Homecoming spirit, honors for JROTC and McCoy

Como Park Senior High School

Como’s homecoming festivities for 2026 ramped up on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, with the traditional pep fest. Cougar fall sports teams were introduced, the homecoming court was announced, and the “battle of the classes” competition provided even more entertainment while the pep band enhanced the energy.

The homecoming dance was held at school on Friday night with students in semi-formal attire. Saturday’s homecoming activities began with tailgating and the powder puff football game between girls from the junior and senior classes.

The varsity football game kicked off on the Como turf at 1 p.m. The Cougars were dominant in a 43-6 victory over the Harding-Humboldt squad, giving the home crowd much to cheer about. To conclude the day, the highly skilled and state-ranked varsity boys soccer team played Cretin-Derham Hall to a 1-1 tie.

School spirit and “Como Pride” are alive and well in the neighborhood high school.

Marine Corps JROTC honors
Como’s cadets have once again been designated as a Naval Honor School and Marine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA) designation school. The MCRA proclamation notes the honor is “an extraordinary feat, requiring uncompromising standards of excellence across rigorous annual inspections, cadet academic achievement, community service hours, and overall unit proficiency.”
The top tier status of the JROTC program and its 100 cadets is no surprise to those who witness their activity and effort, which extends well beyond the school day and school year. 2026’s major summer initiatives were a Cadet Leadership Camp in South Dakota at Korkow Ranch, large multi-day volunteering efforts during the State Fair and the “Back to the 50s” car show at the fairgrounds, plus specialized trainings for selected leaders.

Those experiences included three cadets attending a one-month camp on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute, two cadets participating in the Outdoor Odyssey Leadership Camp in Woodbine, Iowa, and four cadets studying at the STEM Cyber Patriot Training in Pennsylvania.

State award for social work
The Minnesota School Social Workers Association (MSSWA) selected Como’s Christy McCoy as the 2026 Minnesota School Social Worker of the Year. In a press release, the MSSWA highlighted McCoy’s 30 years of service to students and leadership in the profession.

McCoy exhibits a commitment to equity and social justice that is obvious to all those who interact with her. It’s also a consistent theme noticed by her colleagues in the MSSWA where she has served as the legislative chair for nearly 20 years, annually providing testimony and empowering others to advocate at the state capitol.

“It’s about supporting our profession’s commitment to advocating for mental health. I learned that what happens at the macro level trickles down to the micro level where we work with students,” McCoy said.

Como principal Dr. Diana Brown shared, “Ms. McCoy doesn’t just manage behaviors, she honors the humanity of every child she encounters creating a space where students feel safe enough to succeed.”