FSU Homecoming Court's Fundraising Efforts Benefit Charities

2016 Oct 25

Frostburg State University's 2016 Homecoming King and Queen candidates raised a grand total of $4,888.57 for local and national charities in just three weeks. Students representing 15 campus organizations raised the most money the election has seen since 2012 and provided a fundraising increase of $1,603.19 from last year's grand total of $3,275.38. Organized by the Student Government Association, the election allows representatives from University-recognized student organizations to raise funds and awareness for a charity of their choice in the process of their campaign.

This year's election not only saw more participating candidates and an increase in funds raised, but also a jump from fewer than 800 student voters to more than 1,300 student voters.

Brandy Barnes, representative from the Student Members of the American Chemical Society, was crowned queen and Richard Ukonu, representative from Relationship Goals, was crowned king. The pair was crowned at the annual pep rally on Thursday, Oct. 20, and recognized again at the football game on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Barnes raised $1,080 for Holding Hands for Haley, a local foundation providing hope for families of children fighting cancer, in memory of Haley House. Ukonu's fundraising efforts provided $115 for The Training Source, a nonprofit organization located in Seat Pleasant, Md., committed to providing training services to unemployed citizens and others who cannot afford training.

Nicole Amos, representative candidate from Alpha Sigma Alpha, was recognized for raising the largest amount, $1,117.67, which supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research.

Additional Homecoming queen candidates included Jennifer Schofield representing Alpha Sigma Tau, which raised $685 for the National Eating Disorders Association; Menu'Ette Silver representing the Creative Communications Club, which raised $299 for the March of Dimes; Kennedy Logsdon representing Delta Zeta, which raised $215.20 for the Special Olympics; April Kinyua representing SGA, which raised $121 for the Allegany County Animal Shelter; and Kailey Howard representing Delta Omicron, which raised $65 for Autism Speaks. King candidates included Sam Lohff representing Phi Mu Delta, which raised $448.14 for the Frostburg Fire Department; Justin Smith representing Alpha Phi Omega, which raised $208.56 for the Cumberland YMCA; Brian Day representing FSU Rugby, which raised $165 for the Frostburg Food Pantry; Amare Langford-Armstrong representing the Residence Hall Association, which raised $119 for the American Red Cross; Malik Harris representing Uplift Fitness, which raised $115 for the American Cancer Society; Jaron Winters representing Iota Phi Theta, which raised $65 for the Alzheimer's Association; and Taqi Robinson representing Paparazzi Perfect, which raised $70 for the Union Rescue Mission.

Candidates over the three-week campaign period were required to have sponsorship from a University organization, raise a minimum of $50 and submit a short essay that was included on the ballot. The King and Queen were chosen by a popular vote, conducted online on Oct. 17 and 18.

SGA also sponsored the Sunday Big Event, in which students from a variety of campus organizations, with strong representation from Greek Life, take responsibility to clean up the community. Each organization is assigned a street in Frostburg and provided trash bags to clean up after Homecoming Weekend festivities. The event saw more than 100 student volunteers and has been an important community event for more than 20 years, according to SGA Vice President James Kirk.

"It's a well-recognized event in the community and the city supports it," Kirk said.

For more information, contact SGA at 301-687-4304.