All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

WVU announces 2018 Homecoming court

WVU Homecoming Court
Back row, left to right: Andrew Aluise, Douglas Ernest, Jr., Carlton Howard, Samuel Hartiens and David Coram. Front row, left to right: Alexandra Davidson, Kristin Moro, Kendra Lobban, Haley Craig and Bernadine Kwan Wan Ling.

MORGANTOWN – Candidates for West Virginia University’s 2018 Homecoming court have been selected.

Voting will take place on Tuesday, October 2 and Wednesday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at two locations: the Mountainlair and the Student Recreation Center.

The entire court will participate in the Homecoming parade, which takes place on High Street, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 5.

The 2018 Homecoming king and queen will be crowned during a halftime ceremony at the WVU football game against Kansas on Oct. 6, at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Homecoming queen candidates are:

Haley Craig, a member of the Honors College, is a senior exercise physiology major minoring in leadership studies from Shady Spring. She serves as an executive board member of the Exercise Physiology Club, president of the Pre-Med Club Chapter of AMSA, student ambassador for the School of Medicine Professional and Undergraduate Programs, peer mentor for the Honors College, and tutor with the WVU Athletic Department. Craig is the recipient of the Milan Puskar Leadership Scholarship, PROMISE Scholarship, and the Rhododendron Scholarship. She is sponsored by the Exercise Physiology Club.

Alexandra Davidson, a senior accounting major minoring in equine studies from Upper Saint Clair, Pennsylvania, serves as the vice president of finance for Alpha Kappa Psi, the executive financial officer for the Mountaineer Maniacs, member of the National Society for Collegiate Scholars, and she is a former member of the WVU English Equestrian team. She is the recipient of the Ramsburg Family Business Scholarship, and a four-time recipient of the West Virginia University Blue & Gold Scholarship.

Davidson is also the two-time recipient of the Robbins Study Abroad Scholarship, and has had the opportunities to study abroad in England and India. She is sponsored by Alpha Kappa Psi.

Bernadine Kwan Wan Ling, a senior psychology major minoring in political science from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, serves as the vice president of the Model United Nations Club and student affairs representative for the Student Government Association. She is also a member of Phi Sigma Pi and the Psychology Club. She performs undergraduate research in the Department of Psychology, serves as a student worker in the Office of Global Affairs, and formerly played the double bass in the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She is sponsored by the Model United Nations Club.

Kendra Lobban, a member of the Honors College, is a senior finance major minoring in political science and pre-law and legal studies from Morgantown. She is a member of the Order of Omega, Mountaineer Maniacs, Beta Gamma Sigma International Honorary Society, and member and former president of Chi Omega. She is also the vice president of recruitment for the West Virginia University Panhellenic Association. Lobban has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average, and is the recipient of the PROMISE Scholarship and Mountaineer Scholarship. She also works as teaching assistant and office assistant in the College of Business and Economics. She is sponsored by Chi Omega sorority.

Kristin Moro, a member of the Honors College, is a management information systems major from Roseland, New Jersey, but has recently relocated to Northern Virginia. She has held several leadership positions with Kappa Kappa Gamma, serves as the vice president of the WVU Figure Skating team, and member of the College of Business and Economics Career Readiness Program, MISA (Management Information Systems Association), Order of Omega, and WVU Mortar Board. She is a founding member of the WVU synchronized figure skating team, served as a lead designer for the promotion of TEDxWVU, and a digital media intern with WVU Sports. She is sponsored by Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

Homecoming king candidates are:

Andrew Aluise, a public relations majoring minoring in business administration and general musicianship from Charleston, currently serves as the president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He is a member of the Chess Club, and former student worker with the Office of Multicultural Programs. In his spare time, Aluise likes to play the guitar and provide lessons, and as an avid sports fan, he volunteers his time as a referee at local high schools. He has been on the Dean’s List, and is the recipient of the PROMISE Scholarship and Vandalia Scholarship. Aluise’s three brothers graduated from the Reed College of Media. He is sponsored by Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

David Coram, a senior accounting major minoring in political science from Wheeling, serves as a student member of the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, fellow for the Campus Election Engagement Project, and an intern with WVU Treasury Operations. He is a former president of the WVU College Republicans, and director of partnership for MountaineerThon. He is the recipient of the James A. Pahl Scholarship, and has served as a student intern with the Office of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito in Washington, D.C. He is sponsored by College Republicans.

Samuel Hartiens, a senior political science major with an emphasis in pre-law and legal studies, serves as the social media chair for Sigma Nu, member of the Political Science Club, and WVU intramural flag football team. He is a former drummer for WVU Young Life, and founder and drummer for the nationally touring rock band “Riviera.” Hartiens also serves as a student worker with WVU Corporate Relations, Summit Grab ‘n Go, Olive Garden, and Uber. He is the recipient of the Shenandoah Scholarship and PROMISE Scholarship. He is sponsored by Sigma Nu fraternity.

Carlton Howard, a senior wildlife and fisheries resources major from Columbus, Ohio, is also known as “Mountaineer Snap.” Howard manages a Snapchat account that has gained more than 20,000 followers over the last year. He initially created the account to help WVU students connect to each other, but the social media platform quickly grew, and now he connects students and other followers to local businesses, social events, fundraisers, and charity events. He describes himself as an entrepreneur, event planner, promoter, and fan of all things “WVU.” He is sponsored by the WVU Baseball team.

Douglas Ernest, Jr., a senior marketing major minoring in leadership studies from Vienna, serves as the parent/alumni relations chairman for Phi Kappa Psi, president of the Order of Omega, vice president of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council, and holds several leadership positions in the Student Government Association. Earnest, Jr. is the recipient of the PROMISE Scholarship, Diversity Scholarship and Mountaineer Scholarship. He is also a food delivery driver for Meals on Wheels and a junior counselor for the American Legion Mountaineer Boys State. He is sponsored by Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

For more information on all Homecoming activities, visit https://homecoming.wvu.edu/.

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