KEARNEY – Eight finalists for homecoming royalty at University of Nebraska at Kearney were announced Monday.
The king and queen will be crowned at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Health and Sports Center. They also will be recognized during halftime of UNK’s football game against Washburn at 2 p.m. Saturday and oversee other homecoming week festivities.
Finalists were selected by student vote. The final round of voting takes place this week.
Queen candidates, and the organizations they represent, include:
McKenzie Cuba, Loper Programming and Activities Council – A junior from Silver Creek, Cuba is majoring in business administration with an emphasis in management and minor in photography. She serves as co-event programming chair for LPAC, was a New Student Enrollment leader this summer and has served as Student Diplomat for three semesters. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, First Leaders, Loper Leaders, Beta Gamma Sigma and Honors Program, which she has served as a mentor. Cuba participates in intramurals and has been on the dean’s list since her freshman year.
Courtney Hayden, Alpha Omicro Pi – A senior from Kearney, Hayden is majoring in recreation management with a minor in family studies. She is president of Recreation Majors Club, Alumnae Relations Chair for Alpha Omicron Pi, St. Jude Executive Board member, Gold Torch Society member and has been a Loper Leader. She is also a Student Diplomat and works in the UNK Wellness Center. A former member of the Loper soccer team, Hayden participates in intramurals, volunteers for Arc of Buffalo County, is a member of the dean’s list and last year was named Nebraska Recreation Major of the Year.
Carlie Prososki, Alpha Xi Delta – A junior Spanish education major with a minor in biology from Kearney, Prososki is involved with Student Government, Loper Programming and Activities Council, Chemistry Club, Honors Program, intramurals and Alpha Xi Delta, which she serves as membership vice president. She is also a Student Education Association of Nebraska member, Chancellor’s Ambassador, Loper cheerleader and participates in undergraduate research. Prososki has studied abroad in Costa Rica, is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Mu Gamma honor societies, works in the Nebraskan Student Union and for Kearney Parks and Recreation.
Lainey Russell, Alpha Phi – A junior from Kearney studying psychology and health science for pre-occupational therapy, Russell was a New Student Enrollment Leader this summer, social chair of external events for Alpha Phi and serves on the sorority’s executive board as vice president of membership recruitment. She volunteers for Launch Leadership, is a Student Diplomat, student coordinator for Skills for Success, Gold Torch Society member, Loper Leader, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society member and vice president of Greeks Advocating for the Mature Management of Alcohol.
King candidates, and the organizations they represent, include:
Greg Christen, Student Government – A senior from Anselmo majoring in industrial technology with a minor in business administration, Christen transferred to UNK in 2014 after graduating with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in building construction. A Board of Regents Scholarship recipient, he is chief of staff for Student Government and president of Phi Delta Theta. Christen’s other campus involvement includes Loper Leader, College of Business and Technology Student Advisory Board, Chancellor’s Ambassador, Resident Assistant, house manager for his fraternity, Catholic Newman Center Student Leadership Team, Order of Omega and Mortar Board.
Luke Grossnicklaus, Sigma Phi Epsilon – A junior from Aurora majoring in secondary business education with a coaching endorsement, Grossnicklaus is a Chancellor’s Ambassador, former member of the Loper golf team and president of his fraternity. He also is a Student Diplomat and member of the Honors Program and Order of Omega.
Sam Stoltenberg, Student Athlete Advisory Committee – A junior from Omaha majoring in biology, Stoltenberg is a member of the Loper football team, Health Science Club, Honors Program and president of Student Athlete Advisory Committee. He is a two-year member of the football team’s Leadership Council. Following graduation, he plans on attending medical school and eventually practicing medicine as a surgeon.
Michael Wiese, Pi Kappa Alpha – A senior from Arlington studying business administration with an emphasis is finance, Wiese has served on the PIKE executive board and as the fraternity’s philanthropy chair. He is involved with Buddy Bowling through Buffalo County Outreach, worked in the PIKE haunted house and has participated in numerous highway cleanups. He is a three-year Resident Assistant in Randall Hall.
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Writer: Todd Gottula, Director of Communications, 308.865.8454, gottulatm@unk.edu
Source: Laura Matthies, Assistant Director Student Activities/Events, 308.865.8398, matthiesla@unk.edu
