Shirley Nguyen and David Pacleb were crowned Homecoming Queen and King at the football game against Jersey Village on October 13.
As their names were announced, the two were overcome with joy.
“I felt like I was in a dream and I couldn’t believe it until I turned around and saw David look like he was about to cry and that’s when it really set in. It just felt like a dream all night,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen said she was not initially planning to run for Homecoming Queen but later realized she could inspire others by running. According to Nguyen, she wants to be an inspiration to many and motivate others to chase their dreams..
Similarly, Pacleb said he did not expect to win either.
“I wasn’t really sure if I was going to win, but I was really excited for the outcome. [I’m] grateful to everybody that I won,” Pacleb said. “I ran because a lot of my friends encouraged me to [run]… but when I made Homecoming Court, it really became a bigger thing and I honestly just wanted to be able to leave my mark on the school before I graduate.”
Without voters, none of this would have been possible for these two students. Jeanne Pacleb, a supporter and friend of both David Pacleb and Nguyen, was involved in both students’ campaigns.
“I was involved 100 percent in the campaigning process because I was the one taking all their pictures for social media,” Jeanne Pacleb said.
“I think they won because Shirley and David aren’t people who only hang out with one group of people,” Senior Jeanne Pacleb said. “They are very sociable and extroverted and they also work hard in all the clubs they are a part of.”
Junior Cailin Johnson voted for both Shirley and David.
“I am very glad that Shirley won because she is a very kind and generous person who’s in a leadership role in Key Club and David is very nice and funny,” Johnson said.