Since 2012, the ASL 3 and 4 classes have been signing the national anthem at the homecoming games. This year will mark the largest group this program has ever seen.

“I felt it was something that would bring attention to the program and also get my students involved and make them feel special and like a part of the school,” American Sign Language teacher Mrs. Greenstreet said. “And they get to show off their skills in front of all these people.”

Mrs. Greenstreet started having students sign at the game in order to raise awareness for the program, which has worked as the ASL program has grown from six people signing at the launch of this event in 2012 to where it is now with 30 people.

The Monroe Stadium can hold up to 5,000 people, so some students are understandably nervous.

“I am both excited and nervous to sign in front of the school,” ASL 3 student Mikaela Mclelan said. “I am excited because my grandparents will get to see and nervous that I will mess up terribly.”

This year is different from early years not only because of the growing size, but because the interpretation being used was changed a few years ago. This was done to accommodate the increasing number of students participating in this event.

“Gallaudet University has a version that they sign at their graduations,” Mrs. Greenstreet said.  “So I took that version because it’s signed with three people and I made it suitable so one person could sign it if three couldn’t be together.”

Homecoming is not the only event that ASL students sign at; they also sign the national anthem at varsity basketball games and at the blacklight pep rally accompanying the Legacies.

“I think ASL should be included in every school event,” ASL 3 student Cheyenne Fryar said. “To normalize the language and to make events more accessible for deaf students.”