As we close Homecoming week at Round Rock ISD, let’s look at how two of our floral Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways embraced a big Texas tradition– the Homecoming mum.

At McNeil High School, students crafted mums in class, not only for themselves but also for principals, assistant principals, and students in Functional Academic Classes (FAC).

“It’s a super fun process,” said McNeil Sophmore, Frankie Hollenbeck. “I like that I’m able to personalize my mum and fit it to my aesthetic. I’ve really enjoyed making braids. Making mums has given me an opportunity to sit here and hang out with my friends while still making something really beautiful.” 

She said she’s excited to be able to take what she learned in the classroom this year and maybe start a side business to earn extra money next year.

At McNeil High School, many of the mums share a cohesive look, as the Majestics dance team sells supplies for Maverick-themed spirit mums.

“Some kids are really over the top and original, like a pink mum, but most of the students make the same mum everyone else is making,” said Meagan Crandall, Agricultural Science Teacher at McNeil. “It’s still really cool, though, because students get to feel accomplished when they take it home and make it themselves. They always have a personalized touch, for sure.”

At Stony Point High School, students in Floral Design focused on their personal mums and sold others, as a group, to other students to raise money for their program.

“We made close to 45 mums and sold them,” said Stony Point Agricultural Science Teacher Kylie Leachman. “We had some pre-made options and made some custom orders. In total, I think we made around $1,100 this year.”

At Stony Point, students embraced size and creativity.

“Seniors usually opt for non-traditional colors like white and silver, with accent colors of their choice. We’ve seen everything from Whataburger-themed mums to massive Texas-shaped ones,” said Leachman.

She also noted that she’d seen a lot of bow-shaped mums, a few Spiderman mums, and mums so massive they had to be worn as necklaces.

Senior Kendra Williford said it takes her approximately two to three hours to make a standard mum.

“It’s easier for me now because of muscle memory,” she said. “I build as I go, but I try to incorporate braids, certain charms, loops and points around where the actual mum is, and then different colors of streamers and ribbons like glitter or non-glitter, or metallics.”

In addition to individual mums, Stony Point’s floral department undertook a massive project this year: a giant mum weighing between 50 and 75 pounds, stretching 42 feet long and 12 feet wide.

Agricultural Science Teacher Amy Dieta said their mum took a lot of late nights and long hours to create.

“I think it took us close to three weeks to finish the mum, but we started planning back in September,” she said.

Around 50 students contributed to the colossal mum, along with various clubs and organizations that decorated their own streamers.

“We got donations for just about everything,” said senior Kyrsten Pagel. “We used over 2000 coffee filters, tools, butcher paper, chicken wire to stabilize it, cardboard, and PVC pipes to hold it up.” 

Senior Rylee Zimmermann said she’s proud of the work they accomplished as a team.

“There were definitely times when we were tired and bumped heads about which direction we should take the mum, but overall, it was easy because we took inspiration from past years,” she said.

Rylee and Kyrsten encourage younger students to join the floral pathway and become part of an unforgettable Texas tradition.

“Getting the opportunity to be a part of it, and look back on it all… That’s something we’re always going to remember and maybe one day show our kids like, ‘Look what we did back in high school!’” said Rylee.