September 26, 2004

Students to cast e-votes for royalty

   DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

Hays Daily News

Students at Hays High School are making use of their laptopcomputers in more ways than one. This week, they even will vote online for the homecoming king and queen. The crowning of the 2004 royalty will be one of the highlights for this week's HHS homecoming, which begins today with girls playing football in "powder puff" games and boys playing volleyball matches. In a technology initiative this year, every student at Hays High was issued an Apple iBook laptopcomputer at enrollment. The senior class nominates five candidates for king and five for queen for homecoming, and the entire student body will vote for king and queen on their computers during school this week. "The seniors experimented with this when they nominated the candidates," HHS Principal Mike Hester said. "... the results were instantaneous. That's good, and it also takes care of all the confidential issues, who's counting votes, etc." Homecoming activities continue all week and will culminate Friday, beginning with a formal assembly in Gym A at 12:15 p.m. Homecoming candidates are introduced at the assembly. "It's a chance to showcase each candidate," Hester said, "while they have their families there with them." King candidates are Clayton Betts, Ben Clinkscales, Scott Phillips, Daniel Younger and Kyle Younger. Queen candidates are Kaci Cook, Danielle Gabel, Morgan Shoaff, Stacia Straub and Nicole Tillman.

Reporter Diane Gasper-O'Brien can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 126, or by e-mail at dobrien@dailynews.net.