Classical king, queen first Asian students so honored

LYNN – Students at Classical High School filled the gymnasium last week with chants of “We love Asians!” as the school’s first Asian homecoming king and queen accepted their crowns and roses.Seniors Anthony Tham and Leonora Ngo were named the 2010 Homecoming king and queen at Classical’s annual Thanksgiving pep rally and are the first Asian students to have ever been crowned.In several conversations via e-mail, the students expressed what the title means to them and their opinions regarding the diverse population of students at Classical.Ngo said the chant that echoed from the student body was “quite fun and loving” and represents the acceptance of diversity that Classical exhibits.”We are a very accepting and diverse school,” says Ngo. “Whenever a new student comes, we’re always making them feel like they fit in.”The students said the chant was “far from offensive” and instead made them feel celebrated and honored.”Race doesn’t matter at Lynn Classical,” says Tham. “We have a wide range of diversity and everyone was very supportive.”He adds that he has accepted congratulations from students and faculty every day since he won.Principal Gene Constantino says Lynn schools have always been supportive of diversity.”Classical students represent 26 different languages and students are always welcoming and supportive of differences,” he says. “Classical is overall a very supportive school and it has been that way for a long time.”Students also congratulated Ngo and Tham and the rest of the Homecoming royal court, which included seniors Sophana Chau, Nicky Huon, Marilyn Chan and Samnang Oum.”All of the winners of the court had a very jubilant moment,” says Ngo.She adds that she was pleasantly surprised by the win knowing that she was up against some strong competitors.”When they announced my name, I was surprised and thrilled,” says Ngo. “I really didn’t expect to win after seeing some of my competition.”In addition to being named homecoming queen, Ngo was inducted into the National Honor Society last year and takes several honors classes.Ngo and Tham are in the same Honors History class taught by Greg Washington, who is also the senior class advisor.Washington commended the students for their academic achievements and was not surprised that Ngo and Tham were named king and queen.”They are both very personable and intelligent and are always participating in class,” says Washington. “They’re great students.”This year, the winners were chosen through a fund-raising voting system where seniors paid one dollar to cast a vote. The money raised goes toward the senior class.Washington says the voting system was “very unlimited” and any senior could have won. “Students didn’t choose from a list or make prior nominations for who they thought should win,” says Washington. “They could write down a name of any senior that they thought deserved to be king and queen, so I know for a fact that students really respect Anthony and Leonora.”Tham says he is proud of the students’ accomplishment.”It’s great to be the first Asians to win because the winners are usually athletes or popular,” he says.Ngo, however, doesn’t believe being crowned has ever had anything to do with popularity. “I believe that students who are crowned homecoming king and queen should possess characteristics like being nice to their fellow classmates, having good grades and giving back to their school and community,” she says. “It’s not about popularity.”