The week from May 20 to May 24, 2024, was a new spirit week for Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) with the theme“The Greatest Showman” leading the way to the annual Air Guitar production.
These spirit days consisted of Million Dreams Monday, Tour Merch Tuesday, Circus Wednesday, Cannot Be Tamed Thursday and This Is Me Friday. The themed days culminated to Air Guitar, hosted on May 24, 2024, which students anticipated the whole week.
The preparation for the spirit week and Air Guitar was all done by the Associated Student Body (ASB). Air Guitar coordinator, Lauren Fossati ’25, described how the whole of ASB chose the theme for this exciting week through decorations and concepts that related to “The Greatest Showman.”
Fossati said, “We picked the theme of the greatest showman relating back to our movies and TV theme relating back to the whole year … for spirit week it was inspired by the different songs [in the movie.]”
In the midst of Air Guitar, no one was allowed to leave campus without a parent’s note. Whilst stuck on campus until the end of the event, students then had the option to buy certain food tickets for the food faire in support of school clubs and programs before and during the event. Also before the event, students placed their blankets and chairs around the stage, claiming their respective spots that many students showed up early to get.
Mia Bacigalupi ‘26 said, “I like spirit week because it brings the school together like a whole community and everyone is super excited for it, especially Air Guitar when people are coming here at like 5 [a.m.] in the morning to get spots … what I’m most excited about spirit week is Air Guitar, I think it’s really cool especially when teachers come and perform.”
Preparation for Air Guitar began long before the event itself, Fossati added insight about the early auditions for Air Guitar, stating, “I started really working on it in January so I set up the auditions … we had two weeks of auditions, it was me and five other people who watched them and then we talked about it and decided on the best ones and let them know [if they could perform.]”
Since Air Guitar is held during the last weeks of school, some students view it as a great final hooray to the school year, especially for the seniors. Dragons see it as a way for them to have one final thing to enjoy before finals come.
Zac Crist ‘24 stated, “I think it’s a great way for the school to get excited and have a fun last couple days and weeks of school to come together and enjoy something together.” Crist added, “I think it’s really fun to watch and see everyone perform and I love the spirit week because it’s a fun way to participate as well.”
As students sat in the quad, they were met with circus posters and streamers in the railings to help get them in the Air Guitar spirit. Before Air Guitar was hosted, students had the option of purchasing pizza and ice cream in the parking lot and other snacks and beverages from the food faire in the back of the quad, but this all ended as Air Guitar started. As air Guitar started, there were two hosts, Leo Pankratz ’24 and Nisha Reddy ’24, one was dressed up as a bearded lady and the other as a ringmaster, characters inspired by “The Greatest Showman” theme.
Air Guitar hosted 11 performances and one surprise performance at the end by teachers Cheri Eulau, Claire Adams and Heather Ferris. The last two events were the most exciting to students, where they were saying goodbye to the seniors and to Cheri Eulau, a long time teacher at Foothill Tech. The final winners of Air Guitar were Gabriel and Natalie, who performed “Hallelujah” with a keyboard guitar and live singing.
SET LIST
- Brianna Atnip – Solo Singer – “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” by Panic at the Disco
- Wyatt Mesker – Solo Singer – Medley
- Daniel Franco and Pape Crown – Duet Guitar and Singing
- Corey Duhs, Jacob Hatler and Hunter Stachurski – Band – “First date” by blink 182
- Josiah Rodriguez – Solo – “Cherry Wine” by Hozier
- Jaylean Hernandez – Folklorico Dance
- Kloey Juarez – Solo – “Skyfall” by Adele
- Jack Marshall, Sam Arengburg and Mikey Mercado – Band – “Metro” by System of a Down
- Gabriel Takaya and Natalie Schermer – Keyboard and Singing – “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
- Jasmine Sanchez, Jadyn Kenefake, Emma Olson and Eden Billings – Band – “Can’t Catch Me Now” by Olivia Rodrigo
- Evangelista Cobos – Solo – “Careless Whisper” by George Michael
- Cheri Eulau, Claire Adams and Heather Ferris – Teacher’s act – “Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC
By the end of the afternoon, students of Foothill Tech walked away with smiles on their faces, and pride in their school, ready to prepare for the end-of-year finals coming their way.
