Longtime West Aurora High School staff member Rich Clausel has been named the grand marshal of the school’s 2026 Homecoming Parade, which will be held on Thursday, school officials said.
For 40 years, Clausel has worked at West Aurora High School, according to a press release from West Aurora School District. Throughout his career in security, he has built relationships with generations of students while working to help create a safe and welcoming environment at West High, officials said in the release.
He continues to serve the school community now as the lunchroom supervisor.
“Rich is truly part of the fabric of West Aurora. He has been a Blackhawk for more than 40 years, and his love for this school and our students is visible in everything he does,” West Aurora High School Principal Whitney Martino said in the release. “For generations of students, Rich has been a familiar and trusted face, someone who is always looking out for kids and genuinely wants West to be a great place for everyone.”
The West Aurora High School Homecoming Parade will take place Thursday, Sept. 24, beginning at 3 p.m. The parade will start at the corner of Calumet and Garfield avenues, proceed east on Garfield, continue south on Fordham Avenue, head west on Kensington Place and finish north on Calumet.
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Festivities will continue Friday, Sept. 25, when the Blackhawks host the Larkin Royals in the Homecoming football games at Ormond Stadium at the high school, the release said. The sophomore football game will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity game at approximately 7 p.m.
Tickets for the football games must be purchased online through GoFan by 7 p.m. on game day, the release said. Tickets will not be sold at the gate. Spectators will not be admitted after halftime, even with a ticket, officials said.
For more information on Homecoming activities, go to the West Aurora School District website at https://westhigh.sd129.org/.