Seniors Jacobsen, Pratt steal Homecoming royalty crowns
With the end of one Homecoming Weekend, comes the planning for the next.
University of Idaho junior Emily Rasch will plan Homecoming 2015 as the new Homecoming chair, after learning the ropes this year as the 2014 Homecoming assistant chair.
Genie Tran | Argonaut
UI seniors Sarah Jacobsen, of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Seth Pratt, of Alpha Gamma
Rho, were crowned Homecoming king and queen Friday night at the bonfire.
“It’s been such an amazing week for me,” Rasch said. “I’m excited to lead the team as the 2015 Homecoming chair and see what kind of new events we can put on for the University of Idaho.”
Rasch said she learned a lot about Homecoming Week from her predecessor, UI senior Jessica Greene, and considers this year’s festivities a success.
On Friday, the traditional Serpentine was led by the Vandal Marching Band. Hundreds of students joined alumni and community members to snake through Old and New Greek rows, down Sixth Street and up to the Kibbie Dome parking lot, where a bonfire and music awaited the roaring crowd.
Greeting the crowd were members of the Homecoming Committee as well as other notable guests such as Idaho football coach Paul Petrino, Dean of Students Bruce Pitman and UI President Chuck Staben.
Rasch said the speakers helped give Vandal fans the rallying spirit they needed for the following day’s Homecoming game against New Mexico State. She said the crowd’s Vandal pride rose even higher when the Aggies’ flag was burned to ashes in the bonfire.
After the speeches were given, Rasch and Greene introduced the Homecoming royalty nominees.
Homecoming Queen nominees included Greene, Tiffany Frieson, Sarah Jacobsen, Sadie Hanigan, Kaitlyn Krasselt, Hannah Sandoval, Madeline Paterson, Shelby Donald and Alysha Van Zante. Homecoming King nominees included Corbin Williamson, Skylar Penberthy, Seth Pratt, John Beer, Tyler Delay, Joe Harper, Philip Vukelich and Patrick Tunison.
The first of the royalty to be announced were the second attendants, or third place, which were John Beer from Theta Chi Fraternity and Shelby Donald from Delta Gamma Women’s Fraternity. Then, Corbin Williamson, a Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity member and Greene, off campus, were selected as first attendants. Homecoming King and Queen crowns were given to Seth Pratt and Sarah Jacobsen, who reign from Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Gamma Women’s Fraternity.
The newly chosen royalty waved to the crowd and continued to represent UI at the Homecoming Parade and football game Saturday.
The election of Homecoming royalty starts with nominations from anyone on campus. The requirement for elections is the nominee must be a senior with at least 90 credits. After the nominations are received, the Homecoming Committee asks the candidates to submit a one to two page biography, which cover a nominee’s academics, campus and community involvement, and plans for after graduation. The Homecoming advisers and the committee royalty chairs score the biographies and bring the number of applicants down to the top 15 females and top 12 males and invite each in for an interview.
A panel of judges interviewed the candidates and use points to score and rank them. From the interviews, the panel chose the top eight men and the top nine women to remain in the competition. Then it went to a university-wide vote, where all points were tallied up and the top scored man and woman become Homecoming king and queen.
Rasch said Homecoming is one of the longest running traditions at UI and it functions as a replication of the intense Vandal pride the student body and community shares.
Emily Mosset can be reached at [email protected]