National Pan-Hellenic Council nominee Kenneth Temple and NAACP nominee Stacy Ann Smith were crowned Homecoming king and queen during halftime Oct. 20. Temple, culinary arts senior from New Orleans, was named to the Dean’s List in 2005, as well as the National Dean’s List Honor Society in 2006-2007.
He said he will be completing his externship for culinary arts next summer in Italy.
Smith, psychology senior from Jamaica, is a member of Precious Jewels, president of Alpha to Omega Christian organization, and a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society.
This year, she has received the Student Government Association Leadership scholarship, the SEALS Leadership Award and the Beacon Light Baptist Church of Houma’s Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship.
She was previously president of the Nicholls International Community, Food Advisory Association President and on the Orientation Team.
Temple said it felt good to win, especially because they made history.
“Stacy and I were the first black homecoming king and queen,” Temple said. “I was so excited that I even did the Superman on the field.”
Smith said she was completely shocked, but she didn’t cry until she heard her parents’ voice.
“Right when I got off the field, I called my parents to tell them, ” Smith said. “Even though they didn’t know what homecoming queen was, they were screaming because they knew I won something.”
Temple said homecoming week was enjoyable, but all of the other activities would be minor unless you get the glory in the end.
“My favorite part of the week was being announced homecoming king on the field at halftime,” he said.
Smith said she enjoyed the parade and bonfire because all of the excitement.
“I felt like I was part of the people and what homecoming is supposed to be,” she said. “It was great to see all of the excited people come out of their dorms and houses in the community.”
She also said winning queen shows the diversity of Nicholls.
“I’m from a different country and I won. It just goes to show you that you can be anything you set out to be,” Smith said.
Temple said he believes his peers respect the homecoming king around campus.
“It means that you carry yourself in a proper way that is respectable to others,” he said. “In order to win homecoming king, you have to be a very big people person.
