Lauryn Hines, 2007 Homecoming Queen, will crown this year’s Queen at the football game on Saturday afternoon.
Every year the Homecoming Queen is crowned by the returning queen from 10 years ago, which is referred to as the Coming Home Court.
Hines was crowned queen in 2007, but graduated in 2008. While a student, she was the historian for Sigma Theta Chi, participated in Sing Song every year, served as a Welcome Week director, an ACU camp counselor and worked in the admissions office. Hines said despite her heavy involvement around campus she did not expect to be nominated for Homecoming Queen, or to win.
Her husband died a year ago after a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer, and Hines said that the people she met from ACU have surrounded her in support during her difficult year.
“I’m just thinking about how how thankful I am for the ACU community and all of the incredible people that supported us,” Hines said. “We had such an amazing cloud of witnesses around us during that time and so many people came into my life while I was a student or working at ACU.”
Hines said she was excited and surprised and nomination.
“It means so much to me that it’s a peer nomination,” Hines said. “I remember standing there on there on the field with my dad, and they announced my name and we just looked at each other and we were shocked.”
Hines is the second generation Wildcat, with her mother also being on the Homecoming Court and Mrs. ACU. Hines father is Guy Lewis, a member of the Board of Trustees. Hines said that she enjoyed her time here and continuing the family legacy.
“It’s kind of a cool, special family tradition,” Hines said. “I’m the oldest of five kids and all of my brothers and sisters have gone to ACU also. So ACU is a family tradition and it’s like a home away from home.”
Homecoming offers other events than the crowning of the Homecoming Queen, but Hines said she does not have a specific favorite event, because she most looks forward to the people she will get to see.
“As anyone who has been an ACU student knows the best part of ACU is the people,” Hines said. “It’s the joy and happiness of getting to see all those people you met through ACU that have meant so much to you.”
Hines currently lives in Dallas and is a small business owner of a shop called Love Nest Creative. As a student she majored in English and advertising and public relations.
Hines said that she is looking forward to coming back to campus to crown the next Homecoming Queen.
