Maggie Hinson and Justin Bankston were crowned Southeastern’s 2016 Homecoming Queen and King on the field during halftime. President John L. Crain and Mayson Foster posed with the winners after the announcement.
Makayla Abney/The Lion's Roar

The anticipation of the announcement of Homecoming King and Queen finally came to an end during halftime at the Homecoming Game.

On Oct. 22, Justin Bankston and Maggie Hinson were crowned Homecoming royalty.

The nominees for the 2016 Sweetheart Court were Taylor Drude, Maria Goddard, Cierra Heckmann, Maya Gauthier, Hinson, Haley Loyacano and Chelsea Loupe. The nominees for the 2016 Beau Court were Neil Bourgeois, Nicholas Wylie, Seth Leto, Duncan Martin, Bankston, Justin Archote and Austin Rogers.

The crowd watched each couple lineup on the field as they anticipated the winners being announced. 

The first to be announced was Homecoming King, Bankston, a computer science major and the Kappa Alpha Order President. He describes this crowning as an unexpected turn to his night. 

“There’s really no way to explain this,” said Bankston. “It’s a great honor, but I was not expecting this at all. It means a lot that there is enough people out there at Southeastern that think I am a great representative.”

As the crowd roared for the King,  announced next was Homecoming Queen, Hinson who is a kinesiology major and Alpha Omicron Pi member.

In this emotional moment, Hinson was filled with excitement as she was crowned the 2016 Queen.

“I was not expecting that and I don’t know what to do now,” said Hinson.

As Hinson described her involvement in the university, it was evident that she spends most of her time being involved with the National Society of Leadership and Success and also is focused on her studies as shown by her President’s and Dean’s List status.

Hinson explains that it is an unexpected honor to represent her university that she loves.

“I am so blessed to be able to represent Southeastern with this honor,” said Hinson. 

Bankston is also involved with many organizations including Order of Omega, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Upsilon Pi Epsilon and is the Beau of Alpha Omicron Pi.

“I try and keep my hands in a little bit of everything that is going on here. It is such a great campus and there are so many things to be involved in,” said Bankston.

Being involved with the university is an important aspect of being on the Homecoming Court. Hinson shared that she did not expect to get as far as she did for the nomination process. 

“In Alpha Omicron Pi we have a process where we run and then I got on,” said Hinson. “I was not expecting to walk on this field, but I did. It was such a great experience to be a part of.”

The Homecoming game ended with a victory over Houston Baptist completing 2016 Homecoming Week.