By Jaci Schneider, Opinion Editor

Nichelle Wall’s little brother Navonte felt honored to walk his mentor to the stage in Chapel Friday. And he felt even more honored to call his sister ‘queen.’

Wall, senior psychology major from Abilene, was crowned as the 2004 Homecoming Queen during halftime of the football game Saturday.

“I wasn’t expecting it, and I was really shocked when they announced my name,” Wall said. “My mom said I looked really shocked, like ‘oh my goodness, nah, that wasn’t really my name that was called.'”

Wall’s grandfather, Tom Wall of Abilene, escorted her to the football field, and her younger brother Navonte Wall walked her to the stage in Chapel Friday.

“He was very excited,” Nichelle Wall said of her brother. “He considers me his mentor.”

Of all the escorts, 11-year-old Navonte received the loudest cheers in Chapel.

As the second oldest child in her family, Wall said she’s glad she can set an example to her seven brothers and sisters. She’s the first in her family to go to college and will graduate in May.

After graduation, Wall said she hopes to attend graduate school at ACU or Hardin-Simmons University. Eventually, she hopes to work with underprivileged children and begin a family.

Wall said she was glad her family attended the football game to support her, and afterward they went out to celebrate.

“My mom took me out to eat and made me wear the crown everywhere I went,” Wall said.

Although Wall said she never dreamed she would become Homecoming Queen when she began school at ACU, she said she appreciates the honor.

“It wasn’t something I came in thinking about; I was just here for education,” she said. “It’s really special because the whole [student] body votes. It’s really an honor.”

Betsey Craig, coordinator of queen’s activities for Homecoming, said it’s exciting to be queen, but it’s an honor for all the women on Homecoming Court.

“I was excited about any of them winning,” Craig said.

She said the tradition of Homecoming Queen is a neat ACU tradition that she enjoys being a part of, but not all students get as involved as she would like.

“You expect everybody to vote, but not everybody does,” Craig said.

Wall said she had several people tell her they voted for her last week.

“I was surprised,” she said. “I didn’t think that many people knew me. It was really a blessing.”