HOMECOMING ROYALTY FINALISTS ANNOUNCED AT UNK

Heather Wolf
coordinator of Student Activities, Nebraskan Student Union, 308.865.839

The eight finalists for 2011 Homecoming Royalty have been announced at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Voting is taking place via student e-mail accounts. Homecoming king and queen will be announced after the Lip Sync competition, which is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, at the UNK Health and Sports Center.

Homecoming royalty and top finalists will be featured in the UNK Homecoming/Band Day Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24. After the parade, homecoming royalty and their families will join UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen in the Nebraskan Student Union Skybox to watch the football game. Royalty and the court will be introduced during half-time.

Homecoming finalists are listed below alphabetically by hometown, with queen candidates listed first followed by king candidates:

Queen Candidates 

Katie Swett, a junior from Ericson, is majoring in organizational communication. She is a Student Diplomat, Intramural Supervisor, and was a Summer Advising and Enrollment leader last summer. She is also a member of the Newman Center, Mortar Board, Thompson Scholar Learning Community, a Chancellor’s Ambassador and a Dean’s List student. She was named the Outstanding Sophomore for Mortar Board last year.

McKenzie Wiese, a senior from Filley, is majoring in exercise science and pre-occupational therapy. She is president of Loper Programming and Activities Council (LPAC), a member of Mortar Board, the Honors Student Advisory Board and is a student Diplomat. McKenzie is also a member of Circle K, Health Science Club and Christian Student Fellowship.

Sarah Abels, a senior elementary education major from Kearney, is a member of Alpha Phi sorority, president of Panhellenic Council and a former UNK Diplomat. She was the morale chairman for St. Jude Up ‘Til Dawn, has served on UNK’s Welcome Committee as a student leader, and is a member of Mortar Board, where she currently serves as their alumni chair.

Abbie Davis, a junior from Wood River, is majoring in business economics with a minor in management information systems. She is the speaker of the Student Senate and a member of the Honors Student Advisory Board. She also serves as a Chancellor’s Ambassador and is the vice president of Cornerstone UNK. In addition, Davis is a member of the Gold Torch Society and the Phi Eta Sigma honor society.

King Candidates 

Blaine Drozd, a senior from Genoa, is majoring in recreational management. He is a member of Phi Gamma Delta, Loper Legion, Loper Programming and Activities Council (LPAC) and the Recreation Club. Drozd volunteers for the Kearney Area Children’s Museum, Sons of the American Legion and Good Samaritan Hospital. His family received the UNK Honored Family Award last year.

Matthew Wecker, a senior from O’Neill, is majoring in nursing. He is a tour guide for the Admissions Office, Astronomy Club treasurer and past president of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Matt is the immediate past president of Cornerstone UNK and a past Student Government Senator. Wecker currently works at the Welcome Desk in the Nebraskan Student Union and the Publications Office.

Andi Diediker, a junior from Wayne, is majoring in middle school education. He is currently the president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, a member of the Honors Program and a Student Senate Representative for the College of Education. Diediker was also a Summer Advising and Enrollment team leader last summer.

Out of State

Iowa
Cam Deter, a junior from Red Oak, Iowa, is an industrial distribution major. He is currently vice president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Deter is also involved in Student Government, St. Jude Executive Board, Loper Liaisons and Industrial Distribution Leadership Team. He was a Summer Advising and Enrollment leader during the last two summers and continues to work as a Student Diplomat.