October 16, 2012

Homecoming 2012 royalty, parade winners chosen

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumni and fans came from far and wide this past weekend to enjoy 2012 Homecoming festivities that included a parade, king and queen coronation, a big Saluki football victory, and a variety of other special activities set to the theme "Let the Games Begin!"

Whitney Clark, a radio-television-media industries major from Chicago, was chosen 2012 Homecoming Queen, while Corbin Wayne Doss, a civil engineering major from Springfield, was selected Homecoming King.

Members of the homecoming court included queen candidates, with their majors and hometowns -- Emma Dale, radiologic sciences, Walnut; Heidi Myszka, dental hygiene, Bloomington; Chelsea Reardon, public relations, Murphysboro, and Emma Will, English education, Marion. King candidates were Brett Bocian, biomedical sciences, Lake in the Hills; Steven Ebers, biological sciences, Cutler; Nathan Miranda, criminology and criminal justice major, Olive Branch, Miss., and Brendon Tarvin, accounting, Wood River.

Connie Price-Smith, a four-time Olympian, much-decorated Saluki track and field and basketball standout, and 1990 SIU Hall of Fame inductee was Grand Marshal. The current head coach for the Saluki men's and women's track programs, Price-Smith participated in the parade and was recognized during the game.

2012 Homecoming Parade winners include:

Large Float -- 1. tie, Phi Kappa Tau/ Sigma Alpha and Alpha Gamma Delta/ Alpha Tau Omega; 2. Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity/Delta Zeta Sorority; 3. Alpha Eta Rho.

Small float -- 1. Theta Xi/Kappa Alpha Order; 2. Phi Sigma Kappa/Sigma Pi Dental Hygiene (SADHA); 3. The Reserve at Saluki Pointe.

Walking/marching -- 1. Student Center Craft Shop; 2. Student Recreation Center; 3. Brownie Girl Scout Troop 8167.

Car/truck -- 1. Automotive Technology Organization; 2. Saluki Formula Racing; 3. WIDB.Equestrian -- 1. Autumn Ridge Acres.

Band Competition:

Class A -- 1. Carbondale Community High School; 2. Harrisburg High School; 3. Carterville High School.

Class B -- 1. Trico Junior/Senior High School; 2. Hardin County Junior/Senior High School; 3. Egyptian Community High School.

Class C -- 1. Carbondale Middle School; 2. Sparta Lincoln School; 3. Anna Junior High School.