Ten students will represent the Â鶹ҹÊÐ as members of its 2026 Homecoming Court. Two will be selected as king and queen during halftime of its Homecoming football game.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will face the Arkansas State Red Wolves at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
Any registered student organization or athletics team could submit nominations for the court. A panel of alumni volunteers and student leaders interviewed applicants and assigned scores to each. The 10 nominees with the highest scores became members of the court.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Homecoming Court members.
Tafari Denaté Beard Jr. is a senior from Zachary, La., majoring in moving image arts. He was nominated by the Student Government Association.
Beard has been a Presidential Student Ambassador and Student Government Association chief elections officer. He co-founded the L.E.A.D. Association, which pairs undergraduate students with upper-level student mentors.
Beard is the son of Myiesha Beard and Tafari Beard Sr.
Aliysha De'Arjahnae Butler is a junior from Minden, La., majoring in early childhood education. She was nominated by the University Program Center’s Traditions Board.
Butler has served as secretary of the Black Women Leadership Association and as a member of the Student Orientation Staff.
Her parents are Latausha and Shawn Eddings, and Arthur Henderson III.
Kaiden Joshua Harris is a senior from Bossier City, La., majoring in marketing. He was nominated by the Student Orientation Staff and is a member.
Harris has also been a member of the University Program Center’s Cultural Connections Board, the Student Government Association, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Delta Sigma Pi.
His parents are David and Katrina Harris.
Cye Hebert is a senior from Baldwin, La., majoring in criminal justice. He was nominated by the University Program Center’s Cultural Connections Board and has served as its chairperson.
Hebert has also been a vice president for the Advance Student Research Ambassadors program and a Student Orientation Staff orientation leader.
His parents are Audra and Gerard Hebert.
Grayson Kervin is a senior from Mandeville, La., majoring in accounting. He was nominated by Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.
Kervin has served as Student Government Association treasurer and Interfraternity Council president. He has been a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and the Student Orientation Staff.
His parents are Tim and Jennifer Kervin.
Emily Loren Lamkin is a senior from Metairie, La., majoring in political science. She was nominated by the Student Government Association.
Lamkin has served as the association’s president. She has been a member of the SOUL Camp staff and Tri Sigma Sorority.
Her parents are Julie and Clem Hollin Lamkin.
Thomas Moody is a junior from New Orleans, majoring in management. He is a member of Delta Tau Delta was nominated by the fraternity.
Moody has also been a member of the Student Orientation Staff and received its Mr. SOS Award. He has been active with the Greek Unity Board and with Order of Omega.
Moody is the son of Gaynell Moody and Keith Moody.
Onyeka Nwaezeapu is a senior from Katy, Texas, majoring in biology. She was nominated by the Title IX Task Force.
Nwaezeapu served as Student Government Association president and as a student representative on Â鶹ҹÊÐ’s Presidential Search Committee. She has also been a Presidential Student Ambassador and an Advance Student Research Ambassador.
Her parents are Odiah Nwaezeapu and Chulisa Davis.
Trinity Stewart is a senior from Baton Rouge, La., majoring in mass communication. She was nominated by the Student Orientation Staff and is a member.
Stewart has also been a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the Student Government Association and the SOUL Camp staff.
She is the daughter of Ericka Bell.
Gabrielle St. Pierre is a senior from Slidell, La., majoring in civil engineering. She was nominated by the Panhellenic Council and served as its president.
St. Pierre has been Student Government Association chief of staff and vice president of development for Phi Mu Sorority. She belongs to the Greek Unity Board and the Order of Omega.
Her parents are Scott and Kendra St. Pierre.
Photo caption: Members of the 2026 Homecoming Court at the Â鶹ҹÊÐ are, from left, Tafari Denaté Beard Jr., Kaiden Joshua Harris, Thomas Moody, Grayson Kervin, Cye Hebert, Trinity Stewart, Onyeka Nwaezeapu, Emily Loren Lamkin, Gabrielle St. Pierre and Aliysha De'Arjahnae Butler. Photo credit: Paul Kieu / Â鶹ҹÊÐ