WCU Homecoming Court 2019. Top row from left to right: James Sneiderman, Paolo Balladares, E’Quince Smith, Dylan Rood, & Marcus Greene.
Seated from left to right: Haylee Ewert, Vanessa Van Slambrook, Hannah Starnes, & Samantha Carter; Kaitlyn Alston (not pictured). Permission for photo use given by Karen Walker.
Western Carolina University celebrated Homecoming this week and crowned Paolo Balladares and Samantha Carter as this year’s king and queen at the Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Homecoming is a tradition held by many colleges or universities to welcome back alumni to their campus. But what is the purpose of a homecoming court, and what does it mean at WCU?
According to Karen Walker, Assistant Director of Student Clubs and Organizations, it is to acknowledge students who are active within the campus community and encompass Catamount pride.
Dylan Rood and Samantha Carter, both seniors at WCU, are members of this year’s homecoming court. Rood, a chemistry and mathematics major, is the WCU Chapter President of Delta Sigma Phi. Carter, a social work major, is a Resident Assistant in Scott Hall on campus and a member of Delta Zeta.
Carter said she decided to run with her best friend after the first football game of the season.
“I’m just excited to be out there and to represent Western Carolina.”
Rood said running for homecoming court is his final way of saying “thank you” to the school for all the opportunities that another university may not have been able to give him.
This year, 9 out of 10 of the homecoming court candidates are members of a Greek organization on campus.
Walker said being ‘Greek’ does adds to the story of a student’s experience but is not something the panel looks for when reviewing candidates.
Walker said the committee looks for an individual with school spirit, professionalism and knowledge about the campus. Having ‘diverse experiences’ and giving genuine feedback during interviews are also important according to Walker.
Rood said he believes this year’s male candidates represent a decent population of a diverse community.
“While all five of us are Greek, I think that we each represent something unique to the Greek community.”
Over the years, WCU homecoming court members have been involved on campus in several ways, including Residential Living, WCU Dance Team, Student Athletics, Intercultural Affairs, and Greek organizations.
For example, last year’s homecoming king, Jonah Weston, is an Resident Assistant at Scott Hall, and is also an aspiring songwriter.
Homecoming king and queen at WCU is more than just a title. Weston said that being recognized as homecoming king by his peers meant enough to him to go out and “always give everyone in the community 100%” of himself.
