A South Carolina highschool senior made historical past as the college’s first Black homecoming queen in 155 years.
Amber Wilsondebriano, a senior at Charleston’s Porter-Gaud Excessive College, was voted homecoming queen by her friends in 2023.
“After I was nominated, I did not really feel assured I might win,” Wilsondebriano mentioned. “Nonetheless, all through the week, many college students instructed me they have been voting for me. When the day got here and my identify was known as, I used to be relieved and honored as a result of I knew I used to be part of historical past. I used to be elated the entire evening. My friends made me really feel particular for the day.”
Wilsondebriano mentioned the help she has acquired earlier than and after her coronation has been overwhelming.
“So many kids of all ethnicities requested to take photos with me as the brand new queen,” she mentioned. “I’m so joyful to have been chosen as homecoming queen for my character and achievements, not due to my race.”
Wilsondebriano, 17, is one among Porter-Gaud Excessive College’s greatest college students. She has a 4.66 GPA and is a co-founder of a number of golf equipment on the faculty. One of many golf equipment she is most pleased with is the Black Excellence Society.
The Black Excellence Society is a membership she thought the college wanted to have Black college students within the faculty come collectively and have a secure area. The membership can also be an area the place Black college students can discover methods to deliver extra range to the college.
“There are lower than 10 Black folks in my senior class,” Wilsondebriano mentioned. “When we have now our conferences, each Black scholar within the faculty can slot in one classroom.”
When Wilsondebriano and her 5 pals pitched the membership to the administrators at Porter-Gaud Excessive College final yr, they instantly accepted this system.
“I can not say sufficient how supportive the college has been of the membership,” Wilsondebriano mentioned. “They’ve funded catering for us and gave us a classroom to carry our conferences. I admire the college very a lot.”
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Aspiring writer additionally leads Chinese language, Artwork golf equipment
Wilsondebriano is the Chinese language and Artwork Membership co-leader and plans to main in portray at The Savannah Faculty of Artwork and Design subsequent fall. Her targets are for instance and write kids’s books. She additionally goals of sometime proudly owning a enterprise and sourcing her work.
“Amber is a really particular youngster,” mentioned Amber’s mom, Monique Wilsondebriano. “She has taught herself the best way to paint. She is such a blessing. It isn’t stunning to me that the youngsters voted for her to change into queen. She is an effective buddy and may be very loyal.”
Wilsondebriano’s household is from New York however moved after her father, Chevalo Wilsondebriano, was injured within the 9/11 assaults. Whereas working for the FDNY EMS as a medic and first responder, he sustained an damage to his lungs.
They moved to South Carolina to open their firm, Charleston Gourmand Burger Co. Their merchandise have been bought in Macy’s, Complete Meals and Walmart.
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