This past month, in preparation for homecoming festivities, Southside students voted for each class’s homecoming maids. For seniors, this year’s homecoming maids are Madelyn Maxey, Alee Thongprachanh, Rosalie Allen, Oakley Allen, and Caroline Eckelhoff. One of these maids will be crowned homecoming queen at the Oct. 10th football game against Shiloh Christian.

  Madelyn Maxey is Senior Council President, Founder of Fort Smith Mayor’s City Youth Council, Student Council Social Media Director, member of Southside Chamber Choir and Choir Council, Decibelles Baritone, Historian Reporter for Lambda, Mock Trial and Debate Social Media Manager, Southside Student Ambassador, Superintendent Advisory Council, and a member of National Honor Society. Maxey decided to run for homecoming maid in her senior year to represent her class and Southside as a whole. Maxey’s escorts for the pep rally are Connor McDonald and Rodrigo Hernandez; her father, Derrick Maxey, will escort her to the football game.

“Finding out I was chosen for Homecoming Maid filled me with absolute gratitude that I will never be able to fully express! Being able to represent my classmates is such an honor and so meaningful. I am beyond thankful for the friends who support me in everything I do and reminds me of how lucky I am to be a part of such a wonderful class and community at Southside,” Maxey said.

Caroline Eckelhoff is a member of the Southern Belles, Red Shoe Club, Delta Beta Sigma, Psychology Club, and Senior Council. Her reasoning for running for homecoming maid was to show her school spirit, represent the senior class, and be as involved her senior year as possible. Eckelhoff’s escorts for the pep rally are Nick Arnold and Isaac Parker, and she will be escorted by her father, Todd Eckelhoff, at the football game.

“I am most excited to represent the senior class and all the clubs I am a part of! I can’t wait for HoCo night,” Eckelhoff said.

Alee Thongprachanh is Treasurer of Senior Class Council, Southside Choir Council, a founding member of the Decibelles, and a member of Quizbowl, National Honor Society, Chamber Choir, Asian Culture Club, Superintendent Advisory Council, and Thrive Scholars. Her reason for running her senior year was both to represent her senior class and to allow those similar to her to feel seen and heard by her presence on the maid lineup. Thongprachanh’s escorts for the pep rally are Joshua Chung and Eric Furhman, and she will be escorted by her parents, Delmi Sanabria and Sisou Thongprachanh, during the football game. 

“It’s just a great way to bond with the other girls and a fun day where you feel loved before I leave for college,” Thongprachanh said.

Rosalie Allen is Captain of Southside Women’s Soccer, a team member at Chick-fil-A, and a self-employed art commissioner. Her reason for running her senior year was to push herself to try something new and to represent her senior class in a new way. Allen’s escorts for the pep rally are Daniel Morales and Daniel Nguyen; her brother, Zeb Allen, will escort her during the football game.

“I am most excited about being able to finally be the girl in the big white dress that people and underclassmen can look up to. It has always been a dream, and I am truly blessed,” Allen said.

Oakley Allen is Student Council Treasurer, Debate Captain, a member of the Southside Golf team, and an employee at Hazel’s Haven. Her reason for running for homecoming maid her senior year was to have another experience as fun as being a homecoming maid her sophomore year. Allen’s escorts for the pep rally are Rhett Moss and Ryan Rhodebush, and her father, Phillip Whiteaker, will be her escort at the football game.

“It’s just really fun to be able to go get a dress for the ceremony, for the pep rally, and to get to have my father walk me, because he really enjoys that. It’s just super fun to do this with the rest of the maids.”

All of these maids will be escorted at both the pep rally and football game, representing the class of 2026. At the game, one of these maids will be crowned homecoming queen. The homecoming queen will receive a crown, sash, and bouquet from Southside’s principal, Jeff Prewitt.