Heather Wolf
coordinator of Student Activities, Nebraskan Student Union, 308.865.839
Twenty-eight Homecoming Royalty candidates have been named at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Homecoming Week takes place Monday-Saturday, Sept. 19-24. Royalty will be crowned on Thursday, Sept. 22, after the Lip Sync contest, which begins at 7 p.m. in the UNK Health and Sports Center. In all, there are 13 queen candidates and 15 king candidates.
The candidates are listed below, alphabetically by hometown, with the queen candidates listed first followed by the candidates for king.
Queen Candidates
Mikayla Brune, a senior from Clearwater, is majoring in psychobiology with a minor in public health and a pre-med emphasis. She is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, where she is currently the vice president of education. She is also a member of the Honors Program, Mortar Board, Phi Eta Sigma, Newman Center, Health Science Club and Psi Chi. She is the Honors Student Advisory Board secretary.
Shelly Green, a junior from Columbus, is majoring in exercise science and hopes to one day become a physical therapist. She is an active member of Circle K and has been a Resident Adviser in Mantor Hall for two years. She is the daughter of Rob and Pat Green of Columbus.
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.
Becky Berven, a senior from Grand Island, is an elementary education major with an early childhood endorsement and with a minor in Spanish. She is a member of the UNK Marching Band, where she was drum major for two years. An Honors Program member, she will student teach next fall.
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.
Cassie Erickson, a senior from Palisade, is majoring in health and physical education for grades K-12. She is a Thompson Scholar and is serving in her second year as a Resident Adviser for Martin Hall. She is also a member of Christian Student Fellowship and Overflow.
Katie Fehlhafer, a senior from Utica, is majoring in early childhood and elementary education. She is a member of the Honors Program and is a Resident Adviser for Centennial Towers East.
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.
Katlynn Killion, a senior from York, is majoring in social work. She is a member of Phi Alpha National Honor Society for Social Work, Order of Omega, Student Alumni Foundation and Gold Torch Society. She is also involved in Student Social Work Organization. Killion is currently president of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, has served on the St. Jude’s Executive Board and on the National Panhellenic Council for two terms.
Out of State
Kansas
Krissie Mikulan, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., is majoring in family studies with a minor in biology. She is active in Chemistry Club, Family Studies Organization and UNK Swim Team, which she has been captain of for the past two years. She has been a Resident Adviser for Centennial Towers West for the past three years. Krissie plans to become a pediatric nurse.
Kady Malmberg, a senior from Phillipsburg, Kan., is majoring in elementary and early childhood education. She is involved in Student Senate, Navigators, Student Education Association of Nebraska and Elementary Education Club. Malmberg is a member of the Honors Student Advisory Board and Mortar Board.
International
Colombia
Ana Maria Tejada, a senior from Bogota, Colombia, is majoring in interpretation and translation. She is a Spanish tutor in the Learning Commons and a member of the Model United Nations. She is the event coordinator for the International Student Association and member of Alpha Mu Gamma Foreign Language Honor Society.
King Candidates
Travis Arnold, a junior from Beaver Crossing, is majoring in accounting. He has been a Dean’s List student for the past four semesters, and is a member of the UNK Honors Program and Phi Eta Sigma. He is a Centennial Towers East Resident Adviser.
Jed Dush, a senior from Elba, is majoring in criminal justice. He is currently the president of Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society, vice president of administration for the Interfraternity Council and a Student Senator for the College of Natural and Social Sciences. He is also a member of Cornerstone UNK and a Peer Financial Aid Adviser.
Craig Loeffler, a senior from Grant, is double majoring in elementary education and special education, with minors in coaching and strength training. He is a member of the Honors Program and has spent several years as a Resident Adviser. He is also a member of Loper Legion.
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.
Evan Kruger, a junior from Hastings, is majoring in social sciences for grades 7-12. He is the Resident Adviser on third floor with the Thompson Scholar Learning Community and is a member of the Loper Legion Executive Board. Evan coaches Hastings High School football.
Cornell Leffler, a junior from Lincoln, is majoring in psychology. He is currently the captain of the track team. Cornell plans to become a therapist for children who have been in foster care or adopted.
Bradley Rediger, a senior from Milford, is majoring in business administration. He is a member of Loper Liaisons, Loper Programming and Activities Council (LPAC) and the Newman Center. He is also involved in Students in Free Enterprise, the Honors Program and Kiwanis Circle K. Rediger is currently a Make-A-Wish Volunteer, Disney College Program Campus Representative and Student Diplomat.
Kevin Ripp, a senior from Pleasanton, is double majoring in pre-medicine and business administration. He is a member of the Honors Program, Honors Student Advisory Board and Mortar Board. Ripp is also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Health Science Club, Loper Liaisons and Phi Eta Sigma.
Justin Buchanan, a senior from St. Paul, is double majoring in biology and secondary education. He is a member of Order of Omega, Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Lambda Upsilon, the Honors Program and Honors Student Advisory Board. He is the founder and president of UNK Photography Club and is the founding historian of the Nu Kappa chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Northern Colorado to pursue a doctorate.
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.
Bret Gardner, a junior from York, is majoring in exercise science. He is a member of the Newman Center Student Ministry Council, and a volunteer for the Animal Shelter and Campus Kitchen. Gardner was intramurals representative for Randall Hall and volunteers as a Christmas caroler.
Out of State:
Colorado
Jacob Newth, a senior from Julesburg, Colo., is majoring in wildlife biology. He is a Resident Adviser in Centennial Towers West and is a member of the Wildlife Club.
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.
International:Nepal
Ramesh Neupane, a senior from Kathmandu, Nepal, is majoring in business administration. He is a member of International Student Association and a previous member of Student Senate.
