A record 44 seniorsnine men and 35 womencompeted to be part of this years Homecoming court at West Virginia University. When the dust settled, only five men and five women were left standing.

These candidates will campaign during a forum at noon Monday, Oct. 27, at the Grand Staircase in the Mountainlair. Online voting will take place Tuesday through Thursday, Oct. 28-30, with the winners to be announced during halftime of the WVU -Central Florida game, which begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Mountaineer Field.

The 2003 Homecoming queen candidates, all seniors, are:

• Azadeh Afshari, an exercise physiology major from Morgantown. She is the daughter of Shahla Azadi and Dr. AliAkbar Afshari. She is sponsored by the Student Health Advisory Board.

• Lauren Casella, a finance and French major from Rutland, Vt. She is sponsored by Kappa Kappa Gamma and is the daughter of John and Susan Casella.

• Siabhan Kathleen Downs, an international studies, political science and history major from Damascus, Md. She is sponsored by Pi Beta Phi Fraternity.

• Adriane L. Morrow, a marketing major from Morgantown. She is sponsored by Chi Omega Sorority and is the daughter of Wynard and Jo Morrow.

• Erica L. Sobczak, a broadcast journalism major from Elizabeth, Pa. She is the daughter of Dennis and Lynn Sobczak and represents the WVU Society of Professional Journalists.

Finalists for king are:

• Josh Aultman, a business and economics major from Lakeview, Ohio. He is the son of Frank and Barb Aultman and is sponsored by the Air Force ROTC and WVU Body Building, Figure&Fitness Team.

• Michael Dougan, a finance and marketing major from Morgantown. He is the son of Linda Felton and Mike Dougan and represents Delta Sigma Pi and the Marketing Club.

• DonMacMcIntyre, a political science major from Ripley. He is sponsored by the WVU Student Alumni Association and is the son of Don and Dianne McIntyre.

• Michael T. Williams, a public relations major from Osceola Mills, Pa. He represents the Public Relations Student Society of America and is the son of Cathy and the late Joe-Mike Williams.

• Joseph F. Youngblood, a physical education teaching major from Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He is the son of William and Colleen Youngblood and is sponsored by Mountaineer Maniacs.

2003 WVU Homecoming Queen bios:

Azadeh Afshari

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A senior exercise physiology major, Azadeh Afshari is from Morgantown and is the daughter of Shahla Azadi and Dr. AliAkbar Afshari. She is active on campus as the president of the Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) and SGA executive director of Student Health Service. She is also involved in WVU Emerging Women Leaders, Vice President’s Nutrition and Wellness Committee, Student Health Access Committee and served on the Board of Governors last year. At WVU , she has made the WVU Honor Roll three times and the National Dean’s List twice. In addition, she was named a 2003 finalist for the Kenneth D. Gray Leadership Award. Outside of classes, she is a WVU football hostess, a WVU Hospital Volunteer, an orientation speaker and has participated as a”Science Day”teacher at Cheat Lake Elementary School. She is currently a personal training intern at Mylan Wellness Center and Stansbury Loft, and plans on attending dental school in the future. She is sponsored by SHAB .

Lauren Casella

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Lauren Casella is a senior finance and French major from Rutland, Vt., and is the daughter of John and Susan Casella. She is a volunteer at The Shack Neighborhood House and Easton Elementary School. Casella has also been a Reading Partners and RDVIC volunteer. Her other activities include Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, Gamma Beta Phi, Panhellenic Council, Society for Human Resource Management, American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House and American Red Cross. For her work in Greek programs, she was honored with the Panhellenic Scholarship Award. She is also the recipient of the National Collegiate Business Merit Award, Cheryl Johnson Scholarship for French Studies and Rose McGill Scholarship for French Studies. Casella has traveled to Europe and spent a summer studying abroad in Vendee, France. To gain career experience, she works as an assistant project manager for Armstrong Development. She is sponsored by Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.

Siabhan Kathleen Downs

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From Damascus, Md, senior Siabhan Kathleen Downs is the daughter of Dean and Patricia Slaughter. Not only is she a major in international studies, but also political science and history. Involved in Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, she has served as the public relations chair, member of the by-laws committee, Homecoming representative, assistant to the vice president of social advancement and member of the standards board. She has also been an executive member of the Greek Programming Committee and was in charge of publicizing and planning the first ever Homecoming”Pit”events. Besides Pi Beta Phi, Downs stays active in a number of clubs and programs. She was one of the founding members of WVU ’s Women’s Rugby Club and has been a member of the College Republican’s Club, History Club, Philosophy Club and Social Justice Committee. She has also participated in The West Virginia Emerging Women’s Leadership program and was appointed by the College of Eberly Arts and Sciences to be the sole representative of WVU at the 2003 Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference. In addition, she was selected as a head delegate of the WVU Delegation to the National Model United Nations held in New York during the 2002-03 school year. Her community activities include serving as an ambassador for Christian Child Care Inc., a nonprofit international organization, in Africa. She is sponsored by Pi Beta Phi Fraternity.

Adriane L. Morrow

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Adriane L. Morrow is a senior marketing major from Morgantown. The daughter of Wynyard and Jo Morrow, she is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and has been recognized by Chi Omega Sorority for having a GPA of 3.0 or better. As a member of Chi Omega Sorority, she has served as career and personal development chairman and chapter correspondent. When she isnt studying or working on sorority projects, Morrow likes to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Club, Madison Nursing Home and Mon General Hospital. She belongs to the WVU Fencing Club/Team, Gamma Beta Phi, Marketing Club, Marching Band, African Ensemble and Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity. She is also an accomplished dancer. She is sponsored by Chi Omega Sorority.

Erica L. Sobczak

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A senior broadcast journalism major from Elizabeth, Pa., Erica L. Sobczak is the daughter of Dennis and Lynn Sobczak. One of her greatest loves is dance. For the past four years, she has taught community service dance classes to Morgantown children. She has also been involved in the WVU Orchesis Dance Ensemble for the past four years and just became a member of the WVU Dance Team in September. Sobczak especially enjoys choreography and was awarded a Performing Arts Scholarship to WVU . As a three-year member of Gamma Beta Phi, WVU s service fraternity, she has taken part in theLight the NightandAdopt a Streetprograms and holiday decorating at the Mountainlair. She recently joined the Society of Professional Journalists which performs service projects for students as well as the community. Last spring, Sobczak was awarded the George Gianodis Scholarship by the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. She works in advertising at The Dominion Post and is actively involved with United Way. She is sponsored by WVU s SPJ chapter.

Finalists for king are:

Josh Aultman

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From Lakeview, Ohio, Josh Aultman is a senior business and economics major. He is the son of Frank and Barb Aultman and is involved in the Air Force ROTC . Through his involvement in this program, he has received numerous awards including the ROTC Award of Merit for 2003, field training Superior Performance Award, USAA Warrior Spirit Award and Cadre Challenge Award. Aultman is a member of Gamma Beta Phi and Management Information Systems Association, and president and founder of the WVU Body Building, Figure&Fitness Team. He takes an active role in his community, volunteering with the Cub Scouts and Adopt a Street program in Morgantown. Aultman is sponsored by the Air Force ROTC and WVU Body Building, Figure&Fitness Team.

Michael Dougan

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Michael Dougan is a senior finance and marketing major from Morgantown and is the son of Linda Felton and Mike Dougan. He is the vice president of Delta Sigma Pi and also the president of the Marketing Club. Dougan takes pride in his involvement with St. Theresa/St. Elizabeth Anne Seaton Church where he not only serves as a hospitality minister but also as a lector. When he isnt in school or church, there is a good chance he is working one of three different jobs. As a finance major, he has worked as a marketing intern for Eagle Glass Specialties, WVU s Sports Marketing Department and AFLAC . He is sponsored by Delta Sigma Pi and the Marketing Club.

DonMacMcIntyre

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A senior political science major from Ripley, Don”Mac”McIntyre has spent much of his time involved with club sports and campus politics. During his first two years on campus, he was a member of the WVU Men’s Rowing Team. Here, he served as team captain and president. As a sophomore, McIntyre was elected to the student Board of Governors, where he served one term as vice chairman. He would go on to become the vice president of the student body as a junior. McIntyre plans to work as a financial representative for the Northwestern Mutual, where he currently interns. He is the son of Don and Dianne McIntyre. He is sponsored by the WVU Student Alumni Association.

Michael T. Williams

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Michael T. Williams is a senior public relations major from Osceola Mills, Pa. Last year, he was the president of WVU s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. He has also participated as a student supervisor for New Student Services Telecounselor, public relations specialist for the Student Government Association, tour guide for Mountaineer Visitation Days, volunteer for the Journalism Alumni Association, journalist for The Compass and member of the Residence Hall Council (2001-01). Among his honors, Williams has been accepted into the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and has received the George Gianodis Journalism Scholarship (2002-03). His community activities include volunteering at the Morgantown Library and West Virginia Telecom Pioneers of America Special Olympics in Parkersburg. He has gained valuable experience interning with The McGinn Group in Arlington, Va., and West Virginia Telecom Pioneers of America.. Williams has also interned with the United Nations Association and The American Association of Health Plans in Washington, D.C. He represents the Public Relations Student Society of America and is the son of Cathy and the late Joe-Mike Williams.

Joseph F. Youngblood

From Wilkes-Barre, Pa., senior Joseph F. Youngblood is the son of William and Colleen Youngblood and is a physical education teaching major. As the executive director of Mountaineer Maniacs for the past two years, Youngblood takes pride in WVU traditions and helps cheer on the Mountaineers at home and away games. He is a member of the Physical Education Teacher Education Majors Club and works as a supervisor and referee for Campus Recreation. He is also a volunteer with Red Cross. Last fall, he helped organize the”Out for Blood”drive competition in which WVU defeated the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, he would like to participate in the Teach for America program and eventually plans to pursue law school at WVU . Youngblood is sponsored by Mountaineer Maniacs.