The unexpected became reality for two North Penn seniors, Cameron Higgins and Deblina Kundu, as they were crowned Homecoming King and Queen under the Friday night lights.

“I didn’t think I was going to win at all, but I was okay with it,” Kundu said with a laugh. “I didn’t really care because it was all just so fun. They called up Isabelle [Mikulski], who I always thought was going to make it. And then they called up Deja [Dubin], who I also really thought was gonna make it. I just thought that it was going to be one of the other girls. Then they called my name. If you watch the video back, you can literally see me running across the stadium. It’s so embarrassing, but like that was my genuine reaction.”

For Higgins, the moment came with a mix of nerves and excitement. 

“I feel like I knew I was gonna be top three,” he said. “And after the other two were called, I kinda knew it was gonna be me. A lot of people were coming up to me, they were like ‘I voted for you just because of the move.’ Like people I didn’t know, sophomores and juniors. And then they called Deblina, and I was just ecstatic.”

That “move”, as many students recalled, was Higgins’ Michael Jackson-inspired dance during the Introduction Assembly, one that clearly made an impression. 

“The court was the best part,” Higgins added. “I didn’t know a lot of the people. There were some that I knew but didn’t talk to often. And then doing things like making handshakes, watching everyone practice, going to the pep rally and the games, the breakfast, and everyone all dressed up. That was so fun.”

Kundu agreed, saying that the shared experience brought everyone together in unexpected ways. 

“We all just became kind of one,” she shared. “We all bonded so fast and I feel like that was the best part. That’s what made it not feel like a competition. It was just like, for fun. It was just us group of 14 guys and girls just getting together and doing stupid stuff on the stage in front of the whole school, just because we feel like it. Like, we could have not done that. We could have just stood there. But we decided to have fun.”

Higgins and Kundu saw the vote from different perspectives. Each had a unique idea of what made them stand out to their peers. 

“It was the Michael Jackson thing,” Higgins joked. 

 “I genuinely have no idea,” Kundu said. “I don’t have a ‘following’. Like how Deja has the cheerleaders, and [Sophie and Isabelle] have volleyball. And I’m just Debi!”

“She caters to everyone,” Higgins laughed. 

“We appeal to the commonfolk,” Kundu added. 

Before the big announcement, neither of them really believed they stood a chance. 

“Before the game, I was sad because I didn’t think we made it,” Higgins said. “I was asking people, they were like ‘Oh, I voted for Deja,’ or ‘I voted for Cameron [Mainor].’ I think everyone else had a following, and their following was loud. The people that voted for me and Debi, like the sophomores and juniors, just voted because ‘I like these people.’”

“They were like, ‘Oh I’ve seen her before so I’ll vote for her,’”” Kundu said. 

Despite their surprise, both said the support from their peers meant more than anything. 

“It was amazing, it made us feel great,” Kundu said. “Homecoming King and Queen is an honorable title but it’s not like we gained something. It’s the fact that people took time out of their day to think and be like ‘I like her. I like him. I’m gonna vote for them.’ Like they see the good in us.”

For both, the win wouldn’t have felt right without the other. 

“If we weren’t going to win together, I was going to be sad,” Higgins said.

“It was so amazing,” Kundu said. “If I was voted on with some other guy, I would have literally given the crown to somebody else- like no I rebuke.” 

Their connection, and school spirit, stood out to everyone watching. 

“I think Debi already represents North Penn,” Higgins said. “When she does North Penn Now, she’s the lead anchor.”

“I think NPTV played a huge part in it,” Kundu said. “That’s how people know me. For him, it was Michael Jackson. That moonwalk really got him there.”

Higgins laughed, and remarked that he doubted even doing the move in the first place. 

“I was thinking about not doing it,” he said. “I didn’t want to trip. That would have been worse.”

The alphabetical order of their court pairing made their shared win feel even more unlikely. 

“With winning together, I also didn’t expect it because we weren’t paired together,” Higgins explained. “Since it was sorted alphabetically, I feel like as a sophomore, when I voted, and saw the people pair up at the assembly, I thought that they were running together. So the chances of us being separate and winning together were very slim.”

Kundu didn’t hesitate when it came to dedicating her win. 

“You,” she said to Higgins.

“Michael Jackson, Mr. Mostert, and Dr. Voicheck,” Higgins laughed. 

“And Mr. Gillmer,” Kundu added.

Whether it was the moonwalk or Debi’s longtime anchoring for NPTV’s Morning show, it’s clear that the students of North Penn support the duo. In the end, they aren’t just Homecoming KIng and Queen; Higgins and Kundu show that putting your mind to something that may seem impossible is always worth the effort. 

VIDEOS:

Deblina’s Introduction in the assembly

Cameron’s Introduction in the assembly

The King and Queen are announced!