It has been 83 years since Jones College crowned its first homecoming queen, who at that time had two attendants.
Now on Oct. 19, the crowning of 2024’s queen, Sha’niyah Turner, will occur with five members of the court, Maddie Taylor and Markecia Lloyd as Sophomore Maids, Elisa Cook and Saylor Sullivan as Freshman Maids and Dannah Knighton as the Student Body Maid. In addition, the student body also selected this year’s Miss and Mr. Jones College, Xoe Lockhart and Daniel Baldwin.
“I just wanted to be able to humbly represent. I don’t want to go out there to be in a pretty dress. I want to represent my classmates and do that well by getting in the middle,” explained Dannah Knighton, a sophomore who was elected as 2024 Homecoming Student Body Maid.
To be elected to the Homecoming Court, students must first turn in an application for the school to evaluate their eligibility. After maintaining eligibility, campaigning begins for the chance to be elected by the student body.
“Everybody wants to be known, but it’s what you’re known for, I feel like,” said Knighton. “I decided to run for court because over the summer, my best friend and I were talking, and I was like, you know, I have an opportunity to be a light on campus.”
Daniel Baldwin, this year’s Mr. Jones College, said, “You do have to be careful because it’s a very easy route to vanity. Where’s the popularity coming from; is it coming from people knowing you as someone who’s a good leader, or he’s a cool person? That’s ultimately not up to the person running, that’s up to the people voting. So I think what it means to me is serving well and being a servant leader. “
On the same topic, Elisa Cook, one of this year’s Freshman Maids, said, “Even though we have these titles, and that you know we’re going to be on the float, in dresses and makeup and everything, we’re representing our classes. We’re still in this together, and we’re still Bobcats.”
Homecoming week will start with constructing floats on Oct. 14. Events on the following Tuesday through Thursday will begin at 7 p.m., with the “Jones Got Talent” show being held on Oct. 15, and The Jones College Jazz Band and the Jones On Stage performing on Oct. 16.
On Oct. 17, a “Glow Pep Rally” followed by the Homecoming Dance will be held, and on Oct. 18, at 9 a.m. the finalization of the floats will take place, with a Chili Cook Off hosted at 11a.m.
Lastly, Homecoming Day is Oct. 19. Events will start with the Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. After the parade, a pep rally will bring Bobcats together at 11 a.m. The Alumni Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the gymnasium, while “Tailgating under the Tents” begins at the football field.
Finally, at 1:30 p.m., the Homecoming pre-game events start, and the game will kick off at 2 p.m. against East Central Community College. The celebration will continue during halftime and the quarters with the recognition of the 2024 Honor Alumni, the crowning of the Homecoming Queen and lastly, the announcements of Mr. and Miss Jones College.
by Destiny Velasco
