University News

Queen candidate Rebecca Curl (Batavia, IL), sponsored by Sigma Sigma Sigma
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Queen candidate Melissa Downin (Table Grove, IL), sponsored by Bayliss/Henninger residence halls.
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Queen candidate Stefanie Djuric (Rockford, IL), sponsored by Delta Zeta sorority.
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Queen candidate Felicia James (Calumet City, IL), sponsored by Corbin Hall.
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Queen candidate Abi Johnson (Chicago), sponsored by Thompson Hall.
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King candidate Delmar Dade (Round Lake, IL), sponsored by Delta Upsilon fraternity.
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King candidate John Felker (Chicago, IL), sponsored by Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
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King candidate Allen Hood (Peoria, IL), sponsored by Bayliss/Henninger halls.
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King candidate Eric Kamenjarin (Naperville, IL), sponsored by Campus Students for Christ.
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King candidate Stephen Peach (Montgomery, IL), sponsored by Lincoln/Washington/Grote halls.
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2009 Homecoming Royalty Named

October 9, 2009

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MACOMB, IL - - Ten students are vying to be king and queen of Western Illinois University's Homecoming 2009 – "All Around The World" – which includes more than a week of activities and events building up to Homecoming Day Saturday, Oct. 17th.

Royalty voting, which began Oct. 8th, concludes at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14. Until then, students can vote and meet members of the court in the University Union Concourse. Internet access to STARS will be available at the Homecoming Court table for students interested in voting. The Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned during the 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15th Yell Like Hell pep rally in Western Hall.

The Homecoming court will attend all of Homecoming Week's events, including the Saturday, Oct. 10th events, beginning with Paint the Town on the Macomb Square from 8 a.m.-noon and Spirit Day at MacKenzie Alumni Field, where the Leathernecks men's soccer team takes on IUPUI at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 11th, Rocky's Boat Regatta sails at Everly Park at 1 p.m. (rain date is Oct. 12 at 4 p.m.), and a new Dec the Campus is scheduled for 4 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 13th it's the 6 p.m. Variety Show, with guest emcee Bobby Miyamoto, in Western Hall. The Homecoming Court will also appear in the Homecoming Day Parade(Saturday, Oct. 17) and be introduced at halftime of the 3:05 p.m. Leathernecks football game versus Missouri State at Hanson Field.

Homecoming candidates include, by hometown:

BATAVIA, IL 60510 (Batavia High School, 2006) – Rebecca Curl, a senior elementary education major, is sponsored for Queen by Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, for which she is currently in charge of alumni relations. Previously, she served Tri Sigma in risk management and served the Panhellenic Council as a Rho Gamma (recruitment leader). She said she wants to be Homecoming Queen because it would be an honor to represent not only Western's campus as a whole, but also the alumni who return every year. "I also had several family members graduate from Western, so I think it would be really neat to represent them as well." Curl said her favorite part about being a student at WIU "is the relationships I have formed with faculty and students. All of these people have shaped me into the person I am today. I also love the community feel that Western's campus has. Although a large university, we still have a cozy, small town feel, which I love." Curl's dream job "would be a third grade teacher. I love kids, and I learned since being here at Western that teaching is my true passion." Her favorite place to vacation is "anywhere tropical;" and the country she finds most interesting is Italy, because "I have Italian heritage, and I would love to visit there and experience the culture." Curl is the daughter of Kathy and Chris Curl of Batavia.

CALUMET CITY, IL 60409 (Marian Catholic High School, 2007) – Felicia James, a junior accounting major, is sponsored for Queen by Corbin Hall, where she is a second-year resident assistant, and she is involved in Hall Government. She said she enjoyed herself so much in last year's Homecoming she wants to be involved every year. "I like seeing how the students and community come together supporting the football team and having fun in a positive way as a university. I also liked seeing the alumni coming back to WIU to celebrate Homecoming, and I would like to do the same when I graduate," James said. Her dream job "is to help others, any way I can, in the world who are less fortunate." Her favorite place to vacation is Jamaica, "because I was able to learn more about another culture and history. I was able to step out of my comfort zone by getting to know new ways and see how people in a different part of the world live." James is the daughter of Diana Craig of Calumet City.

CHICAGO, IL
60618 (Lane Tech High School, 2006) – Abi Johnson, a senior history education major, is sponsored for Queen by Thompson Hall, where she is a third-year resident assistant. She serves on the executive board and is the community service chair for National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH). The NRHH recognizes the top one percent of residence hall leaders nationally. Johnson also served as co-chair of Western's Big Pink Volleyball annual breast cancer fundraiser. She said visiting her oldest brother when he was at Western "made a difference in my decision to attend Western." Working with a camp for underprivileged kids "would be my dream job," Johnson said. "I have worked at a summer camp and greatly enjoyed that experience." As for a place Johnson wants to visit, it's Africa. "I would love to go there and work with the Blood: Water mission, an organization that works to bring clean water to villages." Johnson is the daughter of Martha and Wayne Johnson, from the 4100 block of N. Harding, Chicago.

60655 (Marist High School, 2006) – John P. Felker, a junior political science major with an option in American government and a pre-law honors minor, is sponsored for King by Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He sits on the judicial board for his fraternity; he is a member of Western's Centennial Honors College; and he is a judge of elections for the City of Chicago. He said he accepted his fraternity's nomination "because I believe this would be a tremendous opportunity to promote school spirit as well as school involvement." Felker said his favorite part of being a WIU student "is the atmosphere WIU creates…not only does WIU offer small, intimate class sizes that allow for one-on-one contact with the various professors, but it also provides a much more relaxed learning atmosphere for the students to enjoy." His dream job would be president of the United States; his favorite vacation spot is the United Kingdom. Felker is the son of Patricia Johnson of the 3900 block of W. 102nd Place, Chicago.

MONTGOMERY, IL 60538 (Oswego High School, 2006) – Steven Peach, a senior broadcasting–production major and communication minor, is sponsored for King by Lincoln/Washington/Grote halls. He serves as a resident assistant and is a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), which recognizes the top one percent of residence hall leaders nationally. Other leadership activities Peach has been involved in include Orientation Team Leader, where he helps with summer orientation and registration of new students, and New Student Orientation throughout the semester. He has participated in Homecoming activities since his freshman year, and he said that his favorite event is the Variety Show. "Everyone's spirit is still fresh and people go absolutely insane. The energy at V-Show is something I look forward to every year," Peach said. Whether behind or in front of a camera, Peach said his dream job would be to work as a chef on the Food Network. For vacation breaks it's Colorado, fishing and hiking, and maybe a trip to China, where his brother currently lives. However, for Homecoming Week, Peach will stay in Macomb, where he says, "The campus is small but the school has great character." Peach is the son of Les and Mary Peach of Montgomery.

NAPERVILLE, IL 60565 (Naperville Central High School, 2006) – Eric Kamenjarin, a senior construction management major with minors in geology and business management, is sponsored for King by Campus Students for Christ (CSC). He is on the CSC leadership board and is president of the Western Illinois Construction Management Association (WICMA). Kamenjarin said he wants to be King so the smaller organizations on campus are represented, as well as the fact that this is his last year. "I want to take part in this entire experience, and soak it all in as much as possible before I leave. Western has given me so much over the past few years. I've enjoyed attending various sporting events, theatre productions and recitals; and I think that's something more students need to experience. I've really only done this over the past year or so, but it has made the biggest difference in my college experience," Kamenjarin said. He shared that his favorite Homecoming memory was constructing a boat out of only cardboard and liquid nails for the Boat Regatta; his favorite event is the Variety Show; his dream job, since he was a child, is to be a Major League umpire; and he would most like to visit Ireland, homeland of his mother and one of his best friends. Kamenjarin is the son of Ann and Ken Kamenjarin of Naperville.

PEORIA, IL 61603 (Peoria Christian School, 2007) – Allen Hood, a junior pre-medicine microbiology major and chemistry minor, is sponsored for King by Bayliss/Henninger residence halls. He is a resident assistant in Henninger Hall; vice president of Phi Rho Eta fraternity; a member of the multicultural Greek Council; and chair of Mud Volleyball 2009, which donated proceeds to the Macomb Fire Department. Hood said he wants to be King because he "represents the Western experience. I have taken advantage of the opportunities given to me on campus. I have been granted the opportunity of serving on different councils and committees that help to improve or affect this campus in positive ways." He said advising the Bayliss/Henninger Yell Like Hell committee was his favorite Homecoming memory to date. "I had the opportunity to witness the students' hard work and determination to make an idea come true. It was an awesome job from beginning to end." Hood's dream job is to become an orthopedic surgeon so he can show his younger relatives and their friends "that you can be anything you want as long as you put your mind to it. I want to set the standard and challenge my family to surpass it." He also said his favorite place to vacation or visit would be Africa. Hood is the son of Wanda Haywood of Peoria.

ROCKFORD, IL 61108 (Rockford East High School, 2007) – Stefanie Djuric, a junior in the family and consumer sciences degree program with an option in dietetics, is sponsored for Queen by Delta Zeta sorority, for which she serves on the executive board as house manager and is also part of the bid committee. She was inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, an honor society for high achieving underclassmen; and she is a member of Kappa Omicron Nu (KONu), a family and consumer sciences honorary organization; SANE (Student Association of Nutrition and Education); and the Food and Culture Club. Djuric said she enjoys the campus and all of the organizations to choose from at Western. "Since the first time that I visited the campus, I fell in love with how it is set up. We have a beautiful campus. The organizations are also great. No matter what your hobbies or interests are, there is an organization here for you. Each department has a number of opportunities to be a part of, and it is a great way to get everyone involved with something other than their regular class schedule." Djuric said her favorite Homecoming memory was performing in last year's Variety Show. Her dream job is to become a registered dietician, working in a hospital. "I would like to work with mostly diabetics and people who recently have been diagnosed with diabetes," she said. "I find it fulfilling to take someone who has just been diagnosed with a serious disease and help them to change their diet completely." Djuric is the daughter of Tamara and Dusan Djuric of Rockford.

ROUND LAKE, IL 60099 (Zion-Benton Twp. High School, 2006) – Delmar O'Neil Dade, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major with a communication minor, is sponsored for King by Delta Upsilon fraternity, for which he currently serves as vice president of public relations. He is active in WAVE (Western's All-Volunteer Effort); and has been inducted into three academic honor societies: Alpha Phi Sigma, the national honor society for criminal justice; Blue Key Honor Society; and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. As a freshman, Dade participated in Yell Like Hell and Variety Show. He said, "It was probably one of the most stressful times having fun that I have ever had, but it was all worth it because I met so many new people, including my new fraternity brothers." While law enforcement is his chosen profession, his avocation–and second profession–is to become a professional magician. "I recently dove deep into magic and performing it," Dade said. "I'd say it's a dream job because it is a very hard skill to master. I would love to headline my own stage show in Vegas or be a world renowned street performer." Dade said he finds "Japan to be the interesting country because of the advancements they have made in technology." And if he could rule one country, "…it would be Brazil. It has a beautiful culture, and the coast is amazing. If I ruled Brazil my job would be to sit on the beach all day long."

TABLE GROVE, IL 61482 (VIT High School, 2007) – Melissa Downin, a junior elementary education major, is sponsored for Queen by Bayliss/Henninger residence halls. She serves as a resident assistant in Bayliss Hall; is a Hall Government liaison; serves as a Bureau of Cultural Affairs General Assembly member; and was a student assistant in University Advising and Academic Services. Downin was also a Learning to Lead Scholar and a member of the 2008-2009 Student Development and Orientation (SDO) Orientation Team. Downin said she would "love to represent Western Illinois University, which has given me numerous opportunities I could never repay. I have so much pride in this school and for what it does for its students. I honestly love the fact that I have the opportunity to learn every day at Western. I learn in the classroom…and WIU also provides me the opportunity to learn outside the classroom as well. I am able to be involved in many organizations where I am challenged to learn about myself, others and how to improve the community I live in, locally and globally." She loves traveling, and she said she would like to visit several countries including Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Australia; but for diversity and culture, Downin said you can't beat the USA.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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