Photos by Samarie Goffney and Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
UTA’s annual Homecoming week is approaching. From Nov. 9 to 15, students, alumni and residents can enjoy “The Wizard of Oz” themed events like the Homecoming parade and the 5K on Nov. 15.
Before the weeklong festivities, students voted for Homecoming king and queen, who will be announced during the Nov. 15 men’s basketball game at halftime.
The Shorthorn asked each candidate why they decided to run and how they hope to impact the UTA community.
Rosaura Lopez, finance and real estate senior, is running for the Homecoming queen. Win or lose, Lopez said she believes she is a great representative for UTA.
Rosaura Lopez, finance and real estate senior
Lopez said she thought about running for Homecoming queen last year, but was hesitant. She said she thought she was not ready to represent the school yet. Now, as a graduating senior, she said she felt that, regardless of whether she wins or not, she is a great person to represent UTA now. Winning for her means representing not only UTA, but what she stands for, Lopez said. She said that as a first-generation Latina, just being in a position to run is empowering. Lopez said Homecoming is about finding one’s place, finding home.
Nursing sophomore Jodie Orogun is a UTA Ambassador. Orogun said she is running for Homecoming queen to show that anyone can run, no matter their looks or affiliation on campus.
Jodie Orogun, nursing sophomore
Orogun said she has always tried to be involved on campus and to make a difference. In her freshman year, she joined Freshman Leaders on Campus and became a UTA Ambassador. As a sophomore, Orogun doubted whether she would have a chance, but said, “you miss 100% of the shots you never take,” and signed up. She said she is doing this to show that anybody can run, regardless of looks or affiliations on campus—that it can just be a student. Orogun said winning wouldn’t just be for her, but for all of UTA. She said winning Homecoming queen as a sophomore would be “iconic and momentous.”
Psychology senior Brenen Rosales is a member of Greek life at UTA. Rosales said she is running for Homecoming queen to represent Latina women.
Photo by Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
Brenen Rosales, psychology senior
Rosales said she wanted to become Homecoming queen because she thought it would be a cool experience and a way to represent as a Latina woman and as a member of Greek life on campus. Winning for Rosales would be about diversity and representation, so students can see someone on stage who doesn’t represent typical beauty standards, she said. Rosales said Homecoming means new possibilities and that she is grateful to have had the experience of running for Homecoming queen.
Interior design junior Jakinda Opondo is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Opondo said winning Homecoming king would show that anything is possible.
Jakinda Opondo, interior design junior
Opondo said he was inspired to try to become Homecoming king by his brothers in his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, a couple of whom previously won Homecoming king at UTA. He was encouraged by his brothers to run. As a first-generation African American, running felt like something he was fulfilling, he said. Being at UTA has made him challenge himself, and Opondo thought that if he had the chance to do it, he was going to try. Winning would show that anything is possible, he said.
Exercise science senior Ke’Sean Paire is a Movin’ Mavs and Team USA wheelchair basketball player. Paire is running for Homecoming king and said that he wants to be a voice for others with disabilities.
Ke’Sean Paire, exercise science senior
Paire said he is running to be Homecoming king to showcase people with disabilities. As a member of Movin’ Mavs and the Team USA wheelchair basketball team, Paire wants to show that, despite having a disability or being “different,” he can still do anything he wants to. Paire was partially inspired by his siblings, a sister who was crowned Homecoming queen in high school and a brother crowned Homecoming king at another university, but also because becoming Homecoming king is a duty to him. He wants to be a voice for others with disabilities. Paire quoted Henry David Thoreau on living the life you’ve imagined, and said that every day, he is living life how he’s imagined, and running for Homecoming king is doing that.
Marketing management senior Andrew Wolgast is a part of Pi Kappa Alpha at UTA. Wolgast said he has enjoyed tailgating for the basketball Homecoming games, and is running for Homecoming king.
Andrew Wolgast, marketing management senior
UTA’s Homecoming festivities were Wolgast’s first experience with Homecoming in general, and the past three years, tailgating for the basketball game and the parade have been the “most fun” he has ever had on campus, he said. Wolgast said he’s been encouraged during his run for Homecoming king by his brothers in Pi Kappa Alpha. He said he is running for Homecoming king for fun, so regardless of whether he wins, running was really about spending time with his friends and connecting with others.
@atclements03