Seniors Hannah Walker and Colby Wilson were crowned homecoming queen and king, lighting up a cloudy day with their bright smiles and words of gratitude toward the student body and their supporters.
Alongside them, seniors Mattie Neighbors and Will Hoge were crowned homecoming princess and prince, during the halftime ceremony Oct. 28 in the Bears’ game against Tarleton State University.
Homecoming princess and senior Mattie Neighbors holds her umbrella during the ceremony.
Walker, a public administration and political science major, covered her mouth in shock as her name was announced as homecoming queen.
“I’m so excited,” Walker said. “I’m overwhelmed for sure, but in a good way, and I’m just so thankful to everyone. I love UCA so much and I just I’m so thankful and just so happy.”
Walker is from Conway and was sponsored by her sorority Alpha Sigma Tau.
Last year’s homecoming queen and UCA alum, Gisselle Hernandez, said she especially enjoyed handing off the crown to a member of her sorority.
“It’s a really special moment,” Hernandez said. “Especially because I’m passing it off to my sorority sister. I love UCA so much and I just really enjoyed getting back into the spirit of everything.”
Walker said she thinks of herself “as a collection of everyone here,” and said the crowning was “an honor truly. I know how big of a deal this is.”
Walker said that despite the weather, the court made their own fun.
“Right before queen was announced and royalty was announced, we just all stood over there in the rain under our umbrellas. We were dancing and having so much fun. It was a really sweet moment,” she said.
Alongside her stood Colby Wilson, who is no stranger to winning; the night before he was crowned homecoming king, Wilson’s fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi took home the first-place trophy at the annual homecoming step show.
Wilson said the back-to-back awards left him speechless.
“Oh God, no words. No words. I just thank everybody for voting. I just give it to God.
“It’s crazy. I literally can’t even fathom the words right now,” he said. “It’s just priceless. It’s something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Wilson smiles as last year's homecoming king; Nelson Omolo, places the crown on him.
Wilson is majoring in health science promotion and is from Pine Bluff. He was sponsored by the National Panhellenic Council.
Both Wilson and Walker expressed gratitude for their supporters and for the connections homecoming week can create.
Walker said, “I honestly couldn’t be more thankful to all these people and I love them all. They’re amazing.”
The week “brings everyone together,” she said. “It’s a moment that we can all come together and be excited for something. Homecoming is a weeklong, monthlong celebration, and I’ve just seen so many people come together so it’s been so fun.”
Wilson said homecoming week has been an integral part of his college experience.
“You get the ability to bring back alumni and people that have done the same thing as you have.
“Being able to be here especially with my organization, being here with all the brothers … and learning from them. Homecoming is just the biggest part of a college career,” Wilson said.
Along with the king and queen, students also elected a homecoming prince and princess.
Mattie Neighbors, a senior from Paragould majoring in biology, only had one thing on her mind after being crowned princess.
“Oh my gosh, I am so excited to be able to go back into the stands and play with the band,” she said.
Neighbors is a member of the UCA Band and plays French horn. She was sponsored by her sorority Delta Zeta and the pre-med club.
Senior Will Hoge was elected prince. Hoge is from Conway and is majoring in biology. He said his favorite homecoming event of the week was the pep rally because it had “awesome energy.” Hoge was sponsored by his fraternity Sigma Tau Gamma.
