By Denton Josey, Features Editor

Lauryn Lewis was shocked to win Homecoming Queen, but she had ACU history on her side.

Lewis, senior English education and integrated marketing communication major from Houston, was crowned the 2007 Homecoming Queen during Saturday’s football game at Shotwell Stadium. When she heard her name called as the winner, Lewis was surprised.

“I was real shocked, I turned and looked at my dad, and we had the same shocked expression,” Lauryn said. “It was so special for me and my family, having them all there to experience that with me. I was so surprised and honored for that recognition. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

Before halftime, Lauryn and her father, Guy “Mojo” Lewis (’80), were talking in the bleachers about her journey to ACU.

Lauryn’s parents, Guy and Holly Lewis, graduated from ACU in 1980 and won the awards for Mr. ACU and Miss ACU. Mrs. Lewis was also on Homecoming court in the Fall of 1979.

When she was a baby, her father would sing “Dear Christian College” to her, Lauryn said, and on her first day of preschool, she wore an ACU cheerleading outfit.

“All growing up I knew I was coming to ACU, so I always thought it would be neat to follow in that tradition,” Lauryn said.

During the crowning process, she was unable to speak for a few moments, and Lauryn said she even cried a little bit.

“I’m not a big crier, but it meant so much to me. It was kinda cool to look back and see a dream of 21 years happen in that one moment,” she said. “I was kinda overwhelmed.”

One of the first things Lauryn remembers is seeing her mom taking pictures from the first row and looking into the crowd and seeing her social club. “The one thing I could see was all of the Squigs ’cause they stood out in their yellow shirts.”

Lauryn said it was breathtaking to see the packed stadium of people. “I took a picture of it in my mind, a snapshot.”

When she walked off the field, all the women on the court gave her a hug, and Lauryn said that was a neat experience because a lot of the women on court are her good friends.

Lauryn said she was glad to have her brother, father and boyfriend participate in escorting her to different Homecoming functions. Her parents, siblings and both grandmothers were at the game Saturday and were able to see her announced queen during halftime.

In her eighth year working with the Homecoming queens, Betsey Craig, assistant director for alumni relations, said while the voter turnout was similar to years past, it was a tight contest this year. “This was the closest queen’s race we ever had,” Craig said.

While she is sure everyone was exhausted by the time it was over, Lauryn said she enjoyed the weekend.

“It was a perfect, wonderful weekend,” Lauryn said.