This week, SVSU will celebrate Homecoming with a variety of events throughout the week, culminating with the home football game Saturday night.
One aspect of the action-packed week involves some of the most dedicated and passionate SVSU students. Those individuals have each excelled in their own way and are running for Homecoming King and Queen.
There is an application and interview process required to be included on the Homecoming Court ballot.
Twenty-one qualified students were in the running for Homecoming Court, and 10 have been selected by the student body to represent the university.
This year’s candidates for Homecoming Queen are D’Onna Cameron, Haley Gouine, Laura Gray, Rebecca “Becks” Meredith and Melissa Whitford. The candidates for Homecoming King are Sean V. Gilmore, Michael Hensley, Shane R. McClure, Timothy Willy Nelson and Jason Pelletier.
Each of those students demonstrate their pride and involvement on campus in a variety of ways.
When candidates were asked about their motivation in running for Homecoming Court, the common theme in their answers was their love for SVSU.
“I view running for court as a vehicle to showcase my Red Pride,” Nelson said.
Nelson is a member of Phi Kappa Tau, Student Association, Program Board and several other organizations.
Each candidate’s response was bursting with school spirit and, in some cases, a bit of humor.
“I decided to run for Homecoming because it is my soul purpose in life to become the King of Saginaw Valley State University,” said Hensley, the event coordinator for Student Life.
Each student running for Homecoming King and Queen is highly involved on campus. Not only are the candidates involved with RSOs, but many of them serve in leadership roles in their organizations.
Cameron, a business administration major from Rochester Hills, is currently the president of SVSU’s chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.
Gray, an elementary special education major from Clinton Township, is the philanthropy chair for Kappa Tau Epsilon and president of Student Michigan Education Association.
Whitford, a marketing major with a minor in communication, is from Ashley and serves as the vice president of the College of Business and Management Dean’s Student Advisory Council and vice president of advertising and promotion for the American Marketing Association.
McClure, a mechanical engineering major from Novi, currently holds the position of vice president for SVSU’s chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon.
Gilmore, an accounting major from Leonard, has experienced a significant amount of growth during his time at SVSU.
“It has helped me become someone I never thought I could,” Gilmore said. “I used to be incredibly introverted, believe it or not, and this school has made me a much more confident human.”
Cameron has also been impacted greatly by SVSU.
“I did not think I would be in college or even graduate, but I’m here,” Cameron said. “I have learned the importance of being involved in my community and campus. School is not just about getting the grades, but it’s about growing as an individual.”
Pelletier’s response echoed what almost every candidate expressed in their own responses.
“From introducing me to lifelong friends, and teaching me life skills such as time management, to teaching me my field of study in an interesting manor, SVSU has been the perfect place for me,” he said.
Students can vote for Homecoming King and Queen on Oct. 5 and 6.
