The university announced its 2023 homecoming court nominees Sept. 29 at the Black Squirrel Festival.

The nominees are Jaelyn Brown, Juliana Buonaiuto, Kaitlyn Ginn, Lauren Klodt, Maura Mascarin, Sage Mason, Jillian Mt. Castle, Aiyana Ncube, Ariyanna Robb, Grace Schick, Rachael Warino and Katie Yanez.

Nominees had to submit an application that included a letter of recommendation sponsored by a university department or student organization. A committee of faculty, staff and former homecoming court members interviewed a pool of over 30 applicants, then scored them and selected the final 12.

The court is not separated by gender, and the two winners will be crowned royalty – not as king or queen.

“We felt like it was more inclusive,” Katie Syvanych said, associate director of The Center for Student Involvement.

The court will participate in activities during the week leading up to the 105th annual homecoming celebration Oct. 21. One of the programs will include the court participating in a horse and carriage through the parade route at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 21.

Winners will be announced at halftime of the homecoming football game at 3:30 p.m.

Jaelyn Brown, senior communication studies major, sponsored by The School of Communication Studies

Brown said she made a last-minute decision to apply for court as a Kupita/Transiciones (K/T) mentor because she wanted to show her mentees “that even though Kent State is a predominantly white institution, [she is] here for them and as a person of color they can thrive on this campus.”

“Kent State is a good place for anyone,” she said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, what you do, what you want to do – Kent State is for everybody.”

She has involved herself on campus as a K/T navigator and mentor and as a housing desk assistant as well as involvement with on campus activities.

Brown said her best K/T experience was meeting Jade Cain and Naomi Watcher-Francis, her fellow mentors and friends through the K/T program.

Lauren Klodt, senior actuarial mathematics major, sponsored by Kent Student Ambassadors

Klodt said she has enjoyed the experience of being on court and meeting “incredible individuals” throughout her experience.

She said “being able to represent the university in a positive light and to be able to represent what homecoming means to so many people” is a reason Koldt wanted to be on the court as well as “for the experience and to be able to represent the university.”

A memorable moment of Klodt’s was the first time she stepped on campus.

“When I first stepped on campus freshman year, that was when I knew I was home and where I was supposed to be.”

Maura Mascarin, junior theatre studies major, sponsored by The College of the Arts Recruitment Team

Mascarin said she is honored to represent the alumni base.

“When I started here at Kent State I had a really rough transitional period,” she said. “I thank my lucky stars every single day that I stayed. I found love through student leadership, through so many opportunities I’ve got to experience and so for me being on homecoming court is almost like a hallmark of personal achievement.” 

She has given back to the university as a resident assistant in Allyn Hall, a Flashguide in orientation and as a College of the Arts ambassador.

Mascarin said their favorite place on campus is the Center for the Performing Arts lobby, where they have all their favorite Kent State memories.

Sage Mason, junior public relations major, sponsored by Fraternity & Sorority Life

Mason said her love for Kent pushed her to want to be on the court.

She said one of her best friends won royalty last year, was a Flashguide with her and has been someone she looks up to for court.

“He is such a big role model and mentor to me.”

Mason has been a part of undergraduate student government, president of Panhellenic Council, a Flashguide, an RA and hopes to inspire incoming and current students who “aren’t as involved or don’t feel that same love or passion for Kent.”

She said her favorite memory of Kent is serving in her position as Panhellenic president.

Jillian Mt. Castle, senior special education major, sponsored by the Flash Activities Board

Mt. Castle represents student leadership on campus.

“I’m really proud to represent Kent State in this kind of form,” she said. “Kent State has done so much for me.”

Mt. Castle has been a Flash Activities Board president for the past two years and has helped “to create a sense of community for students.”

“I’ve definitely helped create experiences for students alongside a large team of other student directors and event staff,” she said.

Mt. Castle said she spends most of her time at the Student Center, where she connects with other student leaders and professional staff.

Aiyana Ncube, senior human development/family studies major, sponsored by the Admissions Department

Ncube works in the Student Center and said her boss told her to apply for the position.

“I am representing all the people who mean so much to me,” she said. “Who have lifted me up over my four years.”

She has been a tour guide for the past two years and is involved in student government work.

“I think the thing that I’m most proud of in my time here at Kent State is welcoming people home,” Ncube said. “It’s so exciting watching people fall in love with the university like I did.”

She said favorite place on campus is the Student Center where her friends are.

Ariyanna Robb, senior hospitality / event management major, sponsored by the School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration

Robb said she has dealt with adversity during her time at university.

“It shows that no matter how much you go through, you can still make it,” she said. “You can still be a leader [and] you can still represent the school.”

Robb has given back to the university through the Flash Activities Board and by working alongside the hospitality program.

“I’m able to help represent the students and really give them as much of an experience as possible that I can provide through either events or through answering their questions for programs or classes that I’ve gone through that they haven’t yet,” she said.

Robb said her favorite place on campus is the M.A.C.C. Center.

Grace Schick, senior anthropology major, sponsored by The Pepsi Leadership Center

Schick said many of her friends have been on court and her grandparents attended Kent State University.

“I really want just one last big hoorah with some of my close friends,” she said. “And I am thrilled that I get to be able to represent Kent State in this light.”

Schick said she feels as though she has made a positive impact on students over the past three years.

“I’ve been able to give about $500,000 back to students and student organizations through USG allegations,” she said.

Schick said she enjoys seeing students attend conferences and professional development experiences, as well as helping students as a resident assistant find jobs, navigate housing and guide students during campus living.

“I’m hoping through my actions that I’ve been able to put students first in every leadership position I’ve had,” she said.

Schrick said she enjoys spending time at the student center and the anthropology department in Lowry Hall.

Rachael Warino, senior communication studies major, sponsored by Student Accessibility Services

Warino said she wanted to be on court to represent “students that are connected with SAS that may stereotypically not feel represented by a homecoming court.”

Through her job at Student Accessibility Services, Warino said she has taken the time to go “a little more above and beyond in [her] student employee position” to help students across campus.

Warino said her favorite place on campus is right outside the student center where she enjoys “seeing people happy, especially at this time of year when school’s just starting.”

Katie Yanez, senior biotechnology major, sponsored by Kappa Phi Sorority

Yanez said she came to Kent State “timid” and has since gained many leadership opportunities over the years. She said she thought running for homecoming court would be a good way to end her career at Kent State. 

“I thought it would be a cool ending to the story arc of me being who I never thought I could be,” Yanez said.

She has been a tour guide for the past two years and an SSL.

Yanez said her favorite place on campus is the greenhouse conservatory at Cunningham Hall.

Seniors Juliana Buonaiuto and Kaitlyn Ginn were not able to comment before the date of publication.

Any undergraduate student is eligible to vote through FlashLine starting Monday, Oct. 16 and ending at noon Friday, Oct. 20.

The homecoming court will be sponsoring a book drive Monday, Oct. 9 through Saturday, Oct. 21. Donate new and gently used books at the student center information desk on the first floor of the student center and at the student leader suite on the second floor of the student center. All donations will go to the King Kennedy Community Center.

Lauren Bischof is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].