Eileen Hernandez and Jennifer Mijares named 2013 C.C.Winn High School Homecoming Queens

By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Nestled on the banks of the Rio Grande River on the United States-Mexico border, Eagle Pass C.C. Winn High School students made history on Friday, October 18, 2013, in electing two female classmates, Eileen Hernandez and Jennifer Mijares, as the 2013 Homecoming Queens during the halftime activities of the Mavericks versus Laredo United South High School Panthers football game in Eagle Pass, Texas.

The historical significance of this milestone is that Eileen Hernandez and Jennifer Mijares are the first persons of the same sex to be named Homecoming Queens in Eagle Pass and to represent the Gay and Straight Alliance, a school club at C.C. Winn High School.

C.C. Winn High School Principal Jesus Diaz-Wever stated “that it is important for all persons to be respected and treated with dignity and the students at C.C. Winn High School certainly understand that all persons are equal.” Diaz-Wever stated that the Gay and Straight Alliance is a student club at C.C. Winn High School which helps students to respect every person and treat them with dignity regardless of their gender orientation.

Also elected to the 2013 Homecoming Royal Court were Anthony Olivares and Brianna Guedea as Prince and Princess representing the thundering Maverick Marching Band; Steven Garcia and Ashley Franco as Duke and Duchess representing the Silverline Dance Team; Carlos Cerezo and Jaslyn Garza as Count and Countess representing the Media Tech Club; and George Andrade and Stephanie Nicole Borja as Lord and Lady representing the Football Team.

The 2013 Homecoming Royalty Court is elected by the C.C. Winn High School students themselves in an election administered by the Student Council. Dionni Olivares, a teacher and faculty sponsor of the C. C. Winn High School Student Council, stated that approximately 750 students out of the 1,800 students voted in this year’s Homecoming election. Students are allowed to vote through the internet and may vote for up to three couples representing school clubs and organizations. Olivares stated that this year’s election was the first time that the Student Council had held the Homecoming election through the internet with the assistance of Assistant Principal David Camarillo.

Olivares stated the Homecoming election was held on Thursday, October 17th, on campus during the students’ lunch period. Initially, the internet election went smoothly for the first couple of hours, but a technical glitch caused the Homecoming election website to shut down. Thanks to Assistant Principal David Camarillo’s computer wizardry the Homecoming election website was restored causing the election to be extended into Friday, October 18th, to allow those students who had not voted yet due to the technical shutdown to cast their ballots for their favorite Homecoming couples during the students’ lunch period.

The more than 1,500 loyal Maverick Nation fans in attendance at the Homecoming festivities during halftime of the Mavericks versus Laredo United South Panthers football game cheered and applauded enthusiastically as the 2013 Homecoming Queens were announced over the P.A. system ushering a new era in human relations and public education in Eagle Pass as well as in the State of Texas, United States, and the United States-Mexico border.

Eileen Hernandez and Jennifer Mijares shed tears of happiness and excitement and jumped with great joy as their names were announced as having been elected by their student peers as the 2013 C.C. Winn High School Homecoming Queens or “Royal Couple” as suggested by Olivares on this cool Texas October Friday Night Lights football evening on the U.S.-Mexico border.

C.C. Winn High School Principal Jesus Diaz-Wever officially crowned Hernandez and Mijares as the 2013 Homecoming Queens beaming with a big smile and grin on his face and a newfound respect for his students becoming catalysts for social change in society.