PHMEF hosts an unparalleled amount of Homecoming festivities for the community to enjoy
Penn High School’s 2025 Homecoming was bigger than ever, bringing together students, alumni, families, and the entire PHM community.
New this year, the Homecoming dance and football game/parade took place on separate weekends. PHM Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom explains the motive behind the change.
“I thought that was kind of a nice way to kick off Spirit Week, starting with one really exciting event, having a whole week full of celebrations, and then ending with another really exciting event. I mean, you can’t have a better grand finale than a fireworks show, so it’s a great way to kind of cap off the week.”
The festivities kicked off on Saturday, September 21, with the third annual Homecoming Dance. Over 2,000 students attended, which is 200 more than last year.
“We raised nearly $40,000 in grants through this event… It was our biggest turnout yet.”
Homecoming wasn’t just for Penn High School. All PHM schools joined in Spirit Week with themed days like Trades Day, Jersey Day, and Decades Day. Every school capped off the week with Gold Out Friday, uniting the district in gold for Kingsmen pride.
On Friday, September 26, the annual Homecoming Parade took off at 5:30 p.m. Floats from elementary schools, middle schools, Penn clubs, and community groups lined the streets.
If you missed it, you can watch the whole event on the Penn News Network YouTube channel.
Winners of this year’s float contest:
🥇 Penn Swim & Dive – $1,000 prize
🥈 Penn Girls Wrestling – $500 prize
🥉 Penn Cheer – $100 prize
The parade also featured Homecoming Court nominees and showcased Kingsmen pride across the district.
Following the parade, Penn Football took the field, dominating South Bend Adams 42–7, improving to 6–0 on the season.
At halftime, Kam Chamness and Kloe Klein were crowned Homecoming King and Queen, with fireworks spectacularly ending the night.
Insider Web Story: Why Homecoming Matters
Jennifer Turnblom, Executive Director of the PHM Education Foundation, explained why Homecoming is more than just a football game:
“It’s a chance to celebrate all the amazing things about Penn High School and our district. Elementary kids get excited about becoming future Kingsmen, and alumni return to the place that made an impact on their lives.”
The Education Foundation raised nearly $40,000 through the week’s events, funding teacher grants and student programs across PHM schools.
From the record-breaking dance, to the community-wide parade, to the big win under the lights, Penn’s 2025 Homecoming captured the spirit of the district — uniting thousands in one unforgettable week.