Cat Murphy and Gentry Beam were crowned Homecoming queen and king on Sept. 25 in front of a full stadium at this year’s Homecoming football game against Butler.

Murphy is the daughter of Sean and Kim Murphy. She is active in the Tri-M music honor society, the National Honor Society and Youth Empowerment Program. She also volunteers at the Firehouse Coffee Shop and is a drum major in the St. James Red Regiment marching band. She enjoys journaling, painting outdoors and playing music.

Beam is the son of Natha and Terri Beam. He is involved in the St. James Red Regiment marching band. He enjoys playing video games, basketball and family time.

Other queen candidates included Jolie Roark, Adalee Richardson, Josie Orton and Viviana Parsons.

Roark is the daughter of Brian and Candida Roark. She is involved in FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, the National Honor Society, and she enjoys playing golf, basketball and soccer.

Richardson is the daughter of Joey and Jenna Richardson. She participates in FFA, TFJ, Future Business Leaders of America and the National Honor Society. She also plays basketball and competes in track and field. In her spare time, she likes to listen to music and spend time with family.

Orton is the daughter of Sommer and Cole Orton. She is involved in cheerleading and serves as the yearbook editor. In her free time she does puzzles, online shopping and sports photography.

Parsons is the daughter of Tina and Brandon Parsons. She plays soccer and is involved in Future Business Leaders of America and the National Honor Society. Parsons enjoys going on drives and spending time with her friends.

Other king candidates included Gavyn King, Gabriel Adams, Owen Jackson, and Owen Spurgeon.

King is the son of Terri King. He is active on the St. James High School’s football and wrestling teams. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his friends.

Jackson is the son of Stephanie and Greg Jackson. He is involved in the wrestling and football programs at St. James High School and enjoys watching films and playing video games in his spare time.

Adams is the son of Josh and Chrissy Adams. He is involved in the Red Regiment marching band, Tri-M, the National Honor Society, DECA, School Based Enterprise, and volunteers at the Fire House Coffee Shop. In his free time Adams enjoys playing games, listening to music and being with his friends.

Spurgeon is the son of Tina and John Spurgeon. He is active in Teens for Jesus, football, basketball, golf, DECA and the National Honor Society. In his free time, Spurgeon enjoys playing sports or spending time with his friends and girlfriend.

Attendants for this year’s coronation included freshmen Myrna Engelbrecht and Carter Inman, sophomores Macy McCurdy and Paxton Lesene and juniors Maddie McCracken and Lucas Jackson. 

Engelbrecht is the daughter of Jami and Dustin Engelbrecht. She plays volleyball and enjoys spending time with her friends.

Inman is the son of Courtney French and Bret Freeman. Inman is active in football and basketball. He enjoys being with his friends and girlfriend.

McCurdy is the daughter of Jamie and Erin McCurdy. She is involved in softball, Teens for Jesus, Future Business Leaders of America and DECA. In her spare time she enjoys playing softball and being with her friends.

Lesene is the son of Shannon and Wes Gahr and Brandon Lesene and Jessica Keogh. He serves as the sophomore student representative and is active in both student council and student leadership at his church. He likes to spend his free time with friends and eating good food.

McCracken is the daughter of Garth and Amber McCracken. She runs track, and is involved in DECA and the National Honor Society. In her spare time she likes being with friends and shopping.

Jackson is the son of Stephanie and Greg Jackson. He plays football, wrestles and runs track. He enjoys video games and going to McDonald’s in his free time.

This year’s mini queen and king were Whitley Moreland and Santos Ortega.

Moreland is the daughter of Matt Moreland and Kristen Owen. She enjoys playing with her monster trucks and kinetic sand and her cat.

Ortega is the son of Enrique and Amanda Ortega. He loves spending time at the pool.

Retiring king was Johnie Perkins, son of Mark and Lori Perkins. Retiring queen was Alex Hughes, daughter of Justin and Lori Hughes.

The crowning of the Homecoming queen and king was the finale of a week full of activities leading up to the Friday night coronation. Students participated in Spirit Week at the high school which included dress-up days and special events. Students also participated in a Homecoming parade ahead of the football match against Butler.