During the heart of the 2010 Homecoming half-time show, two Kean seniors waited for the results of who would be crowned Kean royalty for rest of the year. In the end, psychology major, Jennifer Da Silva, and Spanish major with teacher certification option, William Donnelly were the two to take the Homecoming Queen and Kind titles home, along with the according adornments. Da Silva and Donnelly were both finalists for their crowns, a feat Da Silva saw as a "blessing" in itself. The two students are active and continuing student leaders with a rich relationship with the university. Da Silva is currently the president on the executive board of Kean Dance Theater (KDT), a funded group whose focus is on 'performance' activities. As a member of the group in the past, Da Silva has participated in many Kean student organized programs and service activities, including the KDT Student Showcase - an annual student choreographed dance show; Da Silva is currently readying for this year's Fall semester Student Showcase taking place on December 10, 2010.

Da Silva's crowning was a picturesque moment for her father, who among all in attendance and the cheering from the crowd during the Homecoming game's half-time, Da Silva heard support from loud and clear. "I could hear his unique whistle," Da Silva said smiling. Da Silva remembers seeing friends and family rushing to the front of the crowd when the second runner-up was announced, but her father was persistent to capture the moment with his own lens. Da Silva's father is a former Kean student, so the achievement was something of pure pride. Da Silva's family link does not stop there. Jennifer's sister, Kim Da Silva, a now Kean alumni student, was a former executive board member for KDT and is now a supporting force behind the new Homecoming Queen's strive for success.

Donnelly is no stranger to achievement through work effort. As a returning student who first began his education at Kean in the mid 1980's, Donnelly now stands as one of the most involved and dedicated Kean students on campus. Donnelly admitted that the idea of actually winning the Homecoming King crown was an achievement that seemed farfetched due to his non-traditional student status. The results invoked a memory of when he first applied to return to Kean in Fall 2009; during this time, Donnelly was puzzled as to whether his age would factor into his being accepted. As Donnelly's graduation hastily approaches, he will carry with him the notion that Kean truly does embrace diversity in students and closes no doors or opportunities to them.

Donnelly currently serves as returning vice-president for the non-funded group Educators of Tomorrow, a local chapter of the NJEA. Donnelly was one of the group's founding members. He took a supporting role on the executive board with ease mainly because he "loves to see and aid others in developing as leaders", according to Donnelly. Donnelly is also the president on the executive board of the non-funded group S.E.P.I. C. - Spanish-English Partners in Communication. "It's these leadership positions and this involvement that really going to make you successful [after the years at Kean]," voiced Donnelly.

Da Silva and Donnelly both had favorite moments with the Homecoming experience. For Da Silva, seeing the camaraderie of the athletic teams as one family was the shining 'Kean Pride' moment. Of course, the actual crowning "made her Senior year", Da Silva admitted proudly. For Donnelly, the victorious outcome of the Cougar football team against William Patterson was the proud Kean moment.

The two new Kean royalty both admitted wanting to have an opportunity to give thanks back to Kean for the lives established with the university. Both King and Queen have intentions of pursuing Master degrees with the Nathan Weiss Graduate College; so their educational homes really are rooted in Kean. Kean University wishes the 2010 Homecoming Queen and King success and happiness whether their journeys continue with their Kean family or otherwise. Wear those crowns proudly!