It’s Not Homecoming Without a Crown: meet this year’s Miss NGU
Alyssa Waller, Staff Writer
Meet the 2021 North Greenville University Homecoming Queen — Hannah Turner. Turner is a senior early childhood education major. The crown isn’t the only thing that weighs heavy for this homecoming queen as she navigates life as a college senior.
“I am excited and scared at the same time because real life is hitting,” said Turner.
Turner has participated in similar events before, acting as a senior representative for the Pickens High School homecoming court. She also won Miss Senior in her high school pageant. But, Turner was shocked and honored because no matter if she had won or lost, she had the chance to represent NGU.
“I had done things similar to it before, which are always fun,” said Turner.
Unlike other girls, Turner did not campaign, which is why she was so shocked. Her sister lives with her and had voted for her. Any campaigning done on her behalf would have just been word of mouth from her friends.
The day of Homecoming, Turner was very excited. When the homecoming court and escorts were on the field, Turner was nervous to the point where she felt like her heart was beating out of her chest, and she was squeezing her grandpa’s arm.
Turner was not only honored, but she was also overwhelmed with humbleness.
“To know that they recognize my name even, because when you vote on a ballet, you do not have a picture with a face,” she said.
Turner really enjoyed getting to know the other girls on the homecoming court. Going into homecoming, she knew only one or two of the other girls, and she felt that meeting the others this way was really cool.
For those interested in becoming part of the 2022 homecoming court, Turner’s advice would be to be humble and kind. She wants to encourage other girls to run, and knows that people notice when you are genuine, kind and humble toward others.
“If you are wanting to run for homecoming queen, do it with the attitude and motive of just to have fun and to represent NGU well — not for personal gain or personal glory because we can get wrapped up in that when doing it for the wrong reasons,” said Turner.
Something Turner said she wants to emphasize about NGU is that it is home.
“You are not going to go somewhere where you are not loved,” Turner said.
In her free time, Turner really enjoys hiking or getting outside for anything, even doing homework. Another thing she enjoys doing on campus is playing basketball or volleyball. Turner finds that intramurals can be an outlet to take a break from school.
“I really, really love playing basketball. That’s like one of my big things if I ever need to get a stress reliever,” Turner said.
Turner also serves on the intramural staff and acts as the ref for the games here at NGU, which she has been since sophomore year. She heard about intramural staff when she started her freshman year. She ended up playing, and played every sport that was offered.
“That is where I started to foster a lot of friendships here.” Turner said.
Turner has played on intramural teams before, and while at NGU has been on the same volleyball team for three years — the Itsy Bitsy Spikers, which is a play on itsy bitsy spiders. Last year, Turner played basketball and her team won the whole tournament.
“It was really fun — a fun time for sure.” she said.
Although she enjoys being active and outdoors, she also enjoys relaxing and having a movie night with family and friends. She likes the movie “Remember the Titans,” which is a football movie. Ever since she was five, her family has been immersed into that culture considering her father is a football coach.
Though “Remember the Titans” is her favorite movie , her favorite TV show would be “Friends.”
When it comes to music, Turner loves the Jonas Brothers or Justin Bieber. Justin Bieber’s new album is her favorite. She also enjoys Christian artists, such as Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake. She hopes to go see them in concert in November. Her favorite songs currently are “Hymn of Heaven” or “Its Always Been You” by Phil Wickham.
As an education major, Turner hopes to one day be a teacher. For the past year-and-a-half she has been working at a church called LifeSong, where she serves part-time over the babies to 5-year-olds. Through this job experience, she realized that she would want to go into full-time children’s ministry.
“I would definitely plan and rather do that then teaching in the school. It is cool to see the Lord at work, but it is also scary because little details have to fall into place,” she said.
Turner said the Lord has really put it on her heart to go into children’s ministry. Turner’s boyfriend, Duncan Henderson [sophomore], is also a worship leader. Turner has considered ministry part-time and teaching but has seen how the Lord can bring two people together to do kingdom work.
“To see that opportunities can present themselves through that to do ministry together is really cool,” said Turner.
When she has time off campus, she likes to go home, which is a refreshing time for her. It does not happen often, but she likes to be with her family in Pickens, S.C.
“When I get to go home, it is really nice to be able to relax.” she said.
Family is something special for Turner, because she is considered a miracle baby — she was born with a hole in her heart, which healed, and her parents were told that they could not have kids. They tried to start a family for five years, and the Lord was faithful.
“That is a whole story that is really cool,” Turner said.
Something Turner would like people to know about her is that often times she is big on loving and encouraging other people. She is one of those people who knows people do not always have it together.
Turner said, “The people who love on you most and want to encourage you also do not have it together. We are all broken people, but by God’s grace we are still standing in His faithfulness.”
*Featured Image: Photo courtesy of Kayleigh Harrill.
