Toluwa Ekundayo
On October 7th, 2022, the 2022 Columbus High School Homecoming court celebrated and crowned its Homecoming Queen, Kelly Tran, at the football game versus the Dougherty Trojans.
Twelve senior girls were chosen to be on the court by their fellow classmates for their exemplary service in leadership, academics, and school spirit. The court consisted of Keziah Amissah, Lauren Baker, Saphira Etienne, Seren Gittens, Rosemary Gross, Kai’Liah Hill, Lucy Kelley, Angel King, Neha Nakirikanti, Azia Sands, Kelly Tran, and Ella Grace Walls.
Throughout the week, the girls prepared for court with numerous activities. They started with a mother-daughter breakfast at St. Paul’s church where the girls took pictures and enjoyed a speech by Dr. Crumbs. When they arrived back at the school, they participated in the homecoming parade where they were accompanied by a football player and each girl was introduced at the pep rally.
At the game, the girls wore their dresses, many of whom wore their cultural dresses, and were accompanied on the field by their fathers, and each girl’s academic accomplishments, service, and future educational and career goals were told. Kelly Tran wore her traditional Vietnamese dress and was accompanied by her brother.
Kelly Tran, senior, aspires to major in psychology and plans on eventually going to law school. She is president of National English Honor Society and vice president of Cancer Kids First. She is also a volunteer tutor for the Asian Passion Program where she aids in bridging the language barrier between Asian and American culture.
Rockie Martin, the previous year’s homecoming queen, returned to pass down her crown to Tran.
“I am so grateful that I got the chance to stand alongside such amazing and talented girls on the HOCO court. Thank you to the best senior class ever for choosing me as homecoming queen! That night was a dream, and I’m so happy my parents and my brother got to share it with me,” Tran stated.