The Roaring 20s slate of homecoming festivities at the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith culminated in the crowning of students Luis 鈥淲icho鈥� Negrete Becerra of Saltillo, Mexico and Taely Dedmon of Mansfield as 2020 Homecoming King and Queen.
Negrete Becerra is the son of Javier Negrete Martinez and Graciela Becerra Vela. A senior mathematics major, he represents Kappa Alpha Order. Dedmon is the daughter of Keith and Tracy Dedmon and represents the student alumni association as an organizational leadership major.
鈥淏eing able to represent AV抖阴 as homecoming queen is the highest honor in my eyes,鈥� said Dedmon. 鈥淚 have so much respect for this university. AV抖阴 will always be a part of me, and I鈥檓 so excited I get to be a part of its legacy. Once a Lion, always a lion!鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to represent AV抖阴 and all the student body, without them I wouldn鈥檛 be the person I am today!鈥� said Negrete Becerra
AV抖阴 Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley and her fianc茅 Dr. Ricardo Maestas crowned the winners.
鈥淗omecoming is such special time on a college campus, and this week I have been able to see outstanding displays of Lion Pride from students, faculty, staff, and alumni all over campus,鈥� said Riley. 鈥淚 am so appreciative of the hard work our Student Life Office and our Alumni Association put into Homecoming each year, and thankful for the opportunity to meet so many members of our Lion family who have shared with me valuable stories of the university we all call home.鈥�
Crown bearers were Warren and Bailey May of Fort Smith, the son and daughter of Jeremy and Sarah May, members of the AV抖阴 Class of
Negrete Becerra and Dedmon were crowned from a homecoming court of eight nominated students after students voted, and candidates conducted interviews with a panel of judges.
The three additional students elected to Homecoming King court were: Landon King, representing Campus Activities Board, a junior, vocal music major from Harrison; Dyllan Newell, representing Sigma Nu and Delta Gamma, a sophomore, media communications major from Fort Smith; and Matthew Wells, representing Kappa Sigma and Gamma Phi Beta, a sophomore, business administration major from Ozark.
The Three additional students elected to Homecoming Queen court were Madison Coker representing Delta Gamma and Sigma Nu, a senior, organizational leadership major from West Fork; Taylor Bayley, representing Gamma phi beta and Kappa sigma, a junior, English with teacher licensure major from Winslow; and Kristin Centeno representing NUMediA, a sophomore, media communication major from Baltimore, Maryland.