther Cub, Barkley the Bulldog, Leo the Lion, Eddie the Eagle, Frankie the Falcon, and Westy the Wildcat.

For the second consecutive year, Chompy the Gator sprinted to victory, fueled by enthusiastic support from Allisonville Elementary fans.

The Power of Community

The Washington Township Schools Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to our Masters- and Graduate-Level Sponsors whose support makes this free community celebration possible:

• Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
• Business Furniture + Co
• Central Security & Communications
• Huntington Learning Center
• Schmidt Associates
• Searles, Akers, Howard Wealth Management Group

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable evening of Panther pride, community connection, and Homecoming traditions. We can’t wait to see you next year!

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