The first Homecoming Court of USA’s football era has finally been decided after a runoff and delay, with Katy Stembridge and Todd Fowler being elected queen and king, respectively.
“I feel honored being elected as the first Homecoming queen for the University of South Alabama’s first football season,” Stembridge, a member of USA’s Alpha Gamma Delta chapter, said. “I am glad that I will be able to represent not only the University as a whole, but also the Greek community in a positive way. USA has impacted my life in so many ways, and I could not think of a better way to return the favor.”
“I’m thrilled about the whole thing,” Fowler, a Tau Kappa Epsilon member, said. “I’m a huge supporter of the football program, so I’m pretty honored.”
The Homecoming Court will also consist of: Marnita Stallworth, freshman maid; Katie Ellisor, sophomore maid; Laura Ashley Butler, junior maid; and Kandace Kichler, graduate maid.
More than 1,200 people voted in the Homecoming runoff, roughly equivalent to the number that voted in last year’s SGA elections. Freshmen were the biggest participants by far, with 485 voting compared to 249 seniors, the next largest group.
“This was a new and exciting experience for freshmen,” SGA Chief Justice Colin Al-Greene, who ran the elections, said. “This is their first year to take part in a new tradition.”
Homecoming was revamped to go along with the new football team. Instead of voting just for queen and king with the runners-up comprising the rest of the Homecoming court, this year each class, except seniors, elected a maid to represent it in the Homecoming Court, with everyone voting for the queen and king.
“I think I like [the new way of doing elections] better,” Fowler said. “It’s a whole lot different and adds more people to the process.”
Stembridge agreed.
“I liked how the elections were done earlier this year because it gave candidates more time to campaign and for voters to make a more informed decision,” she said. “Candidates will not be so pressed for time and can better enjoy and participate in other Homecoming festivities.”
“I think this was a good experiment,” Al-Greene said. “Voter participation was not affected.”
The Homecoming festivities will take place surrounding the Nov. 7 Jags football game against Milford Academy.
On Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m., the Homecoming parade will begin at the Administration Building and end at the Mitchell Center track, with a pep rally following at 7:30. The game will start at 4 p.m. the next day.
SGA appropriated $6,000 for Homecoming.
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