Jeannette High School senior Alana Jordan was crowned Homecoming Queen last Friday night at halftime of the Jayhawks' game against Clairton at McKee Stadium.

The other members of the 2015 Jeannette Homecoming Court are Kristen Legge, Maggie Manolis, Mary Katherine Paulone and Abbey Pietrusinski.

Jordan, daughter of Dana and Jim Mangan, said she felt very honored to have been selected to the court by the student body.

“I was also very excited because I have looked forward to this moment since I was a little girl,” she said. “I believe it gives me a chance to represent my school and the class of 2016.”

Jordan is a cheerleading captain, she plays tennis, is yearbook president, art club vice president, vice president of the senior class, public relations officer of the National Honor Society, vice president of Ette Kette and belongs to the science club and quiz team. Outside of school, Jordan takes dance classes and is a junior cheer coach for the Jeannette Midget Football Association.

After high school, Jordan hopes to attend college to study nursing. She would like to become an obstetric or pediatric nurse.

“I have always liked to help people as much as I can and I also like working with children,” said Jordan.

She's looking forward to cheering for her final football and basketball seasons as a Jayhawk. Jordan is also looking forward to all of the dances her senior year, especially the prom.

“I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my senior year with all of my friends,” she said. “I like all my teachers equally. I could go on and on about each and every one of them and what their strengths are.”

Her advice to underclassmen is to “never stop believing in your ability and never hold back if it is something that you want. Always take a chance. Always stay true to yourself.”

Something that might surprise people is that Jordan enjoys spending time fishing.

Kristen Legge, daughter of Keith and Noelle Christoff, was very surprised and excited to have been chosen to represent the senior class.

“It is my last opportunity to participate in a homecoming event at Jeannette and I aim to participate as much as possible,” she said.

Legge is the drum major of the marching band and is a member of the drama club, she played Penny Pingleton in last year's production of “Hairspray.”

After high school, Legge plans to go to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to study music education.

“I have always loved music and looked up to my teachers as honorable mentors,” she said. “(I) would love to become a music teacher myself.”

Her main interests are singing in the shower, Batman and being around her friends.

In her final year as a student at Jeannette, Legge is looking forward to the football games and participating in the drama club's spring musical.

Her best advice for underclassmen is to “enjoy the things you get to do in school and do what makes you happy. Don't let others bring you down.”

It's impossible for her to pick a favorite teacher, she said.

“Every teacher in Jeannette helps to prepare us for our lives and care about us. They are all great people I am glad to have met.”

Maggie Manolis, daughter of Angelo and Cindy Manolis, was extremely happy and excited to be named to the homecoming court.

“I was also very nervous because the other girls on the court are so sweet, so I know the queen decision will be close.”

It was important to her to be on the court because she was chosen as the a court representative in her freshman year and she's wanted to be on the court since that time.

“Homecoming queen is supposed to be a leader and I would love to have that honor,” she said.

Manolis is president of Ette Kette, president of student council, captain of the cheerleading squad and president of the National Honor Society. She is also on the quiz team and yearbook staff and a member of the art and science clubs. Manolis is also a swimmer and a tennis player.

In fact, she's the only swimmer in Jeannette history and has qualified for WPIAL meets every year.

Outside of school, Manolis swims for the Greensburg YMCA team and is a junior coach for the Jeannette Midget Football Association cheerleaders.

After graduation, she hopes to study biology or bioengineering in college. She hopes to either swim or cheer in college. After earning her undergraduate degree, Manolis would like to go to med school or study to become a physician's assistant.

She'd like to specialize in pediatric medicine if she becomes a doctor because she's always liked working with children. She likes helping people and science, a career in medicine combines those interests.

Her best advice to underclassmen is to make the most of the four years of high school and “be nice to others because it will make your time here a lot happier.”

Mary Katherine Paulone, daughter of Tom and Annette Paulone, said she was very excited and honored to hear she was named to the court.

“It is important to me to be part of the court because I love my school and love being a Jayhawk,” said Paulone. “This is a great opportunity to express my school spirit and to show leadership within my school.”

She is active in the marching band, golf team, drama club, Ette Kette, National Honor Society, softball team, art club, student council and science club. She is president of the senior class.

Outside of school she is a member of the Lady Vengeance 18U travel fast-pitch softball team, she volunteers at St. Anne's Nursing Home and is an altar server at Ascension Church.

She plans to go to a five-year college to study to become a physician's assistant program and hopes to play softball while she's there.

Paulone hopes to work in pediatric oncology because she's always liked working with children.

“I will be the one to make the children smile and make them feel better while they receive treatments,” she said.

Something that might surprise others is that Paulone never leaves home without a softball and a deck of cards. She never misses a chance to practice wrist snaps and spins and she's a self-described card shark participating in Texas Hold 'Em tournaments.

Her advice to underclassmen is to “cling to the people who love you and just keep smiling.”

Paulone's favorite teacher is Zac Karas, who is also her softball coach.

“He always gives the best advice and always gives me a good laugh,” she said.

Abbey Pietrusinski, daughter of Kimberly Claus, said she was really surprised to be chosen for the court but really excited at the same time.

“It's important because it shows I want to be involved and test my luck of actually becoming queen,” she said. “I'm so happy to be a part of the court, just to be on it is an honor.”

She is active in Ette Kette and student council. After school, she works part time as a waitress.

After graduation, she'd like to attend WCCC for two years to take general classes before transferring to Slippery Rock University. Pietrusinski wants to study to become a veterinarian.

“I have a strong love for animals. Caring for them and being around them all the time is exactly what I want to do,” Pietrusinski said.

She's looking forward to getting her senior project done and being closer to graduation so she can start her future.

Her best advice to underclassmen is to “try your best throughout your whole high school (career) and no matter how hard something is, never give up.”

Her favorite teacher is Jennifer Potter “because she's such a happy teacher and always tries to help people when they need it.”

Other members of the court include escorts Nick Corob, Travis Wieland, Brandon Evans, Phoenix Brown and Kevin Major. Representing the freshman class is Zoe Manolis and Nick Christoff, sophomores are Sam Filak and Robert Cecchetti and the junior class representatives are Hannah Poth and Blaze Tran.

Kristie Linden is an editor for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at klinden@tribweb.com or 724-838-5154.

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