Lake Orion High School 2005 graduate Calli Long could soon be shaking hands with President Bush, after she was recently crowned ‘America’s Homecoming Queen.?
Long, who was Homecoming Queen for LOHS in 2004, entered the national contest after winning the Michigan Homecoming Queen competition, held in Muskegon this past April.
America’s Homecoming Queen is a non-profit organization, and participation is by invitation only.
Long competed against 49 other state winners in the contest, and won a college scholarship, and a trip to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee the last week of December, where she will serve as Miss Liberty Bowl.
‘Last year, Miss Liberty Bowl got to dance on stage with Little Richard, so we’re waiting to see who I’ll be with,? said Long. ‘I’ll also be visiting St. Jude (Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis), and that’s important to me because my mom had cancer.?
Long has also been told she could get the chance to meet President Bush when she goes on a trip to the White House.
‘We won’t know until two weeks in advance (when that will be),? she said. ‘Probably in January or February.?
Long is the daughter of Jan and Steve Long of Lake Orion. She has lived in Orion all of her life, and has one brother, Marcus, 20.
In America’s Homecoming Queen, each year a different group of girls compete for the title, and each state winner who participated in the contest this year, held July 14-19 in Anaheim, California, received an all-expenses paid trip.
The contest was held at the Disneyland Hotel inside the Disneyland Resort. Disneyland celebrates their 50th anniversary this year, and America’s Homecoming Queen is celebrating their 20th, so this year’s contest theme was ‘The Happiest Homecoming on Earth.?
Each contestant had to do an interview with each of the seven judges.
‘We also had to give a one minute speech about our state, and before we arrived we produced a two-minute video on our community, which they showed to everyone at the competition,? Long said.
Long also had to complete an essay on upholding and promoting the non-profit organization of America’s Homecoming Queen.
Long worked with teachers at LOHS to do research for her essay, and said fellow 2005 LOHS graduate Kevin Hoban helped her make the video.
‘Sarah Manzo was really the one who pushed me to do this,? she said. ‘It was very nerve wracking, I’m normally not a nervous person.?
Long said she had the opportunity to talk to the other girls competing in the contest, and became friends with many of them.
‘We got to go around Disneyland before the park opened and they did a photo shoot in front of one of the castles,? she said.
The final stage of the contest was an evening gown competition. To prepare for the trip, Long said she brought with her ‘the overweight suitcase.?
‘I had no idea what I would need so I packed a lot of clothing,? she said.
Long was able to bring her parents with her to California, and said they were very supportive.
‘They thought it was awesome,? she said. ‘It’s a great opportunity.?
Long doesn’t yet know the exact amount her scholarship will be for, but heard it should be about $3,000.
‘I’m going to Michigan State University in the fall,? she said. ‘I’m going to study administrative education. I want to be a principal.?
Long said she was inspired to choose that particular career path because of Manzo.
‘I would like to come back to Lake Orion (Schools) to work,? she said. ‘This district’s done a lot for me, and I think I can offer a lot to them.?