New tradition helps grow Patriot Pride

  • An OCES student high-fives OCHS football player Lance Ellefson as another OCES student guides him through the Patriot Pride drop-off line. “When it started, we figured, let’s just have this amount of players come out, this amount of cheerleaders come out. Now it’s more that they all want to be a part of it,” said athletic booster club president Janine Campbell about the growing popularity of the Patriot Pride Drop-off.
    An OCES student high-fives OCHS football player Lance Ellefson as another OCES student guides him through the Patriot Pride drop-off line. “When it started, we figured, let’s just have this amount of players come out, this amount of cheerleaders come out. Now it’s more that they all want to be a part of it,” said athletic booster club president Janine Campbell about the growing popularity of the Patriot Pride Drop-off.
  • An OCES student high-fives football player Jake Huff while holding a bag of snacks and a Pokémon card. The kids are greeted by the players and cheerleaders right as they step out of the car every Friday morning. (Photo/Walker Durham)
    An OCES student high-fives football player Jake Huff while holding a bag of snacks and a Pokémon card. The kids are greeted by the players and cheerleaders right as they step out of the car every Friday morning. (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • [Left to Right] Cheerleaders: Malia McCalla, Jenna Harvey, Ava Hughes and Dulciana Miranda, and OCHS football players Jake Huff, JD Armour, Justin Wilson, Lance Ellefson and Coleton Sexton pose along the entryway leading into the OCES building. The students try to arrive around 7:25 a.m. on Friday mornings and greet the kids until the morning announcements begin. (Photo/Walker Durham)
    [Left to Right] Cheerleaders: Malia McCalla, Jenna Harvey, Ava Hughes and Dulciana Miranda, and OCHS football players Jake Huff, JD Armour, Justin Wilson, Lance Ellefson and Coleton Sexton pose along the entryway leading into the OCES building. The students try to arrive around 7:25 a.m. on Friday mornings and greet the kids until the morning announcements begin. (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • OCHS football player Jake Huff bites into his little sister Emmie Kay's breakfast at the Patriot Pride Drop-off line last Friday morning. The weekly greeting brings together Oglethorpe County students of all ages, even those in the same family.
    OCHS football player Jake Huff bites into his little sister Emmie Kay's breakfast at the Patriot Pride Drop-off line last Friday morning. The weekly greeting brings together Oglethorpe County students of all ages, even those in the same family.
  • OCHS football player Lance Ellefson prepares to high-five an OCES student as they walk through the patriot pride line. ”For the players, it gives them a sense of pride,” said Janine Campbell, President of the Athletic Booster Club. It makes them, you know, to these little kids, their heroes, their hometown heroes.” (Photo/Walker Durham)
    OCHS football player Lance Ellefson prepares to high-five an OCES student as they walk through the patriot pride line. ”For the players, it gives them a sense of pride,” said Janine Campbell, President of the Athletic Booster Club. It makes them, you know, to these little kids, their heroes, their hometown heroes.” (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • Photos and videos of the Patriot Pride Drop-off are posted on social media each week, and the reaction has been extremely positive. “The parents of the kids that are being posted love it, and they comment back how their kids can’t wait for Friday now, and they look forward to it,” said Campbell. (Photo/Walker Durham)
    Photos and videos of the Patriot Pride Drop-off are posted on social media each week, and the reaction has been extremely positive. “The parents of the kids that are being posted love it, and they comment back how their kids can’t wait for Friday now, and they look forward to it,” said Campbell. (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • OCES students Jennifer and Caitlyn Bond greet an OCHS cheerleader. “I love it,” said cheerleader Nevaeh Calhoun. “It’s like giving back to the community, because if I was their age when I was little, and I saw cheerleaders and football players want to give me a high-five, I’d probably think I was the coolest person ever.”
    OCES students Jennifer and Caitlyn Bond greet an OCHS cheerleader. “I love it,” said cheerleader Nevaeh Calhoun. “It’s like giving back to the community, because if I was their age when I was little, and I saw cheerleaders and football players want to give me a high-five, I’d probably think I was the coolest person ever.”
  • An OCES student high-fives OCHS football player Jake Huff at the Patriot Pride drop-off line. “For the players, it gives them a sense of pride,” said Campbell. “It makes them, you know, to these little kids, their heroes, their hometown heroes.” (Photo/Walker Durham)
    An OCES student high-fives OCHS football player Jake Huff at the Patriot Pride drop-off line. “For the players, it gives them a sense of pride,” said Campbell. “It makes them, you know, to these little kids, their heroes, their hometown heroes.” (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • An OCES student looks up at OCHS Defensive Coordinator Mike Campbell as she winds up her high-five. Campbell was a part of the tradition when he was a football player at the school, and he, along with Janine Campbell and the Athletic Booster Club, was inspired to reignite the tradition for the next generation of players and kids. They met with the OCES administration and the cheerleading coaches to bring the drop-off to life. (Photo/Walker Durham)
    An OCES student looks up at OCHS Defensive Coordinator Mike Campbell as she winds up her high-five. Campbell was a part of the tradition when he was a football player at the school, and he, along with Janine Campbell and the Athletic Booster Club, was inspired to reignite the tradition for the next generation of players and kids. They met with the OCES administration and the cheerleading coaches to bring the drop-off to life. (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • Football players Brett Liedberg, JD Armour, Justin Wilson, Lance Ellefson and Coleton Sexton, along with cheerleader Nevaeh Calhoun, stand in line, awaiting student drop-offs. “I think they’re like expecting it every Friday, or like almost every Friday, and they, like, get excited,” said Calhoun about the impact the weekly greeting has on the kids. (Photo/Walker Durham)
    Football players Brett Liedberg, JD Armour, Justin Wilson, Lance Ellefson and Coleton Sexton, along with cheerleader Nevaeh Calhoun, stand in line, awaiting student drop-offs. “I think they’re like expecting it every Friday, or like almost every Friday, and they, like, get excited,” said Calhoun about the impact the weekly greeting has on the kids. (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • Maggie Blumenshine, an OCES student wearing an Ella Langley shirt, high-fives OCHS football player Jake Huff at the Patriot Pride Drop-Off last Friday. The tradition existed in the past, according to athletic booster club president Janine Campbell, but it wasn’t until this football season that the team decided to bring the tradition back.
    Maggie Blumenshine, an OCES student wearing an Ella Langley shirt, high-fives OCHS football player Jake Huff at the Patriot Pride Drop-Off last Friday. The tradition existed in the past, according to athletic booster club president Janine Campbell, but it wasn’t until this football season that the team decided to bring the tradition back.
  • OCHS cheerleaders Ava Hughes, Dulciana Miranda and Neveah Calhoun pose together at the patriot pride drop-off line. The cheerleaders have felt the impact the greeting has had on them. “It feels even better whenever, like, you’re standing there, and, like, a random kid just comes up to you and hugs you, and they recognize you,” said OCHS cheerleader Ava Hughes. (Photo/Walker Durham)
    OCHS cheerleaders Ava Hughes, Dulciana Miranda and Neveah Calhoun pose together at the patriot pride drop-off line. The cheerleaders have felt the impact the greeting has had on them. “It feels even better whenever, like, you’re standing there, and, like, a random kid just comes up to you and hugs you, and they recognize you,” said OCHS cheerleader Ava Hughes. (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • OCHS Cheerleader Dulciana Miranda hugs an OCES student at the Patriot Pride Drop-off line. “I remember wanting to be them [cheerleaders], so it’s so cool, like, actually, like, being them,” said Miranda. (Photo/Walker Durham)
    OCHS Cheerleader Dulciana Miranda hugs an OCES student at the Patriot Pride Drop-off line. “I remember wanting to be them [cheerleaders], so it’s so cool, like, actually, like, being them,” said Miranda. (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • OCHS football player Jake Huff looks out towards the drop-off line at OCES. ”It humbles them, said Campbell, about what the greeting has had on the players themselves. “It makes them see that they are the leaders for the younger ones, so that carries some weight with them, and makes them realize that you know, they have to do better; they have to be better for the little ones that are always watching them.” (Photo/Walker Durham)
    OCHS football player Jake Huff looks out towards the drop-off line at OCES. ”It humbles them, said Campbell, about what the greeting has had on the players themselves. “It makes them see that they are the leaders for the younger ones, so that carries some weight with them, and makes them realize that you know, they have to do better; they have to be better for the little ones that are always watching them.” (Photo/Walker Durham)
  • OCHS Football players Jake Huff, Justin Wilson, Coleton Sexton and Brett Liedberg pose beside the Patriot Pride Drop-off line. The players are allowed to miss the beginning of school due to their first class period being taught by Mike Campbell himself. (Photo/Walker Durham)
    OCHS Football players Jake Huff, Justin Wilson, Coleton Sexton and Brett Liedberg pose beside the Patriot Pride Drop-off line. The players are allowed to miss the beginning of school due to their first class period being taught by Mike Campbell himself. (Photo/Walker Durham)

    An early morning chill set the stage for the Patriot Pride Drop-off last Friday, a weekly event where the Oglethorpe County High School football players and cheerleaders greet elementary school students as they enter school. 

    As the sun rose, the mood of the kids and teens lifted. They high-fived, hugged and smiled their way through the greeting line. 

    “We have to be here at 7:25,” said Neveah Calhoun, a cheerleader. “So, I would say it’s a pain in the butt to get up, but when we get here, you see all your friends, you see the football players, so it’s fun.” 

    The greeting started earlier this school year and has since grown into a popular tradition for players, cheerleaders and OCES students every Friday morning.