Teachers nominated five outstanding seniors to be on the Homecoming Court and vie for the Queen’s crown. Students will vote for the winner this Friday, and the winner will be announced during halftime of the game against LaPorte, along with the winner of the Mr. Football title.
Get to know the five candidates a little better:
Q: How did you feel when you found out you were nominated for Homecoming Queen?
Akaya Coker : I was very excited because I didn’t get to do a lot during high school, and it made me and my family very excited knowing I was going to do something before I left and it meant something to me.
Trinity Collins: When I found out I was nominated for Homecoming court, I was very excited. I instantly told my mother, and we went to Sam’s Clubs to buy snacks so I could start campaigning.
Destiny Givens: Honestly, I think that when I found out I was very, very grateful because last year, even though I was on Prom Court, knowing that I’m still able to be noticed by teachers and people around me and see how I influence my community and to put me on a court again in a different aspect, it feels really great.
Caidyn Morgan: When I found out I was nominated for Homecoming Queen, I was honored, and then I felt really good that teachers recognized me for who I am as a person, both academically and socially.
Ayanna Price: I was really happy. I had a theater meeting, so then I came home and checked my email because they were talking about the emails that got sent out. I was really happy. My mom was really happy. She said she was worried about me because she felt like I was just not making enough friends, but I was happy. I feel like I was getting noticed.
Q: What clubs, sports, activities do you participate in at MHS?
Akaya Coker : I am in Student Government, and I plan on on joining the Step Team.
Trinity Collins: I participate in track and field. I run the 400 and the 4×4, and I’m a cheerleader.
Destiny Givens: I’m President of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. I’m President of the Y.E.S. Interact club. I’m involved in our Superintendent Student Advisory Council. I’m President over freshman mentors. I’m in National Honors Society. I’m editor of our school newspaper. I’m in Quill and Scroll. I’m an Impact Day Facilitator. I’m President of Jack and Jill of America, and I am a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership volunteer.
Caidyn Morgan: I am a varsity gymnast, and I’ve done tennis all four years, but I was only on varsity for my first year last year. I’m in band, so I do concert band, marching band, pep band, and I play clarinet. I’m a freshman mentor. I’m in National Honors Society. I’m in Thespian Troupe and Spanish Club.
Ayanna Price: I participate in theater. I am co-President with Destiny in FCCLA, and I’m also Vice President of National Honors Society.
Q: What part of the Homecoming week are you looking forward to the most?
Akaya Coker : I’m most looking forward to spirit week “ Barbie vs Bratz” because I couldn’t decide between Barbie and Bratz for my campaign. I think it would be fun for me to incorporate both, and the pep rally is always super fun.
Destiny Givens: I am most looking forward to spirit week. I feel like my other years, I didn’t really participate like that, but I think that now I’m on the court, I definitely do want to participate. I really, really like the themes that we have for this year, so spirit week is probably what I’m most excited for.
Trinity Collins: I’m looking forward to spirit week the most because I like to see their outfits and just everybody in a good mood.
Caidyn Morgan: I definitely think homecoming is definitely more exciting than prom because there’s so much more stuff leading up to it. Spirit week is always fun, and the pep rally and the parade. All of it really.
Ayanna Price: Definitely the whole entire spirit week. I like the themes, and I like how people can make the themes their own. I like to see what people come up with.
Q: What traits do you feel qualify you to be homecoming queen?
Akaya Coker : Apart from me being a nice and genuine person, I feel like since I didn’t get to do a lot in school Homecoming queen shows coming together as a community and school. It really shows my glow up.
Trinity Collins: Leadership. You have to represent the school and you have to be locked in. You can’t do stuff you know you’re not supposed to do.
Destiny Givens: I feel like I demonstrate leadership, so I think that whether that means listening to peers or being open, I even represent myself as never being a perfect person even when I am in the role of leadership. We all can mess up no matter who we are. I think that I demonstrate compassion; being able to feel for people, understand people. Not everybody’s day is always going to be good all the time. I think that I demonstrate the skill of resilience. Sometimes trying and trying again is kind of what makes people who they are; serving others, putting others before yourself.
Caidyn Morgan: I’d like to say I’m friendly. I don’t give bad vibes to anyone. Yeah, I’m friendly, honest, considerate, and I just try to be an all-around good person.
Ayanna Price: I’m definitely motivated. I’m smart. If I want something, I definitely go get it. I’m kind. I feel like I demonstrate those traits a lot throughout my daily life, but I feel like since I’m so quiet in class, most of the time most people don’t really notice unless they’re close friends with me.
Q: What are your plans for after high school?
Akaya Cooker : I’m hoping that I get into UIC. I’m going to study digital marketing and sociology so I can be a real estate agent.
Trinity Collins: I plan on going to Ivy Tech for two years to get an associate’s degree. Then, I plan on going to trade school for cosmetology.
Destiny Givens: After high school, I do plan to attend college, and I want to double major in journalism and screenwriting with a minor in public policy.
Caidyn Morgan: After high school, I plan to go into college and major in psychology. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it yet, but that’s definitely what I want to major in for sure. I think I’m going to continue doing tennis in college as well.
Ayanna Price: I want to get a degree. I want to double major in social work and psychology to become a psychologist.
Q: What is one of your favorite high school memories?
Akaya Coker : One of my favorite high school memories was Homecoming last year. It was pretty fun.
Trinity Collins: One of my favorite high school memories was when I was cheering; the first walk around we did because it was so fun.
Destiny Givens: When I first started writing for the school newspaper, and within that first year of writing, I was able to become managing editor, and my teacher, Mrs. Skertic, and also Mr. Past and Harvoth, were able to recognize me as a student who’s really, really good at multimedia journalism. I was actually able to get a paid internship with NWILife to be a writer there. That’s probably one of my favorite high school memories.
Caidyn Morgan: One of my favorite high school memories was the fall play last year. It was so fun. I was stage crew, but we spent a lot of time together. We’re after school literally until 7 o’clock every day. It was fun for sure. I definitely grew closer with people in there. It was just a great experience all around.
Ayanna Price: The pep rallies; seeing everybody together with their class and showing their spirit. I feel like that’s a really good thing to do.
