ADA, Okla. –East Central University hosted its annual Homecoming Celebration at Koi Ishto Stadium, Oct. 5. The Homecoming Royalty Ceremony took place at halftime of the ECU vs. University of Arkansas at Monticello football game. The 2024 Homecoming Court was comprised of 10 students and was on a live voting ballot for the student body to vote for Homecoming King and Queen. Voting began on Sept. 30th, 2024 and closed on Oct. 4th, 2024.
Lauren HerrNeckar of Austin, Texas was voted the 2024 Homecoming Queen. HerrNeckar is a senior Molecular Biology and Biochemistry major who represented the ECU Honors program on the 2024 Homecoming Court. She is the daughter of Anita and Adam HerrNeckar, and holds multiple leadership and membership positions in student organizations on campus.
HerrNeckar is a member of multiple academic honor societies including Tri-Beta, Gamma Sigma Epsilon, and Alpha Chi. In her time as a student at ECU, she was a member of the ECU softball team. Along with her participation in student organizations, HerrNeckar participates in intramural sports and research in the CURL laboratory.
Following the Homecoming Ceremony, HerrNeckar was asked to share her experience at ECU and as a member of the 2024 Homecoming Court, “As a super-senior majoring in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics, I can say that it has not been easy...The last two summers have only aided in that as I have been able to do research with UT Southwestern on a gene knockout in bone and Asuragen on breast cancer diagnostics. These experiences have allowed me to experience research from a variety of perspectives and see where I might fit best once I graduate from graduate school with my Ph.D. I was recently asked if I would change anything about my rather non-traditional college experience. Even though it was hard, grueling, and painful at times, I would not change a thing.”
HerrNeckar was asked what being crowned Homecoming Queen meant to her, "If everything happened the exact same way and you had asked me this question two years ago, it would not hold the same weight as it does today. As President of the Honors College here on campus, it was almost emotional for me to be crowned Queen. The Honors College has done so much for me over the years, and this felt like my opportunity to give back to them. To give them a public face for anyone who doesn't know who we are. I am proud to represent this group of highly motivated, bright students, and I know they are proud to have a Queen who works for them.”
Tanner Collins of Dale, Okla. was voted the 2024 Homecoming King. Collins is a senior Information Technology Management in Data Analytics major and is pursuing his master’s degree in Sports Administration Management. He represented the Student Athlete Advisory Committee on the 2024 Homecoming Court. Collins is the son of Tim and Kathy Collins, and is a member of the ECU baseball team. Outside of baseball, Collins is involved with Athlete’s Bible Study, Delta Mu Delta Honor Society and Trinity Baptist Church.
Following the Homecoming Ceremony, Tanner Collins was asked to share his experience at ECU and as a member of the 2024 Homecoming Court, “My time at ECU was constantly filled with people who cared about me. I never found myself with nobody I couldn’t talk to, which I'm extremely grateful for. I loved being a part of Homecoming Court. I was able to campaign for myself in ways I had never thought possible on campus. I was also able to get outside of my comfort zone to meet new people and go to new places on campus I had never been.”
Collins was asked what being crowned Homecoming King meant to him, “Being crowned Homecoming King meant so much to me. My goal in life is to make a positive impact on anyone that I meet, so being King means that I succeeded in doing so. This also shows that I'll be able to influence people's lives in a positive way in the future. Another reason being crowned King means so much to me is that people had my back. Having people behind me means I was able to be a successful leader during my time at ECU, which means I was able to gain people's trust and people believed in my abilities to make this campus a better place.”
Cutline: ECU Homecoming King, Tanner Collins, and Homecoming Queen, Lauren HerrNeckar
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