Under the spotlights in Cramton Auditorium, crowns of the Howard University Royal Court sparkled and glitzed as they walked through aisles of cheering friends, family and alumni.
Much of the ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 19 was devoted to celebrating the 49th Mister Howard, Hamid Jalloh and the 87th Miss Howard, Eden Boles, and their journeys to the crown.
Jalloh said his journey began when his parents immigrated from Sierra Leone before he was born. Jalloh became teary-eyed walking down the aisle to his throne after embracing family members who had driven far to see his coronation.
Jalloh discussed in his first official address how central his family is in his life.
“I try to put a smile on my face and everything, but it’s hard trying to make sure that I keep [my family] happy, but it’s the best that I can do and continue to do,” Jalloh said during the coronation.
The night was also emotional for Boles, whose family made her a video of the many people back in Arkansas, including her late grandmother, who were proud of her accomplishments. Her parents, Andre and Nicole Boles, spoke about her insistence on going to Howard as a high schooler and the community legacy she lives through back home.
“To know her is grace, strength and life,” Andre Boles said. “Whether she’s chasing her dreams or comforting others, she does it with such a rare end of courage and compassion.”
Vice President of Student Affairs, Lydia Sermons, recounted what such titles mean before swearing in the Royal Court.
“I have no doubt that we’re bearing witness to a highly capable group of student leaders,” Sermons said. “When you look back years from now, you will see that you have achieved something very special.”
Each king and queen shared grand dreams of what they will do with the crown.
To Cameron Wright, a junior legal communications major from Atlanta, being Mister Cathy Hughes School of Communications (CHSOC) is being a cheerleader for his peers.
“Wherever you come from, whatever school you are a part of, if you are a Bison, you are going to get support and hear us cheering for you no matter what,” Wright said.
Wright was Mr. Freshman for the class of 2027, which he said allowed him to bond with his class in a way he hopes he can do with CHSOC.
“The beautiful thing about being out there 24/7 is that you really know who you go to school with and vice versa. They get to know us,” Wright said.
During his time with the crown, Wright hopes to showcase the hard work CHSOC does through a media showcase and the inaugural SOC organization fair, which was held in September.
Miss School of Business (SOB), Tyla Woods, a senior marketing major from Kentucky, is not new to student leadership, as she served as treasurer for SOB council.
“I was the contact for major corporations, bringing them to schools, collaborations with other people, it’s a lot,” Woods said.
She said she feels that people don’t give school councils enough credit. However, she pursued the crown to get more independence in her leadership initiatives.
“You can make whatever you want of it. You have more creative freedom, but altogether, you’re somebody who is looked at to hold that standard of your school,” Woods said.
For Mister School of Business, Dashawn Napier, a junior finance major from Maryland, the crown means being a student’s biggest advocate, he said.
“I want to be that face that people see and know that can come to me and ask for anything,” Napier said. One initiative that Napier is passionate about is improving mental health, specifically for Black men.
“I really just wanted to bring that open talk, that openness and willingness to talk about mental health to Howard,” Napier said.
The Howard University 2025-2026 court was also present at many of the 2025 Homecoming festivities like Bison Madness and the football game. Future events will be posted on the @huroyalcourt on instagram.
Copy Edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
