University Star

Darius Jones, communication studies junior, and Ariel Freeman, curriculum and instruction senior, were crowned Texas State Homecoming King and Queen last year to cheers from friends and fans.

Darius Jones and Ariel Freeman were crowned Homecoming King and Queen at last year’s game against Northwestern State.

Neither student expected to win, but both are still enjoying their status as Texas State royalty in the days until they pass on the titles. The University Star spoke with Jones and Freeman about last year’s ceremony and what the two have been doing since winning.

HO: Can you take me back to the moment they announced you as the winner?

AF: I was just so surprised, very surprised and honored at the same time because I truly love Texas State. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had. I was just honored to get into the top four, so to learn that I won the title of Texas State Homecoming Queen was just icing on the cake. It was just one of the best moments I had had in a long time.

HO: Do you have any special duties as Homecoming Queen?

AF: I had to go to a couple of events to meet different people and shake hands, and this week we (the homecoming queen and king) have a couple more events to attend. And on the game day, we have to meet different alumni and hand off the crown for this year’s homecoming queen and king.

HO: What have you been up to since last homecoming?

AF: Since last homecoming, I’ve just been trying to get everything together for teaching, getting my certification, doing internships and working with children. And this summer I finished up some more classes. I moved back home in August to full-time student teach, so I’ve been busy making lesson plans and just getting ready for life. It’s a lot of work and it takes a lot of concentration. I miss Texas State a lot.

HO: How has winning affected you?

AF: Sometimes when you’re doing all of this work, you don’t always see it pay off, but winning made me feel like I did what I had to do at Texas State. I did orientation. I was a Strutter. I was an RA (resident assistant). I tried to keep my grades up. I felt like homecoming queen was an encouragement that I was doing the right thing in how I was trying to live my life. It was an encouragement to keep reaching out to people.

HO: What qualities make a good homecoming queen?

AF: Someone who is humble. Someone who likes to talk to anyone. Someone who is encouraging, because people like to be around people who listen to them. You need to be a motivator, but also someone who is down to earth and wants to help other people. That’s a homecoming queen to me. You can’t just think you’re a queen, or that you’re “all that.” You need to care about other people.

HO: Can you take me back to the moment they announced you as the winner?

DJ: I felt really honored to make it that far. It was a great experience. I was so humbled. It felt like Texas State was thanking me for the hard work that I had done. I didn’t expect to make it to the finals. I hadn’t even planned on running, but I’m glad I did. It all worked out.

HO: Do you have any special duties as Homecoming King?

DJ: At our Black Student Alliance awards, myself and Ariel presented one of the awards. We will be at the spirit rally, and we will be on the field at the game to crown the new king and queen.

HO: What have you been up to since last homecoming?

DJ: I’ve been busy. I’m president of the Black Student Alliance this year. I’ve been involved in Student Foundation and the Associated Student Government. In Student Foundation I’m on the public relations committee, so we’re trying to promote our Veterans Day commemoration coming up in November.

HO: How has winning affected you?

DJ: It has definitely made me more aware of who I am. At New Student Orientation we do a presentation, and part of it is about pride and traditions at Texas State. There’s a Homecoming slide, and the picture they use in it is of me and Ariel on the field after we won. So, a lot of students who go through orientation come in knowing who the current king and queen are. I think it’s amazing that they look up to us.

HO: What qualities make a good Homecoming King?

DJ: I think someone who is well rounded, diverse and gets along with everyone, someone who is a role model for students and a leader.