2011 HOMECOMING ROYALTY CROWNED AT UNK; ROYALTY AND ROYAL COURT HONORED

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

The University of Nebraska at Kearney crowned Katie Swett of Ericson and Blaine Drozd ofGenoa the 2011 Homecoming Queen and King in ceremonies Thursday night on the campus.

Students across the campus voted via student e-mail accounts this past week, and the Homecoming Queen and King were announced Thursday night after the Lip Sync competition.

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.

Swett, a UNK junior majoring in organizational communication, was sponsored by Loper Liaisons. She is a Student Diplomat, Intramural supervisor and was a Summer Advising and Enrollment Leader last summer. She is a member of the Newman Center, Mortar Board and the Thompson Scholar Learning Community. A Dean’s List student, she is also a Chancellor’s Ambassador. Last year, she was named the Outstanding Sophomore by Mortar Board.

Drozk, a senior majoring in recreational management, was sponsored by Loper Programming and Activities Council (LPAC).
He is a member of Phi Gamma Delta, Loper Legion, Loper Programming and Activities Council (LPLAC), the Honors Program, Recreation Club, and has been a member of the Pride of the Plains Marching Band. In addition, he 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 for 2010.

Homecoming finalists, now members of the royal court, are listed below alphabetically by hometown, with queen candidates listed first followed by king candidates:

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.

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.
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.