Two seniors surprised with honor during pep rally

By Catherine E. Porter
communication and marketing '16

OCT. 14 -- The 2015 Trine University homecoming king and queen were crowned Friday at a homecoming pep rally.

Jordan Backer, a senior mechanical engineering major from Centerville, Ohio, was crowned king. Backer is involved on campus as a member of the men’s lacrosse team, a resident director, a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and a Trine Student Ambassador. After graduation, Jordan hopes to become an engineering manager, a father and a coach.

The title of homecoming queen went to Grace Connolly, a senior biology major from Sheridan, Ill. On campus, Connolly is a member of the women’s track team, the National Society of Leadership and Success, Multicultural Student Organization and Gamma Phi Epsilon sorority. She is also the president of TriBeta and a Trine Orientation Leader. Upon graduation from Trine, Connolly plans to work in outdoor education and to create programs for students to visit natural areas.

Other students named to the homecoming court were:

Britney Browning, a senior design engineering technology major from Madison;

Margaret Keating, a biology/ pre-physical therapy major from Fort Wayne;

Allison Marley, a junior marketing major from New Carlisle;

Halie Snyder, a senior elementary education major from Garrett;

Mitchell Fair, a junior health and physical education major from Oveido, Fla.;

Joel Hirsch, a junior general studies major from Michigan City;

Doug Jakubowicz, a senior chemical engineering major from Middlebury;

Joshua Valadez, a senior management major from Brownsburg.

Students with junior or senior academic standing were eligible to be nominated by other students, faculty or staff members. All nominees who met requirements were added to a ballot, which was sent in an online survey for voting. The top five male and top five female nominees following the popular vote made up the homecoming court and the top male and female were crowned king and queen at the pep rally and recognized at Saturday’s homecoming football game.