Meet the candidates

Voting for West Virginia University’s Homecoming King and Queen continues today in the Mountainlair.

The Daily Athenaeum met with each candidate before elections began and asked the following questions:

1. Why do you want to be elected Homecoming King/Queen?

2. What makes you unique? What are some of your hobbies and interests?

3. Why did you decide to attend WVU?

Meet the 2012 Homecoming candidates:

Andria Alvarez (Public relations/multidisciplinary studies; Bridgeport, W.Va.):

1. I am from West Virginia and have attended Mountaineer games my entire life. I have seen homecoming queen after homecoming queen get crowned and I always thought to myself that I wanted to be homecoming queen when I was older. When I got to college, I realized that the homecoming queen is a representation of the students at WVU to the alumni. To future students, she is a representation of what their future at WVU could be. I wanted to be that girl that represents WVU.

2. My personality is the true representation of who I am. I like to think that I am outgoing, fun and confident. I love talking with people and making new friends. My family is probably the most important thing in my life. I come from a huge Italian family, who is very supportive of everything I do. In the winter, I love to ski as much as possible, because it’s too cold to go out in Morgantown.

3. I have grown up a Mountaineer. In the beginning, I wanted to go away to school but then I got the promise scholarship and couldn’t turn down that money. Ultimately, I wanted to stay close to my family. It is nice to be close enough that I can go home whenever I want, but far enough away that I don’t have to see them that often.

Brooke Andrews (Biology; Morgantown, W.Va.):

1. After growing up here, the University has given me some of the best experiences of my life. I would be truly honored to represent it during homecoming week, my favorite WVU event.

2. I think I represent a great variety of students on campus. I’ve studied abroad so I understand the cultural shock international students face. I am a Morgantown native, so I truly have grown up a Mountaineer and everything encompassing it. I am very driven to achieve a balance as an academic student but also maintain a strong social relationship within my Greek community. I took the position of Vice President within my Alpha Phi Sorority and am now the President of Panhellenic, overseeing the Greek Community and the events they hold. I have a strong passion for sports and played basketball my entire life – I haven’t missed a home football or men’s basketball game since I can remember.

3. WVU is the perfect balance of home and school for me. I am able to live on campus and get the entire college student experience, with my family literally a PRT ride away. I can’t imagine a better combination and would have been silly to turn down such an opportunity.

Ali Jeney (International studies/environmental geoscience; Clarksburg, W.Va.):

1. I want to be elected Queen, because I truly believe I am a good representative for the Mountaineer nation. I have spent a tremendous amount of time volunteering in the community and working with different organizations within the University.

2. Some of my hobbies include snowboarding, playing soccer, hiking, and, as of this fall, preparing for a Tough Mudder event this spring! I also love finding ways to give back to the community whether that’s canoeing down the Mon. River, picking up trash along the river banks or making friends at the Bartlett House. I think what really makes me unique is the tremendous love I have for this University and community and my never ending thirst for adventure.

3. I chose WVU, because I had no idea what I wanted to do and knew WVU could help me figure it out, and because my freshman Adventure WV trip made me realize there is no other place for me.

Danielle Vincent (Industrial engineering; Bridgeport, W.Va.):

1. I want to be elected Homecoming Queen, because I feel that I embody the qualities that represent a true Mountaineer student and representative of this University.

2. I love to meet and talk to new people from new places, backgrounds and interests.

3. I’ve grown up being a Mountaineer and I knew I always would be a student here. I love the traditions and close ties with friends and family.

Breanne Zackery (Advertising; Morgantown, W.Va.):

1. I want to be elected Homecoming Queen because I honestly believe I am a true Mountaineer. I feel that I am what a great Mountaineer fan is made of and would be a great example for the campus as Homecoming Queen.

2. What makes me unique is that I am always trying to get into new things. I love college, and I’m always trying to soak up new things and get to know new people. Even though I’m a Senior, I’m still looking to meet new people and find new things to get into.

3. I chose to come to WVU because of the marching band, and it was the best choice I’ve ever made. I know I made the right choice by going here even though I felt like I shouldn’t go here as a senior in high school. I wanted to branch out and go somewhere new, but I am so glad I didn’t. I’ve made some of the greatest friends a girl could think of here at WVU. I’m so blessed.

Ryan Cox (Multidisciplinary; Morgantown, W.Va.):

Cox is a long-standing member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and is the current Interfraternity Council president. He has worked at the Student Recreation Center and the Student Organizations Services office. Cox was named a Greek Man of the Year in 2012 and volunteers at the American Legion Mountaineer Boys State as a councilor. He is the son of Brad and Abbie Cox. He is sponsored by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the Interfraternity Council.

Cox did not submit his interview with the DA prior to deadline.

B. Jay Hatfield (Athletic coaching education; Boone County, W.Va.):

1. I want to be elected as King so I can serve as a role model to younger West Virginians and be able to give back to this beautiful state.

2. Something that makes me unique is that I am a direct descendent of ‘Devil Anse’ Hatfield. In my spare time, I enjoy attending all mountaineer sporting events and occasionally serving as the mountaineer mascot.

3. I decided to come to WVU because ever since my father brought me up for my first Mountaineer football game, Morgantown is the only place that felt like home to me. And the atmosphere is unlike any place that I’ve experienced.

Steve Orlowski (Sport management; Leonia, N.J.):

1. I Bleed Gold and Blue, and I’m a huge Mountaineer fan.

2. I am a huge Mountaineer fan and attend every WVU Athletic Event.

3. Seeing the flying WV all over campus. The school spirit and passion for the University doesn’t compare to any other school.

Joseph West (Aerospace & mechanical engineering/multidisciplinary studies; Wheeling, W.Va.):

1. I feel like I could represent the University very well. I am involved in many different clubs and programs and know what WVU has to offer and what it is all about. I’ve represented WVU’s engineering program at different events before. It would be an honor to represent WVU as Homecoming King.

2. I’m in a ska band called Black Action Cop. I play saxophone and do lead vocals. We’ve been playing together since high school and have had some great opportunities here in Morgantown, like last winter when we opened for The Toasters at 123 Pleasant Street. We just finished recording in Pittsburgh this year – that has been exciting, too. I also really like playing soccer, snowboarding and hiking. It’s been really great just meeting new people and living in Morgantown. WVU’s given me some really great opportunities I could not have gotten anywhere else. One of my favorite memories has been participating in the Design/Build/Fly program.

3. Growing up in West Virginia, I had always wanted to attend WVU. I can remember going to my first football game when I was really young and just loving everything about WVU and Morgantown. It was great. We have a good engineering program here, and WVU really had everything I was looking for in a college.

Fredrick Wright (Petroleum & Natural gas engineering; Clarksburg, W.Va.):

1. To have the honor of being selected by my fellow students and becoming part of our great tradition.

2. I have the ability to talk to anyone about anything. Some of my hobbies are hunting and fishing, cooking and music.

3. Because I was born and raised a Mountaineer, and I wanted to be a part of the schools tradition. We also have one of the top Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering programs.