This year’s Bud Billiken Royal Court

While the king and queen, and their court, will be dolled up, smiling and waving at all who wait to catch a glimpse of them in this year’s Bud Billiken parade, they are still just regular kids. King Jordan Norwood, a seventh grader at Choir Academy,

While the king, queen and their court will be dolled up, smiling and waving at all who wait to catch a glimpse of them in this year’s Bud Billiken parade, they are still just regular kids.

King Jordan Norwood, a seventh grader at Choir Academy, likes reading, science and social studies, and is an avid basketball player. Norwood also enjoys running and has his eyes set on becoming a brain surgeon.

Becoming the king of the parade was something Norwood knew would happen, long before the contest was announced.

“I declared it and called it in the spirit that I would be king,” said the 12-year-old who is also a member of the Walt Whitman’s Soul Children of Chicago choir.

His mother could not be more proud of her royal son.

“He has always shown strong leadership and has the personality of greatness. He told me that he was going to be the king. I told him that if he has that much faith, then I have even more.

“His faith is unstoppable,” his mother, Joanne Norwood, said.

Nyaree Patten, this year’s queen, is a fourth grader at Hoyne Elementary School. Her favorite subject is math, and she is also a member of the Chi- Town Cheerleaders squad.

Patten wants to be a cardiologist.

This year will mark Patten’s third appearance in the parade, but this time she won’t be cheering with her squad.

“This is my turn to represent all the kids, and I would do a wonderful job. You always hear about the bad stuff that kids do. “I’m an example of a good kid,” the 9-year-old said.

Norwood and Patten head this year’s Royal Court, which also includes: