Twelve LSU seniors will walk across the turf of Death Valley Saturday night as part of the 2024 homecoming court. But only two will leave the field with crowns and the titles of king and queen.

LSU’s Homecoming Week lasts through Saturday, bringing with it the competition to see which students will be crowned Homecoming King and Queen.

The students of this year’s Homecoming Court feature representation from multiple colleges, evaluated by LSU staff based on their GPA requirements, disciplinary checks and official academic classification before eventually being selected after several rounds of interviews, according to LSU’s website. 

Voting has already begun for king and queen on Tigerlink, with polls set to close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. The results will be announced at LSU football’s home game against Ole Miss Saturday during halftime. Kickoff is slated at 6:30 p.m.

Here are the candidates for 2024 LSU Homecoming King and Queen.

King Candidates

Crockett Comeaux is a natural resource ecology and management senior with a minor in surveying. He is an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, where he has served as a representative for Sneaux Days, vice president of communications and vice president of the SigEp Learning Community. He is also a College of Agriculture senator in Student Government, and is a member of the LSU Leadership Council, Omicron Delta Kappa and Order of Omega Honor Societies and the Student Philanthropy Council. Additionally, he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and is the founder of the Good Samaritan Nursing Home Outreach Project.

“I am running for Homecoming King because I want to be able to represent my university at the highest level possible as an undergraduate,” Crockett said. “As a fourth generation Tiger, I love LSU and have deep family ties to this university, and I feel like being Homecoming King is a way I will be able to leave my own mark here at LSU.”

Corbitt Driskell is a senior majoring in accounting and economics at the E.J. Ourso College of Business, and a member of the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College. He currently serves as chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in SG, and a tour coordinator for the Office of Admissions. He is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Fraternity and Tau Sigma National Honors Society.

“I’m running for Homecoming King to show that no matter where you come from, LSU can be your home,” Driskell said.

Brian Gage is a senior marketing major also minoring in advertising and entrepreneurship. He currently works as a front desk worker in the College of Engineering, and has been named LSU Ambassadors’ Kayne Finley’s Associate Member of the Year and a member of the E.J. Ourso College of Business’ Outstanding Eight.

“As a first-generation college student from a small town, I thought it would be hard to find my place on campus,” Gage said. “LSU has become my second home and greatest love. My story is one not often represented. I would love the opportunity to represent something bigger than myself.”

Zachary LeBlanc is a pre-med senior with plans to pursue a postgraduate medical degree. He has held multiple positions in SGover four years including deputy attorney general, and is a member of the four different honor societies and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, where has served on both the brotherhood and recruitment boards.

“The reason I’m running is simple, I love LSU! Always have and always will. I’ve been around this university since I was 2 and had 3 generations of family come here before me. My senior year of high school my city was decimated by Hurricanes Laura and Delta, everything I planned as student body president wasn’t going to be possible anymore,” LeBlanc said. “I came to LSU to make my high school dreams of making change come true and that’s exactly what I did. I gave everything to LSU for the last four years, so I think I’d be a great person to represent all this amazing university stands for.”

Mason Pfeffer is an information systems and decision sciences senior minoring in analytics and leadership development. He is the director of finance in SG, a participant in Leadership LSU for the spring 2024 session and the vice president of the Association of Information Technology Professionals. He is the president of Hillel at LSU and is a member of the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi.

“I am running for Homecoming King to represent out-of-state students, the E.J. Ourso College of Business, and the student organizations in which I am involved,” said Pfeffer. “I am excited and honored for this special opportunity to be selected as a member of the Homecoming Court and represent the LSU community!”

Peter Vallet is a chemical engineering senior minoring in mathematics. He is in the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College and, as of this summer, is an Astronaut Scholar, making him a recipient of a prestigious STEM scholarship awarded for work in research and engineering. He’s been involved in Greek life with Sigma Phi Epsilon, student organizations like Geaux Green and SG as the director of technology.

“Through these initiatives, I’ve forged lasting connections and developed leadership skills that have shaped who I am today,” Vallet said. “These experiences have not only enriched my education but also instilled a deep appreciation for the LSU experience. I’m excited to represent our university and celebrate the spirit of homecoming!”

Queen Candidates

Camille Cronin, a political science senior with a minor in history, has been actively involved in numerous leadership roles at LSU. She serves as chief justice of the University Court, is a member of Phi Mu sorority, where she has held positions such as diversity, equity and inclusion chairwoman, and has been part of various committees including the Code of Student Conduct Revision Committee. She is also involved in SG and the Freshman Leadership Council.

“I’m running for Homecoming Queen to honor my family and the university that made me who I am,” Cronin said. “The legacy I will leave here is not a reflection of my efforts alone, but of those who put me here and the university that made it possible.”

Paradise Kellem is a political science senior. She is currently the president of NAACP at LSU and has served as vice president of Bridge LSU. Kellem is also active in SG, where she co-chairs the Outreach Committee and is the vice chair of Budgets and Appropriations. Additionally, she holds leadership roles in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

“Being on the LSU Homecoming Court represents more than a role during the game – it symbolizes leadership, community and love for the university,” Kellem said. “I want to utilize this platform to empower my peers to learn, excel and Live Purple and Love Gold.”

Madeline Le is a marketing major with a concentration in professional sales and has served in a variety of roles in the LSU community. She’s currently the assistant director of communications for SG and the director of freshman leadership initiative for the Student Philanthropy Council. She is involved with the student organizations Women in Business, the Vietnamese Student Association, Asian Student Union, Alpha Delta Pi and community organizations Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and Knock Knock Children’s Museum.

“I am running for LSU Homecoming Queen because I’d have the opportunity to represent and give back to something way bigger than myself. Coming into LSU as a first-generation Asian-American college student, I was lost and had no mentor to guide me through this process. Since then, I’ve been able to serve as that mentor for other first-year students who were just as scared as I was to start college,” Le said. “I’ve had the opportunity to take on various leadership roles and initiatives that foster inclusivity, community, and growth. Furthermore, by running for LSU Homecoming Queen, I would serve as a representative for LSU’s values and everything that our flagship university has to offer. Being Homecoming Queen would allow me to represent the underrepresented and pass down this legacy for generations to come.” 

Emma Long is a political science and mass communications senior, as well as a member of the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, in which she is a Louisiana Service and Leadership Scholar. Currently serving in SG as a senator, Long has been involved in politics at both the national and local levels, spending time as an intern for both a ranking member of the U.S. Senate and a member of the House of Representatives, a research assistant in LSU’s Department of Political Science and the Manship School of Mass Communication and previously served a term as Student Senate speaker pro tempore. Long is also the president of Geaux Vote.

“LSU has quickly become more than just a home – it’s where I’ve grown into the person I aspire to be. A person who deeply cares about their community and is passionate about making a positive impact.” Long said. “LSU has given me the platform to pursue that passion and so much more. Being selected for this court is already an incredible honor, but being crowned queen would be a meaningful recognition of that hard work and dedication.”

Payton Manuel is a mass communication senior with a concentration in broadcast journalism. She’s been a news reporter and anchor for TigerTV for a year and is an ambassador for her senior college, the Manship School of Mass Communication. She was involved with the LSU Cold Case team as the media personnel and is a member of the NPHC sorority Delta Sigma Theta. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Her Campus LSU. She’s involved with the African American Cultural Center and volunteers for the Communities in Schools program nationally. Manuel also makes blankets for Project Linus.

“I am seeking the honor of being your Homecoming Queen as a way to reciprocate the immense support and opportunities LSU has afforded me,” said Manuel, later adding, “Should I be granted the privilege of this role, I would strive to ensure that every member of our LSU community feels acknowledged and heard, starting with something as simple yet profound as a kind ‘hello’.”

Nicole Monceaux is a dual-major senior studying political science and interdisciplinary studies, with concentrations in sociology, communication studies and leadership development. Monceaux has been involved with the sorority Alpha Phi as Lady Chaplain and the director of health and wellness. She’s spent three years in the Student Senate and is now the chief of staff for the executive branch. In the Freshman Leadership Council, she was a mentor to freshmen for two years. She was on the communications committee for Student Philanthropy Council for two years and is the former director of Greek outreach for Tigers Against Sexual Assault. She’s been involved in LSU Ambassadors and is now president of the Asian Student Union after being the secretary for two years.

“I am running for Homecoming Queen because I know I am able to represent LSU well and I want to be LSU’s second Asian Homecoming Queen!” Monceaux said.