Ten West Virginia University students have been named to the 2007 Homecoming Court and will compete for the coveted title of Homecoming king and queen.
Homecoming queen candidates are: Bethany Cooperrider , Cross Lanes; Kate Dobson , Charleston; Lara Omps , Berkeley Springs; DiAngela Prunesti , Beckley; and Ashley Riley , Morgantown.
Candidates for Homecoming king are: Christopher Campo , Massapequa, N.Y.; LloydL.G.Jackson , Hamlin; Matthew Benjamin Modansky , Suffern, N.Y.; Casey Moles , Charleston; and Robert Zak, Jr. , Charleston.
The candidates will begin campaigning for the title of king and queen on Oct. 8 and voting by the student body will commence from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Oct. 16-18 via the MIX (Mountaineer Information Xpress) system.
The entire court will participate in the Homecoming parade down High Street, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Oct. 19.
The 2007 Homecoming king and queen will be crowned during a special halftime ceremony at the WVU -Mississippi State football game, which is scheduled for noon, Oct. 20, at Milan Puskar Stadium.
A brief bio for each candidate follows:
Homecoming Queen Candidates
Bethany Cooperrider is a senior elementary education major from Cross Lanes.
She is a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority serving as recording secretary and former special orders chair for the organization. Cooperrider also serves as secretary for the Mortar Board Senior Honorary and is active in the Student Education Association.
Her honors include a PROMISE Scholarship, WVU Mountaineer Scholarship, Panhellenic Council Outstanding Scholar, Chimes Junior Honorary, Mortar Board Senior Honorary and she is a member of the WVU Honors College. She has also earned a place on the Presidents list for two semesters and Deans list for five semesters.
Cooperrider works as the head lifeguard at the Student Recreation Center. In her spare time Cooperrider volunteers with the Chestnut Ridge Church and several other local organizations. She is a member of the Mountaineer Maniacs and the WVU Triathlon Club and recently finished third for her age group in the 2007 Sprint, Splash, Spin Triathlon.
Her parents are Dan and Cathy Cooperrider.
Kate Dobson is a senior pharmacy major from Charleston. She plans to graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May 2009.
Dobson has served as vice-president for the National Community Pharmacists Association for three terms. She held several positions with the American Pharmacists Association and is the current president of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Beta Eta Chapter. Her involvement in pharmaceutical organizations extends to membership in the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship Society, vice-president of Phi Lambda Sigma, Pharmaceutical Leadership Fraternity and treasurer of the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honorary.
She is a member of the WVU Honors College, Helvetia Sophomore Honorary, Chimes Junior Honorary and Mortar Board Senior Honorary. She has been a Pi Kappa Phi Outstanding Freshman Scholar and earned a place on the Presidents List for four semesters and the Deans List for two semesters.
Dobson earned a PROMISE Scholarship, WVU Mountaineer Scholarship, WVU School of Pharmacy Rite Aid Scholarship, WVU School of Pharmacy CVS Scholarship and WVU School of Pharmacy George and Lynn Spratto Scholarship.
In her free time, Dobson volunteers with the West Virginia Botanic Garden, the Health Right Pharmacy and participates in several activities with the American Pharmacists Association and Kappa Psi.
Her parents are Barry and Cindy Dobson.
Lara Omps is a senior English and history major from Berkeley Springs.
She is active with the Pi Beta Phi sorority serving as president, vice-president of communications and was recognized as the best vice-president of philanthropy in the northeast region for outstanding service and literary programming in 2006. She has also been a member of WVU Student Council, Phi Alpha Theta, College Republicans and was a co-founder of First Book WVU .
Omps received The Sign of The Arrow Melissa Scholarship in 2007 which is granted to one Pi Beta Phi senior in the nation, who demonstrates excellence in servant leadership and community service. She has been named to the WVU Presidents List of Scholars, Presidents List, Deans List and received a Coca-Cola scholarship.
Omps community service activites include volunteering with the Berkeley Springs Public Library and interning at the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute where she helped other members of greek life develop leadership skills and coordinated several community projects.
She developed several fund raising and service events including for First Book, Woodburn Elementary School, National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia and Rock Forge Neighborhood House.
Her parents are Larry and Barbara Omps.
DiAngela Prunesti is a senior exercise physiology major from Beckley and plans to attend medical school.
Prunesti is involved with the Chi Omega sorority serving as career and personnel development leader and recruitment assistant for the organizations Make a Wish philanthropy. She is active in the Exercise Physiology Club, intramural flag football and soccer, Campus Crusade for Christ and Mountaineer Maniacs.
She is the co-founder and vice-president of H.E.L.P. (Holding Every Life Precious) a campus organization focusing efforts on suicide prevention and awareness.
Her awards include a PROMISE scholarship, Presidents List for one semester and Deans List for five semesters. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and has received an undergraduate medical internship at the Raleigh Regional Cancer Center in Beckley.
An active volunteer, she has worked as a volunteer at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Make A Wish, Scotts Run Settlement House, the Ronald McDonald House and performed mission work with her church.
Her parents are Mike and Diann Prunesti.
Ashley Riley is a senior marketing major from Morgantown.
She is the continuing membership chair for Sigma Kappa sorority, a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity and the Study Abroad Club.
Riley is a member of the Leadership Studies Student Association, National Exemplary Scholars in Service, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and served as former president of the Institute for Human Dignity at WVU . She was also vice-president of the West Virginia Association of Student Councils.
Riley is also the founder of the Gold and Blue Student Ambassador program that provides assistance to the president during University ceremonies and events.
She has been recognized as a PROMISE Scholar, Hugh OBrian Youth Leader Ambassador, Rotary Youth Leadership Association Ambassador and earned a Global Education Office (GEO) grant to study abroad in South Africa.
Active in community service, Riley volunteers with the Alzheimers Association, Caritas House, Special Olympics and the Hearts of Gold Service Dog organization. She has also been a meal coordinator for the Bartlett House, an ambassador with Inherit the Earth and a volunteer with the Maine Sea Coast Mission.
Her parents are Jeffery and Renee Riley.
Homecoming King Candidates
Christopher Campo is a senior economics major from Massapequa, N.Y.
Campo is president of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and served as philanthropy chair. He served as governor for the WVU Student Government Association and a board member of the WVU Council on Residency Board.
Campo has spent his summers working as an intern with the New York Mercantile Exchange, where he held the position of reporter in 2006 and the Federal Plus Insurance Brokerage, where he was an executive assistant in 2005.
He received a Leadership Scholarship and Outside Leadership Scholarship from Phi Sigma Kappa.
His community service efforts include holding the position of co-chair for theGreek Support our Troops organization that raised over $2,000 for care packages for soldiers in Iraq. He has also participated in the Race for Your Heart and Walk for Literacy programs.
His parents are George and Deborah Campo.
LloydL.G.Jackson is a senior accounting major from Hamlin.
Jackson is the co-founder and former vice-president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter at WVU . He is also a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honorary and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
He has been very involved in the WVU Student Government Association and served as public relations vice-chair, treasurer and representative to the WVU Board of Governors.
Jackson has been named to the WVU Presidents List, the WVU Collegiate Board of Directors for Huntington Bank and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
During his summers he has worked as an intern for the WVU Center for Civic Engagement in 2006 and with Toothman Rice, PLLC in 2007. Jackson has also volunteered as a junior facilitator with the Hugh OBrian Youth Leadership camp for high school sophomores.
His parents are Lloyd and Trina Jackson.
Matthew Benjamin Modansky is a senior business marketing major from Suffern, N.Y.
Modansky has been involved in many diverse activities on campus including serving as a tour guide for New Student Orientation, an intern with WVU sports marketing and two years as a player and coach with the WVU Division Two Club Hockey Team.
Active in Greek life on campus, he served as the Greek Liaison for the WVU Board of Governors for the Student Government Association and is currently president of the Interfraternity Council.
Modansky was a founding member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and was awarded the Sigma Alpha Mu National Fraternitys Best Exchequer award for 2006-07. He was inducted into the Fleur-De-Lis Societya national society for Sigma Alpha Mu members who display great guidance and leadership for their chapters.
He is also the recipient of a Blue and Gold Scholarship.
Community service has been an important aspect of his Greek life. Charity events that he has helped develop have benefited the Alzheimers Association, Pediatric Aids, Scotts Run Settlement House and Toy Mountain charities.
His parents are Robert and Adrian Modansky.
Casey Moles is a senior criminology and investigations major from Charleston.
He is a PROMISE Scholar and recipient of a Blue and Gold Scholarship.
As director of the Mountaineer Maniacs, Moles has been involved in numerous WVU athletic and community service projects. The organization has worked closely with the WVU athletic department to inspire student attendance at non-revenue sporting events.
Moles has participated in the W.Va. Governors Internship Program as a Department of Highways intern and Department of Motor Vehicles, Drivers Services intern. He is currently employed by the National Cyber-Forensics&Training Alliance.
He is also active in the WVU Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology Club and plays intramural sports.
His parents are Harold and Vickie Moles.
Robert Zak, Jr. is a senior political science major from Charleston.
His academic recognition includes membership in the Mortar Board Senior Honorary, Chimes Junior Honorary and Helvetia Sophomore Honorary where he served as president of the group.
Zak has earned the Certificate of Achievement Award of Excellence from the Eberly College, a WVU Safety Achievement Award of Excellence and is the recipient of a PROMISE Scholarship.
Zaks participation in WVU Student Government Association includes serving as attorney general and as the representative for the WVU Board of Governors. His experience has also extended to serving on the Mountainlair Advisory Board and as student representative for the Council on Residency. He is also a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
As a volunteer with the W.Va. Muscular Dystrophy Association, Zak has worked at Cedar Lakes to help set up summer camp activities, such as swimming, soccer and arts and crafts, for children with the disease. He also volunteers with the WVU Center for Civic Engagement on local projects.
His parents are Joe and Kristy Zak.