Meet the 2007 Homecoming court
The king and queen will be crowned during halftime at Saturday's game.
Published Oct. 19, 2007
The Homecoming Steering Committee had more than 100 applicants for the 2007 Royalty Court. Applicants went through three different cuts, a "paper cut," and two interviews, where a total of 11 alumni, MU faculty and staff, and community members reviewed the applications, Homecoming Steering Committee Tri-Director Ryan Murdock said. Once the applicant pool is narrowed to the Top Ten, the honorees volunteer with Tigers Taming Hunger and the blood drive, judge the talent competition and represent MU during Homecoming Week at the spirit rally and parade. The last judging includes four new judges, and candidates are rated on their participation in Homecoming and the student vote.
"The student vote plays a huge role in determining the winner," Murdock said.
The Homecoming king and queen will be crowned during halftime at the Homecoming game on Saturday.
Anne Case-Halferty
Sponsored by Alumni Association Student Board
Alumni Association Student Board President Anne Case-Halferty said she values traditions at MU. "My favorite tradition is probably Paint the M," she said. "You see all the freshmen out there painting the big M, and they're all so excited for the new semester to start. They don't know why they're so excited, they're just looking forward to college."
Case-Halferty, a Columbia native, said she remembers watching the Homecoming parade with her father as a little girl. Now, as a member of the court, she is excited to participate in every facet of the Homecoming celebration.
"It is just the most unbelievable experience," Case-Halferty said. "You're on campus, and you see all these things happening, but I've been able to go to every single event. It's been so cool going to all of these events and seeing how the campus comes together."
Case-Halferty is a member of Mortar Board, Mystical Seven and Griffiths Leadership Society for Women. She also volunteers through the Women of Worth mentorship program, which pairs college students with girls from Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle School in Columbia.
Alexa Fornoff
Sponsored by Gamma Phi Beta sorority
Alexa Fornoff is vice president of Internal Recruitment for the Panhellenic Association and a member of Mortar Board, Mystical Seven and Gamma Phi Beta sorority. In addition, she was a Summer Welcome Leader in 2006 and member of the 2006 Homecoming Steering Committee.
Fornoff also volunteers for Centro Latino de Salud, Educacion y Cultura, Camp Hickory Hill and the Central Missouri Food Bank.
"I can remember when I, along with about 10 other people, had to paint the inside of a huge, musty walk-in freezer," Fornoff said. "It was my first and last time inside one of those things, and I am not sad about that."
Sameera Ali
Sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha sorority
Sameera Ali participates in the Missouri Students Association, Four Front, Chancellor's Diversity Initiative, Asian American Association, Hispanic American Leadership Organization and Legion of Black Collegians.
Last year, Ali helped research and create MSA legislation for the diversity fee, which allocates student funds to minority organizations at MU.
Ali said she considers her work with the diversity fee one of her most rewarding experiences at MU.
Because of the fee, minority organizations "get to do so many more things without having to worry about funding themselves," Ali said.
"It's indescribable how cool that is just because that's a step up from the past couple of years," she said.
Ali also helped to raise awareness about bringing back The Hate Report, a log of hate crimes on campus.
As a liaison for LBC, Ali helped advocate the name change of General Classroom Building after Arvah Strickland, MU's first full-time black faculty member.
"That took about a year," she said. "That's incredibly exciting to me. I respect him so much. He hired so many people for the university."
Sarah French
Sponsored by Pi Beta Phi sorority
Sarah French, vice president of Communication for Pi Beta Phi sorority and Mortar Board spokeswoman, serves her school and her community.
As spokeswoman for the Mid-Missouri Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, French raises funds and promotes breast cancer awareness.
"One of my favorite teachers from high school was unfortunately just diagnosed with breast cancer," French said. "When she was diagnosed, I decided to get really involved with the organization."
French is also involved with the Children's Miracle Network, a national alliance of children's hospitals.
"I could go on and on about the amazing children you meet," French said. "You look at what they go through, and you're like, 'Why do I complain about anything?' They teach you life lessons that you never think you'd learn from a child."
French served as Miss Missouri 2006. On campus, she has been a member of Diamond Darlings, True Tigers, Radio-Television News Directors Association and the 2006 Homecoming Steering Committee.
Brandy McDowell
Sponsored by the Pi Beta Phi sorority
Brandy McDowell said Homecoming is her favorite tradition at MU.
"I love all the festivities leading up to the game," she said.
As a member of the Alumni Association Student Board's Traditions Committee, McDowell coordinates MU traditions such as Tiger Walk, Beat kU Week and Senior Send-Off.
McDowell is also a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and an ambassador for the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
McDowell volunteers with her sorority for Children Are Readers, which sends college students to read to underprivileged children.
"It's really, really neat because I really enjoying working with children," she said.
McDowell said being on Homecoming Royalty is unforgettable.
"The best part has been seeing the students come together," McDowell said. "There's a number of things students have gotten involved in, and I think that's great, because I do see that Mizzou has the best students in the country."
Patrick Elmore
Sponsored by Phi Kappa Theta fraternity
Patrick Elmore, president of the secret society QEBH, said Homecoming is his favorite tradition at MU.
"Everybody comes back and enjoys it and puts a lot of time into it," he said. "And at the football game, I like how everybody's always supportive. Even if it's not a great season, everybody's supportive at Homecoming."
Elmore is a member of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and a member of the Alumni Association Student Board. He also leads Young Life, a Christian ministry for teenagers, at Helias High School in Jefferson City.
Elmore said he is honored to be on Homecoming Court.
"It's fun to be able to represent Phi Kap and people who do Young Life," he said. "We get to do some fun stuff, to watch all the skits and be part of the parade, and I'm just enjoying the process."
Scott Radloff
Sponsored by Tour Team
As a tour guide for both the Office of Visitor Relations and the School of Journalism, Scott Radloff shares his love for MU with prospective students. Radloff is a member of Mortar Board and the Alumni Association Student Board, and he was a Summer Welcome Leader in 2006.
Radloff said he enjoys working as a copy editor for Mojo Ad, MU's student-staffed professional-service agency. Mojo Ad works with local and national clients and specializes in the youth and young adult market.
"It's an internship within your curriculum," Radloff said.
Radloff described his place on the Homecoming Court as the pinnacle of his time at MU.
"It's the ultimate distinction for longtime service to the university," he said. "Sometimes it feels surreal. I think it'll hit me while I'm on the field, but until then, it doesn't seem real."
Ross Pierson
Sponsored by Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity
Ross Pierson, a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, serves on the Greek Judicial Board, which reviews and tries cases brought against MU sororities and fraternities.
"We decide if they are responsible for the incident and what sanctions they need to improve their performance," Pierson said. "If they can learn something, we step in and apply the sanction and make sure we keep an eye on the chapter."
Last year, Pierson was president of Alpha Gamma Rho. He has also been a member of Junior Greek Council, Outreach Student Recruitment Team and the Emerging Leaders Program.
Pierson said football games are one of his favorite customs at MU.
"I definitely love tailgating," he said. "The entire fraternity gets really fired up about football games and has a huge tailgate."
Pierson said he also enjoys the Homecoming parade.
"It's neat to see all the different organizations and what they contribute to our campus," he said. "It's nice to honor them that way as well."
Jacob Adams
Sponsored by College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Student Council
Jacob Adams, a member of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Student Council, said he has gotten several great experiences from MU.
Adams was president of his fraternity, Alpha Gamma Sigma, last year and also participates in the Ag Ed Society and Alpha Tau Alpha, the agricultural education honor society. In addition, he coaches boys and girls swimming at Rock Bridge High School.
Adams said he is excited to be on Homecoming Royalty.
"I feel like it's an honor, but it's also something I can do for the university," he said. "I feel like I've taken a lot from the university, so this is just something that gives back."
Adams said he is involved with the Special Olympics, and coaches a swim team for the competition.
Adams said he hopes to study education in graduate school.
James Tvrdy
Sponsored by Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity
James Tvrdy is an ambassador for the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Last year, he served as the director of the Homecoming Steering Committee.
Tvrdy recently became a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. He meets weekly with his 10-year-old "little brother," he said.
"The first time I took him out, we went bowling, and we had a really good time," Tvrdy said. "He wanted a high five every time he bowled, and it was pretty funny."
Tvrdy said Francis Quadrangle is his favorite place at MU.
"Some of my friends and I usually end up there, just sitting on the Quad talking on random nights throughout the semester," Tvrdy said. "Those are always really good times."