By Andrew Kutzer

Rebecca Haines

What is your year and major?

“I am a senior majoring in special education with a minor in psychology.”

Can you provide information about yourself? (Club involvement, background, studies and interests)

“Since my freshman year at Kutztown, I have been a sister of Phi Sigma Sigma. Since being in Phi Sigma Sigma, I have held many different positions, one of them being the philanthropy chairman. During my time with this position, I held many events to help raise money for our national philanthropy. I also started a backpack drive and donated over 70 backpacks filled with school supplies to a school in need in the Reading area. I have also had a job on campus since my sophomore year working in the One Card Office and in the Mail Room. Another program that I am involved in is the Alaska Distance Tutoring Program. This is where I get assigned a student who lives in Alaska and twice a week we meet on a video computer program and I can work on different skills with this student. Outside of Kutztown, I love being able to relax and spend time with my friends and family. This past summer, I also had the honor to be a camp counselor at the Hellen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind and Visually Impaired children. The camp is located in Avalon, N.J. and was free for children who have different types of visual impairments. The camp was eight weeks long and each week we would get a new set of 20 campers. This was the most amazing opportunity and only made me more excited to be able to start my career in education.”

What made you decide to run for Homecoming King/Queen?

“I was nominated by my sorority Phi Sigma Sigma to run for homecoming queen. I accepted my nomination to run because Kutztown has been my home for the last four years and I would love nothing more than to be able to represent Kutztown as the 2016 homecoming queen.”

What made you choose to attend Kutztown University?

“When I was going through the process of selecting a college, I had such a hard time finding that one place that felt like home. I had looked at so many schools in my home state, New Jersey, but none of them seemed right. My cousin is an alumnus of Kutztown University and told me I should just give it a look, and as soon as my mom and I pulled up on Main Street I knew that Kutztown was the school I wanted to be my home for the next four years. The small town and beautiful campus stole my heart from the moment I saw it.”

Arielle Thomas

What is your year and major?

“My name is Arielle Thomas and I am a senior electronic media major.”

Can you provide information about yourself? (Club involvement, background, studies and interests)

“I have worked for Housing and Residence Life for the past three years, I was a Connections Orientation Facilitator for two summers and I have been Production Assistant in the MSU for the past three semesters. I spend a ton of time editing with my electronic media family in the learning center and I am also a member of NRHH and Phi Sigma Sigma.”

What made you decide to run for Homecoming King/Queen?

“I decided to run for Homecoming Queen for the experience. I wasn’t super involved in high school and I knew I wanted to change that when I came to college. So, I got involved right away when I got here my freshman year. Now as a senior, I figured that being on Homecoming court would be another thing to get involved with and it definitely has been an awesome experience so far. It’s an amazing opportunity to share with the other people on court and I feel blessed that people voted to get me here.”

What made you choose to attend Kutztown University?

“I chose Kutztown for its amazing electronic media program. I was always interested in editing videos in high school, and after seeing everything that the EM program here has to offer, it was a no brainer [choosing KU]. Plus, the campus is beautiful and was the perfect size for me. I love KU and I definitely made the right choice coming here.”

Britanny Strosser

What is your year and major?

Senior and special education/elementary education

Can you provide information about yourself? (Club involvement, background, studies and interests)

“I am the president of the Kutztown Dance Team, which I have been a part of since my freshman year of college. I am a member of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, which involves many volunteer opportunities and community service. I am also a member of the club, Council for Exceptional Children. I am from Lancaster, Pa. I love staying busy and being involved. I am either in the library, at a sorority event/meeting, at dance practice or performing for an organization on campus.”

What made you decide to run for Homecoming King/Queen?

“My sorority nominated me to run for Homecoming court. I was very thankful for the opportunity especially after I found out I was nominated onto the court.”

What made you choose to attend Kutztown University?

“I chose Kutztown University because of the welcoming and friendly environment when I came to visit. I felt very comfortable about everything and I knew they had a great education program.”

Alyssa Blasko

What is your year and major?

“I am a senior special education preK-8 dual certification elementary education 4-8: math and English major. I have also completed the Autism Endorsement at KU.”

Can you provide information about yourself? (Club involvement, background, studies and interests)

“I am the president of Performing Dance Portmanteau, a choreographer for the group for three years, and have previously been the secretary. Since my freshman year, I have been actively involved with the Kutztown University Presidential Ambassadors and a member of the Honors Program. I am serving my third term as the secretary of Council for Exceptional Children, a special education club on campus. I am also a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Association for Professional Development Schools. I was selected as one of Kutztown’s delegates to attend the PASSHE Summer Study Abroad to Norway in 2015, where I studied the Nobel Peace Prize and Climate Change. I was an elected member of Student Government Board for three years and am employed in the McFarland Student Union Building on campus. In the spring of 2016, I received a Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.”

What made you decide to run for Homecoming King/Queen?

“I have been involved at Kutztown since the first day of my freshman year. It was actually the support of my dance group, Performing Dance Portmanteau, that encouraged me to run. It would be truly an honor to be Homecoming Queen, and represent this university in another facet.”

What made you choose to attend Kutztown University?

“Kutztown University is known for a rigorous education program, but more specifically, a phenomenal special education program. I chose KU because of the welcoming atmosphere, the array of clubs I could get involved in, and the overall amazing opportunities that I envisioned for myself here.”

Jessica Burns

What is your year and major?

“I am a senior communication studies major with minors in public relations, professional writing, women and gender studies, psychology, digital communication and new media.”

Can you provide information about yourself? (Club involvement, background, studies and interests)

“I have been involved in many different clubs and organizations in my time at KU. Some include: women’s tennis, Performing Dance Portmanteau, being the Founding and current president of Delta Phi Epsilon and the parliamentarian of the United Greek Council. I currently work as a public relations intern for Kutztown University Relations. This past summer I worked as a Connections Orientation facilitator (Group 5 way too live). I am also a member of the Gamma Sigma Alpha National Greek honor society and the Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society. I hope to one day give back to all of my professors who have influenced me so positively and eventually become a professor myself.”

What made you decide to run for Homecoming King/Queen?

“Ever since before I even came to Kutztown, I saw the Homecoming court as some of the most influential, successful, leaders on campus and I told myself (and my Dad, who will be my escort) that one day I was going to get us on that field. In high school I was not nearly as involved as I am here, and to even be on the court is truly such an honor to me and shows me that my hard work and dedication to becoming a strong leader and influencing others has really paid off. Also, my grandmother was the “Football Queen” of her high school so I’m hoping to be able to live in the legacy and make her proud.”

What made you choose to attend Kutztown University?

“Interestingly enough, my first visit to Kutztown was to visit the tennis team on Homecoming day in 2012. Ever since then I was sold. I knew that it had a positive environment in which I could learn and grow and I am so happy that I made the choice to come here. It has truly been life changing for me in the best way possible and I hope that some day I can give back to Kutztown for all of the amazing opportunities that it has offered me.”

Other students nominated for Homecoming Queen are:

Ashley Foley

Allison Geist