From left, winners of the titles of Homecoming king and queen for 2019, Paolo Balladares and Samantha Carter, are all smiles as they celebrate with Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵChancellor Kelli R. Brown.
Samantha Carter, a senior from Holly Ridge majoring in social work, and Paolo Balladares, a senior from Clayton majoring in nursing, were announced as Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Homecoming queen and king Saturday, Oct. 26.
The announcement was made during halftime of WCU’s football game versus Furman University.
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵstudents voted Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 to choose their top 10 candidates for king and top 10 candidates for queen from a pool of entrants. A Homecoming court panel conducted interviews with each of the candidates, and then, based on the interview sessions and letters of recommendation from Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵfaculty or staff, narrowed the pool of candidates down to the five men and five women who made up this year’s court. The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵstudent body voted Oct. 7-8 to choose the king and queen.
Carter, a graduate of Dixon High School in Holly Ridge, is the daughter of Sonya Carter and Ennett Carter. She serves as a resident assistant on campus and as a vice president for the Delta Zeta sorority.
Balladares, a graduate of Clayton High School in Clayton, is the son of Katty Delgado and Pablo Amestica. His activities on campus include serving as a member of the Honors College board of directors and as a senator on the Student Government Association. He also volunteers at local community clinics as a translator.