Meet Parkland's Homecoming King and Queen

It was like the Miss America Pageant.

There She Was ... Lauren Caffrey, getting a crown placed on her head and a bouquet of roses handed to her.

And then came the tears.

"I'm so happy," the 17-year-old senior said. "I was crying. I've never won anything like this before in my life. I'm so proud of myself."

Caffrey, nominated by PALS, and Tom Golden, nominated by the Spanish Club, were selected as Parkland High School's King and Queen during Saturday night's Homecoming Dance.

"I don't know what to say," Golden responded. "I didn't see it coming."

The dance capped a week's worth of homecoming festivities and Student Council

Advisor Michelle Gannon couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome.
"It was an extremely successful homecoming," she said. "I couldn't be prouder of the students."

The 2011 Homecoming Court also included King candidates Andrew Kim, Reno Kriz, Zachary Muhr, Pablo Ramos and Jacob Weaver and Queen candidates Sam Azizi, Daisy Lee, Madie McShane, Ryanne Pagliaro and Kelly Zahn.

Seniors voted for the 2011 Homecoming King & Queen Thursday during homeroom.

Whether they were crowned or not, most of the students were thrilled to be a part of the court.

"It's an honor," Weaver, 18, a senior, said. "I was surprised. It's nice to be nominated and recognized."

"It's really cool to be elected by your peers," the 17-year-old McShane said. "You have the respect of everyone in school."

For Zahn, a 17-year-old senior, being a part of the court seemed "very awkward."

"I'm the least likely person to be nominated," she said. "I'm a band geek and in the art club. The marching band voted me in. If I become queen, it will be Geekville USA."