Silvia Pizarroso Vicente’s first year in America is off to a blazing start.

The Montgomery County junior and foreign exchange student experienced one of the best moments of her life on Oct. 2 at Jim Blacklock Field. She was crowned this year’s MCHS homecoming queen.

Pizarroso Vicente received her crown from last year’s queen Jillian Weekley, who is a senior at MCHS, during a coronation at halftime of the Wildcats’ football game against Mark Twain. She was escorted by her junior classmate, Marshall Bishop.

Pizarroso Vicente said she felt like she was in Hollywood after winning the queen contest.

“I like it better than the movies,” she said.

Candidates were chosen by the student body to represent each class – freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. There is also a Wildcat candidate who is chosen on the court.

Pizarroso Vicente was part of a homecoming court that included freshman Khloe Thomas, sophomore Paislee Clark and seniors Lily Hillebrand and Sarah Waters. The other escorts were freshman Silas Powell, sophomore Austin Smith and seniors Dallas Hans and Tyler Rodgers. Waters and Rodgers were Wildcat candidates.

MCHS’ homecoming theme this year was “We Got The Beat.” Students dressed up for four days from Sept. 29-Oct. 2. On the final day, the theme was “We Are The Champions” in which students get to wear their homecoming shirts.
Pizarroso Vicente is from Toledo, Spain, just south of Madrid. She is staying with John and Cindy Shaw of Jonesburg.

“She is our sixth foreign exchange student that we hosted,” Cindy Shaw said. “We decided that we wanted somebody about (our daughter) Millie’s age to come stay with us this year and we picked her. We get a whole list and she’s the one we picked.”

The Shaws last hosted a foreign exchange student several years ago, when a resident from Serbia stayed at their home.

Cindy Shaw said she and her family enjoyed having Pizarroso Vicente in their home after two months.

“We’ve gotten really lucky with our Spanish girls,” she said. “This is our second Spanish girl and she is a keeper. She’s a really good girl.”

Pizarroso Vicente said life has been good to her at MCHS ever since school started on Aug. 25.

“From the first day I came here, everyone treated me like I’m one of the group,” the junior said. “I’m so happy.”

Pizarroso Vicente returns to Spain after the school year. She set a simple goal for her only year at Montgomery County.

“I want to make a lot of friends and meet new people,” she said.