WACO, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) – A mother and daughter duo now share the same crown after a high school senior was crowned Homecoming queen 28 years after he mom was crowned at the same high school.
Waco High School senior Treniti Freeman was crowned Homecoming queen at an Oct. 18 game.
Her mother, Keli Jackson Freeman, was crowned queen at Waco High in 1996.
“It’s definitely an honor to share this crown with my mom,” Treniti Freeman said.
Keli Jackson Freeman said it was an honor to uphold it together.
Treniti Freeman said she grew up knowing her mom was the Homecoming queen at Waco High School and always dreamed of following in her footsteps.
“I always wanted to be a Homecoming queen ever since I was a little girl,” she said.
The mom and daughter said the path to crown has changed a lot in three decades.
“In my days, we were nominated by an organization that we participated in during our high school years. I was a cheerleader at the time, so they nominated me to represent cheerleaders,” Keli Jackson Freeman said.
Treniti Freeman said the current process has turned to social media.
“In my situation, you made a post on social media and ask your friends and peers to nominate you and once you get nominated and make the ballot then you campaign to be on the court and once you make the court you campaign to be queen,” she said.
Treniti Freeman said she was overwhelmed just to make the court, and when she walked onto the field Homecoming night, she dressed with a nod to her mom.
“I wanted to wear red just like my mom did,” she said.
Keli Jackson Freeman escorted her daughter onto the field along with the girl’s father. Both parents work at Waco High.
Alfred Freeman is the College and Career Readiness Counselor and Keli Jackson Freeman is the Parent and Community Involvement Specialist.
The mother, daughter royal duo said they don’t take the responsibilities that come along with representing such a storied school lightly.
“So many women have had the title of Waco High School Homecoming queen, and I’m just so glad I can share that with my daughter,” Keli Jackson Freeman said. “It fills my heart.”
Treniti Freeman will carry the crown while being a very busy high school senior. She is a student athletic trainer for the high school, as well as being a part of the LEAD program, Youth City Council, and Teen Leadership. She is also president of the Community in School Youth Advisory Council and a past cheerleader.
Treniti Freeman is part of the dual credit program and will graduate with her associate’s degree in liberal arts before she gets her high school diploma.
She hopes to one day be a physical therapist or athletic trainer.
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