By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA— Wilsonville Elementary School students, clad in red and white, piled into the green 1954 pickup truck and red 1964 Cadillac convertible. They were preparing to spread pep and cheer in the annual Shelby County High School Homecoming Parade Oct. 16.

Wilsonville’s participation in the event has long been a tradition at the parade, according to Jane Smith the school’s SGA sponsor. From the theme to the spirit days at WES, the student leaders in SGA are involved in the festivities.

“The students really enjoy taking a leadership role in our school,” Smith said.

The theme this year was Back to the Future, and it was chosen by the SGA vice president. Students created banners to drape on the sides of the cars, and the students cheered their hearts out as they rode down Main Street in Columbiana.

‘The kids really seemed to enjoy it,” Smith said. “They all loved the Cadillac.”

The elementary school students left their classrooms early Oct. 16, to make it to the parade in time. Smith said the school is lucky to have great administrators who let their students participate in the festivities.

In addition to the parade, Wilsonville’s SGA also helped schedule a series of events leading up to it. Each day was a different dress up theme, consisting of western, superhero, Back to the Future and spirit day.

The student government officers also hosted a pep rally for the students. They recruited Willie the Wildcat and the Columbiana Middle School cheerleaders to help pep up the students.

Spirit tattoos were sold throughout the week to help raise money for service projects and donations to charities, such as Vineyard Family Services and the Breast Cancer Foundation.

“I was involved in SGA when I was in high school,” Smith said. “I want to give my students the same opportunity.”