Northwestern State University’s annual homecoming celebration kicks off with two students being named Homecoming King and Queen. Homecoming King and Queen are voted on by NSU’s various registered student organizations and represent two hardworking individuals who toil endlessly to ensure their peers have a good college experience.
This year, two students continued a long tradition of bringing school spirit to those around them. Kaley Koss, a junior communication and psychology double major, was announced Homecoming Queen, and Chris James, a senior communication major, was announced Homecoming King.
Koss was shocked to receive the honor of Homecoming Queen, not expecting to be noticed for her work on campus. “Winning Homecoming Queen gave me recognition for how much I’ve done on campus, so I felt really rewarded,” Koss said.
“Coming to NSU I didn’t really plan on getting involved, and this just shows what NSU has done for me,” Koss said. “I put in effort and saw the result, which made me just want to be more and more involved. I think that’s what’s gotten me to this point in my life.”
Koss’ favorite part of being Homecoming Queen was receiving the honor alongside Chris James, one of her closest friends. “For us to get this honor together is incredible. It would be fun regardless, but doing it with Chris made it 10 times better,” Koss said.
Like Koss, James was caught off guard by winning Homecoming King. “I was very surprised because I’m a transfer student and I’ve only been at NSU for one year,” James said. “I was shocked and so happy because my whole motive in coming here was to make sure everyone is heard and to serve as a role model for those around me. When I won, everyone was supporting me, and it made me realize how many people actually know who I am and care about me.”
James sees Homecoming King not only as a decorative title, but as a position that can enact real change on campus. “Before getting Homecoming King, I’d been in UPC, SGA and been a Freshman Connector,” James said. “I’ve done all these things, but while being Homecoming King, my biggest goal is for people to see this as something that can boost you up.”
Homecoming King and Queen can provide an avenue for already involved students to make an even greater influence on those around them. “It’s an opportunity to be a mentor and impact someone,” James said. “I can use my role to better the university and let people know that good people come from Northwestern State University.”
