A Homecoming Legacy

February 18, 2021

In Fall of 1957, Ernestine Severini (now Schuh) became what may have been the first ever San Joaquin Memorial High School Homecoming Queen. Schuh remembers the honor vividly. At the time, the school was still divided by gender and it had been up to the boy's side of the school to elect a Queen.

"It was pretty surprising," she said. "You always think no way do I have a chance.
It was so different then. We didn’t have the fancy dresses and all that. We were pep girls and so we were just in our pep girl outfits. They had convertibles and we sat in the convertible and went around the track" (pictured above).

Little did Ernestine know at the time that her reign as Homecoming Queen would kick off a family legacy of Homecoming honors.

Several of Ernestine's children attended San Joaquin Memorial, while many of her grandchildren have also attended. Several grandchildren have been part of the Homecoming court over the years, including Charlie Schuh '03 (Homecoming King), Beaux Schuh '05 (Homecoming King runner up), and Ashlee Schuh '15 (Homecoming Queen candidate). With SJM's homecoming celebrations set for next week, her granddaughters Emily '21 and Gracie '21 are now joining the fold as Homecoming candidates. The court will be acknowledged with a ceremony next Friday, February 26.

“Being chosen by staff and administration to be on the SJM homecoming court is an honor, and knowing my Grandma was one of the first homecoming queens at SJM makes my nomination even more meaningful,” said Emily Schuh.

SJM will celebrate Homecoming next week, February 22 to 26, with rallies, a homecoming court celebration, and lunchtime activities.

Ernestine Schuh believes that, while times have changed since she was at SJM, Homecoming is more important than ever.

"It's so important to promote school spirit," she said. "Wanting to be on the Court gives students something to reach for."

Got homecoming memories of your own you'd like to share? Send them to [email protected]