A highlight of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania’s Homecoming week is the annual coronation. This year’s Regal and Radiant themed ceremony, sponsored by the Office of Student Activities and the Student Government Association, crowned Nina-Simone Beaver and Trinis Robinson as the new Mister and Miss Cheyney. The two commanded the spotlight at the Wednesday evening event, held in the Marian Anderson Music Center auditorium. Last year’s Mister and Miss Cheyney, Shaneka Briggs and Shaquille Harrison were also on-hand to crown their successors.
The night commenced with a procession of “royal representatives” from student clubs, Greek organizations and members of the Royal Court including, Qualyn Meade and Erica Lyn Russell, Mister Miss Blue and White; Wesley Thorn and Keiasha Lumpkins, Mister and Miss Legend; Imir Adams and Courtney Stewart, Mister and Miss Congeniality; and James Mergile and Cara Fantini, Homecoming King and Queen. Class Kings and Queens included: seniors Brandon French and Tatyana Rollins; juniors DeJon Mackin-Irving and Marlon Herring; sophomores Jason Rodgers and Ashley Allen; and freshman Blanie Lewis-Thompson and Rebecca Evans.
Organizational Kings and Queens included Khalil Allen, Brotherhood; Monae Williams and Kelvon Hucks, the Cheyney University D.I.V.A.S.; Ricky Wilson, Jr. and Ericka Porter, L.L.C.; Nehemirah Revell and Kayla Marshall, N.A.A.C.P.; Eric Hodge and Nazirah Purnell, Emlen and Humphreys Hall; and Britney Castillo, Sisterhood.
Greek Organization Kings and Queens included Imir Adams and Joi Oliver, Alpha Phi Alpha; Roi Walker and Nate Saunders, Alpha Kappa Alpha; Ryan Taylor, KeJuan Bird, Omega Psi Phi; Phi Beta Sigma; and Ceani Beaden, Zeta Phi Beta.
Both Beaver and Robinson collectively aim to use their platforms to conduct community service and outreach initiatives and plan to collaborate with members of the royal court and campus community to host related events. Beaver has already started making strides towards this goal through her Breast Cancer Awareness month event, “Kiss Away Breast Cancer” and “Pink Tuesday” initiative that calls for the campus community to wear pink on Tuesdays during the month of October.
Additionally, the full-house was entertained by, MC Isaiah Stratton, Melissa Jean-Baptiste who delivered a powerful spoken word performance and Danielle Wilson who serenaded onlookers with a guitar solo of “Diamonds” by pop singer, Rihanna. Jihaad Nash also crooned to the crowd and brought on a wave of excitement as he exited the stage, and entered the audience during his rendition of John Legend’s, “Ordinary People.”