Pruitt crowned Homecoming Queen
By Brittany Shirley –
A well-known Tarleton student added yet another honor to her name when her fellow students picked Student Government Association President Alycia Pruitt to be the 2010 Homecoming Queen. With a total of 327 student votes, Pruitt took the crown with 100 votes, with Amanda Ritchie trailing close behind.
Pruitt selection was announced Oct. 16, at the Tarleton Memorial Stadium during the Texan football game half time. She is a senior English major with a Spanish minor, a member of Delta Zeta and a Duck Camp leader. Pruitt said she wanted her Tarleton family to know she is, “sincerely thankful and humbled by this honor”
She said she was proud to “stand by four other women who have given themselves whole heartedly to this university and what a special moment it was to be nominated among such wonderful women.”
“I strongly feel that each person I interact with has something unique to bring to my life and that I can learn and grow as an individual by taking the time to listen,” Pruitt said,
She also added she “loves the spirit of Tarleton,” and iis “proud to be a Tarleton Texan and even more proud to say that I am surrounded by individuals who truly want myself and fellow Texans to be successful.” Pruitt said one of her favorite Tarleton traditional is the Drum Beating, “Students show dedication to this simplistic tradition because it is meaningful to our history and represents an opportunity to appreciate the dedication put forth by many students to the spirit of Tarleton State University,” she said.
Pruitt said she plans to put her homecoming Tiara in a “Purple Room” filled with all her, “Tarleton favorites-poo signs, pictures, sorority paraphernalia, homecoming queen tiara, and honors…” However, she says, “Until I get my “purple room” my tiara is displayed right next to my John Tarleton Spirit Award and is proudly and humbly displayed in my apartment.”
The four other individuals nominated to the 2010 Homecoming court were Ritchie, Laci Crais, Megan Galloway, and Tamara Carpenter. Ritchie won 97 votes. Crais, Galloway and Carpenter split the remaining ballots.
Ritchie is a senior majoring in public relations and event management with a minor in technical writing and marketing. She is a member Delta Zeta, involved in the Tarleton L.E.A.D.S Program, serves as SGA’s senior senator, a 2010 Duck Camp Director, and a member of Tarleton Bass Club, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Delta Epsilon. She was awarded the 2010 Greek Women of the Year and the John T Spirit Award.
Laci Crais is a senior Kinesiology major. She is a former captain of the All-Girl Cheerleading Squad, a member of Alpha Gama Delta, Treasurer of TAT, Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Society, and a graduate of the L.E.A.D.S. Program.
Megan Galloway is a senior majoring in history with a minor in art and spanish. She is involved in Alpha Gamma Delta, activities coordinator and new member coordinator, a Duck Camp Leader, a member of the Tarleton Arts Society, the SGA Senior Class Senator, a member of the Tarleton Lions Club, Tat, and a Distinguished Student.
Tamara Carpenter is also a senior Kinesiology major from Fort Worth, Texas. Carpenter is a Delta Zeta, Alumni Ambassadors, is the FRC Council Coordinator, Orientation Advisor, in the Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society, Phi Epsilon Kappa, and the Kinesiology Fitness Club.
Though the contest for Homecoming Queen is sometimes seen as a popularity contest, runners up say it is much more than that.
“I can see why people say it is a popularity contest, but it’s more than popularity,” Carpenter said. “All of the girls on homecoming court are very involved individuals at Tarleton and we are a part of numerous organizations.
“We are involved because we care about Tarleton State University. I do not get involved because I want people to “know” me. I enjoy being involved and helping out in whatever I can.”
Also Laci Crais said she sees the selection as a vote for “for the person who best represents Tarleton. She should be someone who is involved on campus, who contributes to making Tarleton a better place, and who is a ‘good’ person inside and out. When voting, students should think to themselves, “Can I say one bad thing about this person?” If the answer is yes, then that candidate should not receive a vote.”
