Why do you want to be Homecoming Queen?
Shay Berges, a criminal justice senior, has been involved in Primus Freshman Honorary, SOPHOS Sophomore Honorary and the Criminal Justice Association during her first years at the UA. Berges was also vice president of Risk Management for her sorority, Alpha Phi, and currently serves as the chapter president of Alpha Phi. For the past three years, Berges has also interned for Arizona Athletics and The Jim Click Hall of Champions, working with the cheerleaders and mascots.
“When I get free time, which isn’t often, I love to be outdoors, hike, bike and try different bomb restaurants with my friends,” she said.
A fun fact about Berges: Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat are some of her besties.
“I would love to be Homecoming Queen, but even being on the Homecoming court is such an awesome opportunity,” Berges said. “But to be Homecoming Queen would seriously be insane and so memorable. I think Homecoming Queen should be someone who’s super approachable, super friendly and involved in a lot of aspects at the [UA] because there are so many different things to get involved in. I have truly loved my years here. To get to come back here in later years and tell my kids and grandkids, who would maybe go to the [UA], … that I was Homecoming Queen would be awesome.”
Brooke Brady, a dance senior with a minor in business administration, is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During Brady’s time at the UA, she has been in the Honors College, on the executive board of Dancers’ Consortium and a member of Chain Gang Junior Honorary. She also teaches dance to elementary school students at the Satori School and volunteers with Revolution Church’s Sunday school.
After graduation, Brady plans to move to New York or Los Angeles and pursue her dreams of being a professional dancer with the Radio City Rockettes and other dance companies.
Brady hates traveling anywhere without a disposable camera and has a crazy obsession with any combination of bread and cheese.
“I’ve always been really interested in it and it really became evident last year when I was a part of Chain Gang and in the Homecoming parade, and how big of a deal Homecoming is,” Brady said. “I would always try to get involved in all the things I can—especially coming from out of state—I really didn’t know anyone so I wanted to be able to take advantage of and really dive into every aspect the university has to offer. I want to give back everything that it’s given to me and represent the spirit and the passion that this school has.”
Lauren Kenney is a marketing senior in the Eller College of Management. Kenney was actively involved in Greek Life, holding various leadership roles in her sorority, Alpha Phi. Kenney is also a member of the Eller College Student Council and has recently taken on the position of Career Showcase Coordinator.
On the weekends, Kenney enjoys hanging out with her friends and rooting on the Wildcats.
“Believe it or not, I was actually Homecoming Queen for my high school, so having that experience, I always aspired to be Homecoming Queen for the UA,” Kenney said. “I just think it’s an incredible honor to be able to represent the student body at Homecoming. I also think that I’m a very competent leader and student, and I take full, 100 percent pride in trying to make the university the best that it can be for all of the students. The past four years of my life have been nothing but incredible, so I can’t even imagine graduating.”
Brenna McGill is studying business management in the Eller College of Management. McGill is the chapter president for her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, and participates in the Eller College. McGill is also a member of Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity and is actively involved in the Order of Omega and Rho Lambda Honorary.
McGill serves as a member of the Hunter White Endowment Board and supports its efforts through fundraising, programming and education for the UA Greek community.
Outside of school, McGill enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking and volunteering in the Tucson community.
“Homecoming Queen should be someone who has a strong commitment to the UA and exemplifies dedication, school spirit and involvement,” McGill said. “I strive to be a role model on campus and take advantage of all opportunities that come my way here. The UA pride has shaped who I am today and the experiences that the UA has provided me will continue to fill my devotion to the UA as a Wildcat for life.”
Hayley Schwartz is a senior studying marketing and business economics with minors in mathematics and Spanish. Schwartz is the president of the Eller College Student Council and a member of many other organizations, including Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity, the Honors College and a formerly the Chain Gang Junior Honorary. Schwartz works on campus as the Student Career Coordinator for the Eller College Professional Development Center and as the Campus Marketing Representative for Warner Music Group.
A fun fact about Schwartz: she has interned in New York City with NBC Universal and SiriusXM the past two summers and plans to move to NYC after college to work in the entertainment industry.
“I think Homecoming Queen should be someone that’s highly involved in the UA and all its traditions and wants to continue to give back to the college for years to come,” Schwartz said. “I think I’d be a good candidate because I’ve been highly involved in honorary functions on campus, Greek Life and in my college. I want to continue to give back and go to Homecoming for years to come and give back to the university that has given me so many incredible opportunities while I’ve been here.”
Why do you want to be Homecoming King?
Eric Davidson, a senior from San Diego, California, is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in political science with minors in sports management and education. A four-time Dean’s List honoree, Davidson’s work in the classroom involves the study of international relations and of athletic administrations at educational institutions. On campus, Davidson is a third-year member of the ZonaZoo Crew and was awarded the distinction of Crew Member of the Year in 2015. He also has been a member of the Arizona Ambassadors Honorary since 2013 and holds an on-campus job in the UA Office of Admissions. Davidson was nominated for Homecoming King by the Chain Gang Junior Honorary, where he served as the organization’s Homecoming chair for the event’s 100th celebration in 2014. In his free time, Davidson enjoys playing sports of all kinds, especially golf, snowboarding and baseball, and is an amateur musician and producer.
“I think the person who ends up with the honor of being Homecoming King should be somebody that really represents what the university embodies in terms of scholarship, innovation and spirit; and I believe that I do have a lot of those qualities,” Davison said. “I think that, for me, I would like to be a role model for people, especially for students that are looking at the UA as one of their choices for college.”
Santiago Kloehr, a marketing senior, is currently the marketing director for the Associated Students of the University of Arizona’s Spring Fling, the largest student-run carnival in the nation, and is currently in Alpha Kappa Psi, one of the business fraternities on campus. Throughout college, Kloehr has also been involved in Freshman Class Council, Sophos Sophomore Honorary, Arizona Ambassadors and Bear Down Camp and has held several other positions within ASUA. Kloehr said that because he aims to be the Leslie Knope of everything he is a part of, he doesn’t have much free-time, but during breaks he loves to travel and has been to every continent except Africa.
“I want to be Homecoming King because to me, Homecoming King represents an unyielding dedication to the UA, which is something I have embodied by not only proactively trying to experience every opportunity that this campus has to offer, but, more importantly, by devoting myself fully to every club, every honorary and even every interpersonal relationship and friendship I have been fortunate enough to be a part of in the last three years at the UA,” Kloehr said.
Doug Loftus was born and raised in Tucson. Although always cheering on the Cats from as early as he can remember, Loftus selected the UA as his college of choice knowing that he would continue to be involved in the Tucson community, growing both academically and as a leader. Loftus has been fortunate and has worked hard to take on two majors, marketing and entrepreneurship, while serving as the senior head of interns as a Ticket Sales Associate for Arizona Athletics and maintaining a leadership position on the UA Interfraternity Council. Loftus said he constantly strives to fulfill his long-term goals of either working for a Divison I collegiate athletics program or work in the alcohol distribution industry.
“I hope to be your 101st Homecoming King because I have done everything during my time at the UA, from being a leader in the organizations to academically striving for excellence, for the continued success and improvement of the UA,” Loftus said. “I have formed life-long relationships with fellow students, faculty and staff that have taught me and fostered the importance of doing whatever it takes to give back and be there for others. As Homecoming King, I would continue to uphold the values I have learned to this point and get to know more Wildcats before graduating, honor the Kings and Queens that have come before me and ultimately strive to truly live the Wildcat for Life motto anyway I can.”
Eddie Mackay is originally from New York and moved to Florence, Arizona, in 2010, where he later graduated from high school. Since 2012, Mackay said he has had the privilege of attending the best school in the nation as he works to obtain a degree in Engineering Management. On campus, Mackay is a Student Alumni Ambassadors Chair member, an intern for the UA Institute of the Environment, a concessions worker at football and basketball games, and a hasher for Chi Omega sorority. Mackay has also spent two years as a resident assistant in Colonia de la Paz and Villa del Puente Residence Halls and has done volunteer and community work in the past with Golden Key International Honour Society and Kiwanis club. Fun fact: when Mackn ay was little, his older sister tried to lock him in the kitchen refrigerator.
“I have bled red and blue from the very first day I became a Wildcat,” Mackay said. “Every day my goal is to make someone smile, help those around me and contribute to my amazing school and community. If my Wildcat family believes I am deserving and have truly accomplished these goals as I hope I have, then words cannot describe how honored I would be to represent the UA as Homecoming King.”
Ciro Minopoli, a senior studying business and economics in the Eller College of Management, has been a part of the Arizona Cheerleaders & Mascots team for three years and is currently the team’s captain. Minopoli also served as the vice president of Chain Gang Junior Honorary last year and was an Arizona rugby player during his freshman year. Minopoli is also involved in Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Fun fact: Minopoli studied abroad in Italy last summer and has been to over 25 Major League Baseball stadiums within his lifetime.
“I think throughout my time at the UA, I have taken advantage of the multiple opportunities that have presented themselves through different ways to get involved on campus, whether it be within my major, through athletics, student government or honorary,” Minopoli said. “But most importantly, I have been a Wildcat fan my whole life. I was born and raised in Tucson, and just being on Homecoming Court gives me an opportunity to represent the university I’ve loved for so long. Being Homecoming King would further heighten that experience.”
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