Mustang Icon Pageant Canceled on Short Notice
By Maya Ortiz
By Maya Ortiz
“Mustang Icon’’ was planned to make its debut at Pioneer after three years, with a more inclusive appearance. The pageant is meant to unite students on campus and provide a fun experience for students to enjoy.
The pageant was meant to take place on Friday, April 22 at 7:00 in the quad. Known in previous years as “Mr. Mustang,” the pageant is a talent show style event where contestants get a chance to showcase and share their talents in order to win the ultimate title of 2022’s “Mustang Icon.” As of April 21, leadership chose to cancel the pageant due to a shortage of participants as well as its minimal recognition.
Changing it to “Mustang Icon” was a task taken on by leadership class to make the event more welcoming. According to Leadership teacher Michelle Mayhew, the pageant helps to build the school community.
“It’s basically a revamping of Mr. Mustang, to try to be more inclusive for students who just want to participate in a fun activity and to show off a talent they might have,” said Mayhew. “The Mr. Mustang pageants weren’t bad, but we are changing with the times, and changing with our culture, and our diversity on campus.”
Leadership student Brenna Gallagher, 12, sees the pageant as a way for students to connect with new people.
“It’s important for other students to get involved because it encourages them to get out of their comfort zones and could lead them to finding their community at Pioneer! We plan for this pageant to boost school pride as well as inclusivity,” said Gallagher. “It’s not exclusive to guys anymore. Compared to Mr. Mustang, there will be similar categories and events, but different wording, name, and contestants. This has been a traditional event at Pioneer for many years, but we’re changing it up a little this year.”
Mayhew hopes that students enjoy the pageant and feel excited to play a larger part in school spirit.
“I think they are going to have a better outlook on their high school experience. I think that the more things students can get involved in, the more excited they will be to come to school to learn and try new things, and just feel like they are a part of the school,” said Mayhew. “Its purpose is just to bring community to the kids, and to have another fun campus event they can attend.”
Unfortunately, owing to the pageant’s absence in prior years, leadership chose to forgo it this year.
“We discussed it, and this event seems to be too much out of the student body’s comfort zone this year, as we haven’t done this event in three years,” said Gallagher. “Students just aren’t too familiar with this event. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to get more participation & excitement from students.”
A student from leadership comments on the cancellation, and what resulted in the pageant being dropped.
“The Mustang Icon was canceled for many reasons, but we just realized we wanted to rethink the way we go about making it inclusive for everyone,” said the student. “People didn’t know what to expect for Mustang Madness and so we didn’t get the same participation we were expecting. We just want to rethink the way we go about the new changes.”
The pageant was meant to take place on Friday, April 22 at 7:00 in the quad. Known in previous years as “Mr. Mustang,” the pageant is a talent show style event where contestants get a chance to showcase and share their talents in order to win the ultimate title of 2022’s “Mustang Icon.” As of April 21, leadership chose to cancel the pageant due to a shortage of participants as well as its minimal recognition.
Changing it to “Mustang Icon” was a task taken on by leadership class to make the event more welcoming. According to Leadership teacher Michelle Mayhew, the pageant helps to build the school community.
“It’s basically a revamping of Mr. Mustang, to try to be more inclusive for students who just want to participate in a fun activity and to show off a talent they might have,” said Mayhew. “The Mr. Mustang pageants weren’t bad, but we are changing with the times, and changing with our culture, and our diversity on campus.”
Leadership student Brenna Gallagher, 12, sees the pageant as a way for students to connect with new people.
“It’s important for other students to get involved because it encourages them to get out of their comfort zones and could lead them to finding their community at Pioneer! We plan for this pageant to boost school pride as well as inclusivity,” said Gallagher. “It’s not exclusive to guys anymore. Compared to Mr. Mustang, there will be similar categories and events, but different wording, name, and contestants. This has been a traditional event at Pioneer for many years, but we’re changing it up a little this year.”
Mayhew hopes that students enjoy the pageant and feel excited to play a larger part in school spirit.
“I think they are going to have a better outlook on their high school experience. I think that the more things students can get involved in, the more excited they will be to come to school to learn and try new things, and just feel like they are a part of the school,” said Mayhew. “Its purpose is just to bring community to the kids, and to have another fun campus event they can attend.”
Unfortunately, owing to the pageant’s absence in prior years, leadership chose to forgo it this year.
“We discussed it, and this event seems to be too much out of the student body’s comfort zone this year, as we haven’t done this event in three years,” said Gallagher. “Students just aren’t too familiar with this event. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to get more participation & excitement from students.”
A student from leadership comments on the cancellation, and what resulted in the pageant being dropped.
“The Mustang Icon was canceled for many reasons, but we just realized we wanted to rethink the way we go about making it inclusive for everyone,” said the student. “People didn’t know what to expect for Mustang Madness and so we didn’t get the same participation we were expecting. We just want to rethink the way we go about the new changes.”