QUESTION 1: Why are you running for King/Queen?
KING:
Clayton Allison:
I feel that I represent the school extremely well as I am a spirited individual who is well-liked by a vast part of the student body.
Frank Cox:
I have always been an avid Mountaineer fan, and I would be a great spokesman and role model for the Mountaineer nation.
Zachary Gottfried:
I love West Virginia University, and I want to represent this great school well.
Jared Ramsey:
I had a lot of support from my friends, and running for king is also my last chance to be part of an election at West Virginia University.
Jeffery Upson:
I want to promote and portray my fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, in a positive, but personable light. Over the years, I have been involved with reshaping the fraternity and helping the new house plan get off the ground. I am currently the president and would like to continue being a positive influence for WVU and TKE.
QUEEN:
Lauren Biafora:
It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I would love to represent WVU. I am also from Morgantown, so WVU is in my backyard, and I am proud to be from this great state.
Katie Gatian:
WVU has always been a big thing in my life. I’ve been very involved on campus and would love to be named Homecoming Queen.
Casey Hughes:
A friend from the Sport and Exercise Psychology Club suggested I run, and I decided it would be an awesome opportunity and a lot of fun, so I went for it.
Kori Dee Korczyk:
I feel like I am embodying the tradition and the spirt of WVU.
Megan Anne Liberatore:
I am Senior in the Five-Year Benedum Education Program. When student teaching, I always tell my students to work hard to reach their goals. Running for Homecoming Queen was something that I wanted to try. I want to be a role model for my students, and show them that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.
QUESTION 2: What is your favorite thing about campaigning?
KING:
Allison:
Getting together with all my friends and realizing how lucky I am to have this many close friends that support and care for me.
Cox:
My favorite thing is meeting new people.
Gottfried:
Meeting new people.
Ramsey:
Meeting new people and catching up with others that you may not have seen since your freshman or sophomore year.
Upson:
The interaction I have with a large percentage of students that I normally would not see or interact with. I have met a great deal of new people not only in campaigning, but also on the court itself.
QUEEN:
Biafora:
The rush of energy that you get when you are outside giving people things to vote for you.
Gatian:
It is fun to go out on campus and meet new people while campaigning. All of my friends have been helping me, and we are having a lot of fun with it.
Hughes:
Getting to meet new people and talk to different people all over campus
Korczyk:
I enjoy figuring out what I’m going to pass out. I’m an interior design major, and I get to try and come up with something creative nobody is going to think of.
Liberatore:
Meeting people and getting a positive response from my peers.
QUESTION 3: What is your least favorite thing about campaigning?
KING:
Allison:
The preparation and making of the banners, posters and shirts on time. Making sure everything is done right and getting things out to people to wear or put up is really stressful. The worst part is organizing everything to get people and supplies together.
Cox:
There is a lot of busy work. With a full class schedule, work and other priorities, it is not easy to stay on top of everything.
Gottfried:
The cheating that goes on and the politics that are involved.
Ramsey:
Motivating friends and volunteers to be at the Student Recreation Center passing out water bottles at 7 a.m.
Upson:
Lack of sleep, spending money, anxiety and it’s time-consuming.
QUEEN:
Biafora:
I hate to bother random students and ask them for their votes.
Gatian:
It takes up a lot of time, and I have four tests this week so I’ve been really busy!
Hughes:
The time and stress that goes into it, mainly the planning
Korczyk:
The amount of time it takes. A lot of the candidates got on court because of good academics. With community and campus involvement, school and campaigning on top of that – it’s a little hectic.
Liberatore:
My least favorite thing about campaigning is having to balance campaigning with my schoolwork.
QUESTION 4: What do you plan to with your new title?
KING:
Allison:
I would enjoy it as much as possible, or until my friends get tired of me saying, "I am the King!"
Cox:
I would represent myself as a proud Mountaineer and work on community service.
Gottfried:
Guide WVU in anything it needs, and being helpful to younger students who are just finding out what college is all about.
Ramsey:
Have fun with friends and family for a week, then give it back on the field of next year’s Homecoming.
Upson:
I plan on continuing to stay involved in activities within WVU. I will continue working at the Student Communication Center and recruiting new students to attend St. John’s University Parish.
QUEEN:
Biafora:
I plan to be an active alumna and come back every year for WVU Homecoming.
Gatian:
I’d love to go out on campus and meet new people. Getting involved in new organizations is one of my biggest interests.
Hughes:
I hope that I can be a role model for younger students and even those in the area who are not yet Mountaineers.
Korczyk:
I would spread my love and enthusiasm for WVU around campus.
Liberatore:
I would want to travel to elementary schools around Monongalia County. In the schools, I would read to classrooms and talk to them about setting goals and trying their hardest.
QUESTION 5: Who would you owe your thanks to if you won? (Who had the biggest hand in your success?)
KING:
Allison:
My girlfriend would get most of my thanks because she helped plan, design, manage and organize almost everything I’ve done. She really helped me keep things together and my stress level down.
Cox:
I would have to thank everyone who voted, my family and friends. Also, the WVU Golf Team, Brian Jones – vice president of Morgantown Fire Department – and my parents.
Gottfried:
My family has been a huge help, and the WVU football team has been great in promoting me.
Ramsey:
The people who supported and voted for me throughout the election, especially my sponsor organization, the Mountaineer Maniacs.
Upson:
Being in a fraternity, I have the luxury of 23 pledges at my disposal; therefore I would say the fall 2009 Pledge Class of TKE.
QUEEN:
Biafora:
I owe my thanks to my younger brother – he has really helped me out. I am happy to have him on my team. And also to the students who took time out of their day to vote for me on MIX.
Gatian:
My parents have helped me get everything together for campaigning – it’s a lot of work. My sorority sisters have been amazing throughout the whole process and have campaigned for me every single moment they have free. My engineering classmates, and even one my professors wore my shirt to advertise for me.
Hughes:
Too many people to even name! Definitely my boyfriend Lucas Geary. Also, all of my close friends and all of the people on my support staff from family, friends, co-workers, fellow sport and exercise psychology students and the girls on my cheer team.
Korczyk:
I would have to thank my sponsors, the American Society of Interior Designers, everybody that voted for me and my friends and family.
Liberatore:
I would have to start by thanking my parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Liberatore. I would also thank Amy Condo and Captain Benjamin Schellman for keeping me grounded during this process. However, a special thanks must go out to all of my friends and the members of Student Education Association. Most of all, I would want to thank all of the students that voted for me.
QUESTION 6: Are you nervous about being in front of the stadium on game day? Why or why not?
KING:
Allison:
I am not nervous at all. I have been performing in front of our stadium crowd for the past three years as part of my cheerleading team. I am more nervous about dropping a stunt than walking out on the field in my suit.
Cox:
Not so much, I will be more humbled than anything.
Gottfried:
No, I’ve worked with the football team for the past four years. I have been on the this stage for a long time.
Ramsey:
No, the people that know me will be there, and the people that don’t will be in the blue lot. Come to think of it, some of the people I know may not stay until halftime, regardless.
Upson:
I am more nervous for the announcement of the winners than being in front of a large crowd. Overtime, I have built up a strong desire to win, and I will be disappointed if my name is not announced; although due to predicted rain on Saturday, the thought of falling in front of 60,000-plus fans is in the back of my mind.
QUEEN:
Biafora:
No, I am a people person, and I am really excited about Saturday.
Gatian:
I’m not nervous because everyone is going to be so far away. I’m just excited.
Hughes:
Not really. If the weather is bad, I am a little nervous about slipping on the wet turf, but I think it will be fine.
Korczyk:
Not really, I use to cheer in high school and dance and all things like that. I’m more excited than anything.
Liberatore:
I am so excited to have my parents escort me onto Mountaineer Field. With all the excitement, there is no room to be nervous!
QUESTION 7: Why should students vote for you?
KING:
Allison:
I am extremely friendly and willing to make friends with anyone. I pride myself with my willingness to help out anyone that needs it no matter whether I know them or not – whether it is a ride up a hill or a dollar for a drink.
Cox:
I’m honest and respectful, and I believe in Mountaineer pride.
Gottfried:
I am an honest person who is running a fair campaign, and I want to represent WVU in a positive light and represent the great students.
Ramsey:
I like to think I ran a clean and fair campaign, and met a lot of new people throughout the process. If a student elects not to vote for me, I would still encourage them to pick someone to support because it is a way to be part of the Homecoming tradition and become more involved on campus.
Upson:
Students should vote for me because in more times than not, they can relate to me on a personal level. I am an involved student who has to study hard for exams, I have WVU pride, I enjoy the city of Morgantown and I’m proud to be a Mountaineer.
QUEEN:
Biafora:
I am a true Mountaineer fan, and I will be the first person in my family to graduate with a college degree.
Gatian:
I’ve been involved on campus and truly love this University. It has given me so many wonderful experiences and I can’t wait to give back to it.
Hughes:
I would make an excellent Homecoming Queen because of who I am. I do not want everyone to vote for me because I’m pretty or rich and can afford the best stuff. Students should vote for me because I am myself. I have great school spirit and am generally a bubbly person.
Korczyk:
I’m a well-rounded student with a good academics record who balances community involvement.
Liberatore:
I think that students should vote for me because in the end, I am just like them. I work hard in my classes, I enjoy the weekends, and I love WVU. I set a goal for myself, and I am trying my best to achieve it.
QUESTION 8: How could you use your crown to help students?
KING:
Allison:
I would like to create more school spirit in our students. We need to support more than just our major sports.
Cox:
I would talk to University 101 students about the importance of giving time to the community. We are fortunate to be college students, and we should share knowledge to everyone less fortunate.
Gottfried:
I would use my crown to help students with their everyday lives of being Mountaineers.
Ramsey:
Ramsey did not answer this question.
Upson:
I would use my crown to help motivate students to get involved on campus, whether it is in church, hobbies, recreation or academics. I feel in order to get the full worth of college, one must be involved and grow as an individual, not just as a student.
QUEEN:
Biafora:
I hope to get students more involved on campus, join clubs or other student organizations. Being a part of this campus has been a great way for me to feel like I have a true sense of belonging here.
Gatian:
I could use my crown to help get students involved on campus. Your experience at this University depends on what you put into it. The more people you meet and organizations you are involved in, the more positive experiences you will have.
Hughes:
I would help to unite the Mountaineers as a student body and help people enjoy their time on campus. People should enjoy college and make the most of their time here.
Korczyk:
I would continue to help people be better Mountaineers.
Liberatore:
Reporting by Travis Crum
I would use my crown as a platform to show pride in being a Mountaineer while emphasizing that goals are attainable. I believe that this is a message that the entire student body can relate to. In the end, we are all Mountaineers and are here at this great University to achieve at least the goal of a solid college education.
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