Homecoming royalty -- Shantel Franklin, of Chicago, and Kendall Crayton, of Peoria, were the Southern Illinois University Carbondale 2014 Homecoming Queen and King. (Photo by Russell Bailey)
October 28, 2014
Homecoming royalty, parade winners chosen
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Beautiful weather and large crowds marked Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s “Wild with Pride” Homecoming 2014 celebration.
Reigning over the festivities, which included reunions, tailgating, a football game and volleyball matches, were Shantel Franklin of Chicago and Kendall Crayton of Peoria. The student body selected the royalty through online voting. Franklin and Crayton received their crowns during halftime activities at the Saluki football game on Oct. 25.
Franklin is a first-generation college student majoring in political science while Crayton is a third-generation Saluki studying mining and mineral resource engineering with a minor in math.
The complete 2014 Homecoming Court, listed by hometown and major includes queen candidates:
- Kayla Harris, psychology, Rockford.
- Emily Lind, general studio art major with art history and psychology minors, Herrin.
- Taylor Willer, dental hygiene, Wentzville, Mo.
- Sophia Thomasson, criminology/criminal just, university studies and communication studies with minors in forensic science and psychology, Metropolis.
King candidates serving in the court, are:
- Adrian Miller, political science, Carbondale.
- Scott Polczynski, master’s of accountancy, Du Bois.
- Cameron Shulak, aviation management and flight, Louisville, Ky.
- Desmon Walker, finance, Champaign.
Floats, marching bands and other entries filled the streets for the annual Homecoming parade. Harold Bardo, a triple alumnus of the SIU system and standout basketball and track athlete, served as grand marshal. Bardo recently retired as director of the university’s Medical/Dental Education Preparatory Program (MEDPREP) and is providing management guidance on a part-time basis to the admissions team during a national search for a new admissions director. He is the recipient of the 2014 Lindell W. Sturgis Memorial Public Service Award.
Parade winners, listed by categories, include:
Large floats -- 1. Alpha Gamma Rho, Dental Hygiene and Delta Phi Epsilon; 2. Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Pi and Kappa Alpha Order; 3. Delta Zeta and Alpha Tau Omega.
Small floats -- 1. Skyline Creek Productions; 2. Student Center Craft Shop; 3. Alpha Eta Rho.
Walking/marching units -- 1. Lake Heights Cheer Camp; 2. Arabesque Dance Studio; 3. Residence Hall Association.
Car/truck -- 1. SIU Student Recreation Center; 2. Saluki Spirit Cheer and Dance with Junior Cheerleaders; 3. Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
Band Competition:
Class A -- 1. Harrisburg High School; 2. Carbondale Community High School; 3. Civic Memorial High School.
Class B -- 1. Cobden High School; 2. Goreville Junior/Senior High School Band.
Class C -- 1. Harrisburg Middle School; 2. Carbondale Middle School; 3. Sparta Lincoln Middle School.