2013 Homecoming Court remembers time at KSU
October 1, 2013
Name: Katie Clarkin
Major: French translation and art history
Sponsor: FLASHanthropy
From: Canton, Ohio
1. What do you feel makes you stand out from the other candidates?
“I think just my campus involvement and my community service. I love volunteering, and I just volunteered at the Akron marathon this Saturday. It was a lot of fun. I’m the community service chair for student ambassadors so I’m always looking for new opportunities for getting people to volunteer and help out in the community.”
2. What do you think homecoming means to the Kent State community?
“I think it’s a really important event to Kent State. It’s something where all of the alumni can come back and kind of reconnect with their university. It is especially important now that we have all this new stuff that is happening. Since I was a freshman, Risman Plaza has been completely renovated, and we have the new Student Green. There has been something new every year since I’ve been a student here. Alumni who haven’t been back for five, ten years — the campus is completely different. I think that it’s just amazing to see that change happen over time as a student.”
3. How would you describe your time at Kent State?
“It’s been a blast. I have had so many awesome opportunities. I studied abroad for a year in France and got involved with FLASHanthropy, which is kind of my inspiration to eventually go into non-profit work and hopefully pursue that in grad school. Just meeting lifelong friends and having amazing experiences.”
Name: Kavitha Bagavandoss
Major: electronic media production
Sponsor: Undergraduate Student Government
From: Avon Lake, Ohio
1. What do you feel makes you stand out from the other candidates?
“I think my heavy involvement on campus is something that helps me stand out from the other candidates. I have been a part of so many different organizations throughout my years and have had so many incredible experiences at Kent State. I have not only focused my attention on academics here but have also put a lot of energy into extra curricular activities and social events within the community. Building such great relationships with so many amazing people, and being a part of USG, striving to make Kent State a home for every student, has helped me embody what it truly means to be a Golden Flash.”
2. What do you think homecoming means to the Kent State community?
“Homecoming is the time of year where Kent State students, new and old, get to celebrate being a member of this incredible university. Bringing together new students and those that have continued their lives after graduation, homecoming embodies our culture as students on campus and within the Kent community. It is a time filled with honor and pride.
I cannot wait to see everyone come together for the annual parade and watch the Golden Flashes fight for a win at our Homecoming game! This time of year is definitely my favorite as it brings together the community, Kent State students and alumni. New and old, forever blue and gold!”
3. How would you describe your time at Kent State?
“Kent State University has given me everything I could have ever asked for and more these past few years. It amazes me that have been able to accomplish so much, and it is because of this incredible university that I could. I have grown so close with the students, faculty, administration and staff. I am so happy to have been able to watch our campus grow and strengthen over my years here. I take so much pride in my college and the community at Kent. It is my home, and I am honored to represent the university on Homecoming court this year.”
Name: Caitie (Caitlin) Kilbane
Major: finance
Sponsor: National Residence Hall Honorary
From: Buffalo, NY
1. What do you feel makes you stand out from the other candidates?
“I think something that makes me stand out is how connected I am to the Kent State community and student body. I have always tried to remain as active as possible here on campus, and I don’t regret a single second of it. From the amount of people I’ve met to the leadership experience I’ve gained, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I always said during my freshman year that I wanted to walk from one class to another and know at least one person on my way to each class. Not only did that succeed, but now I can’t walk to one without seeing at least 4-5 people I know.”
2. What do you think homecoming means to the Kent State community?
“I think homecoming is an opportunity for the Kent State community to really come together and to prove to each other why we’re proud of our school. It is really something special to see current students and alumni from all across the country come together to celebrate their school, and it’s something I hope to be a part of for years to come.”
3. How would you describe your time at Kent State?
“I would describe my time here at Kent State as something I will never forget. I have met so many new faces and befriended so many people that I feel like this is my home. When I first came to this school, I didn’t know a single person. I was the only person from back home to come here. The people of Kent State took me in and made me feel I belonged in this community and at this university. To quote Maya Angelou, ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ I may move on from here, but I will never forget how Kent State made me feel.”
Name: Kaitlyn Fridley
Major: interpersonal communication
Sponsor: Kent InterHall Council
From: Tallmadge, Ohio
1. What do you feel makes you stand out from the other candidates?
“I think that I am very passionate about this university and I’ve dedicated a lot of time and work into different organizations and different student groups. I think all the candidates are incredibly qualified to be on homecoming court. We’ve had a lot of fun as a group, and I think that it’s just a great experience that we all get to share together.”
2. What do you think homecoming means to the Kent State community?
“I think homecoming is a very special event that happens in our community. It’s a way for us to celebrate all of the great memories we’ve made here at Kent. And it allows our alumni and past students to come back and remember all the great things that they’ve done at Kent and what Kent has done for them. So, I think it is a very celebratory event in which we can celebrate Kent State and show off our Golden Flash pride.”
3. How would you describe your time at Kent State?
“My time at Kent has been nothing but joy. The four years I spent here, they provided me with really prime academic support, really great memories; I made a ton of friends here, and I really love being here at Kent State. It is a very special place. It kind of feels like a home to me. So I think I had a very enjoyable time, and I will not trade it for anything in the world.”
Name: Danielle Melidona
Major: musical theater
Sponsor: School of Theater and Dance
From: Orange, Ohio
1. What do you feel makes you stand out from the other candidates?
“What I think makes me different from the other candidates is that I am, to my knowledge, one of the first Musical Theater Majors to make it onto Court. Usually, people in my major are too afraid to get involved all around campus since they fear they will be too busy to keep up. Fortunately for myself, I got directly involved with the Kent Student Ambassadors my freshman year, and it propelled me to get involved everywhere else too. I’m lucky to have the natural theater personality, so I can get along with everyone around me and be so organized to do so much.”
2. What do you think homecoming means to the Kent State community?
“I think that Homecoming is a time of revival for the community around us. It’s such an amazing time to re-connect with your college and the people around you. It is taken as an emotional experience for some, and that’s something I cherish about Homecoming. The campus and the city will be bursting with energy and alumni everywhere. It also helps the community connect to our inner family, the family we have made while being a student here. It’s a very important event and tradition that is held to a high regard in our community.”
3. How would you describe your time at Kent State?
“My time at Kent State has been a whirlwind of experiences and events. I’ve recently begun to look back at the past three years to figure out what I can do right now to put the finishing touches on a perfect college experience. I’ve made so many connections here and had such amazing real world experience. My time here is so special to me. I’ve gotten involved with well more than a handful of organizations or sat on committees, all over campus; not just in one concentrated area. That is something that I think is so important to being a student and getting the best well-rounded, real world education possible. These have been the best and most memorable years of my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Name: Lauren Sewell
Major: exercise science
Sponsor: Student Recreation and Wellness Center
From: Youngstown, Ohio
1. What do you feel makes you stand out from the other candidates?
“I think I stand out from the other candidates in the amount of pride I have for my university and surrounding community. I support Kent State in all of our improvements and education. Every time I tell someone I go to Kent State University, a big ol smile comes across my face.”
2. What do you think homecoming means to the Kent State community?
“Homecoming is momentous. It means that community members and Alumni can relive and cherish their memories from years ago with us. While we, as students and new residents of Kent can participate in enjoyable events to create new everlasting memories and still expand from previous ones.”
3. How would you describe your time at Kent State?
“I would describe my time at Kent State University as an excellent opportunity for personal growth. I have learned so much about myself, which has improved my education, my relationships with my family and friends, and my work experience at the SRWC and my fraternity of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.”
Carolyn Pippin, Erin Zaranec, Robert Carroll, Lassana Kanneh, Brandon Koziol and Alicia Balog contributed to reporting.
