The MU Homecoming spirit came into full force on Sept. 22, when Mizzou Homecoming announced 2021’s Homecoming Top 10 Royalty. The candidates were selected following a complex process.
Each candidate was sponsored from an organization that they are involved with, and had to apply in August. Following two interviews, an application, activity participation, student voting and decisions made by a board of faculty, alumni and local community members, the Top 10 students are selected.
The candidates will have a busy few weeks ahead of them, with the upcoming Homecoming traditions all culminating with the coronation. This year’s King and Queen will be crowned during the halftime show at the Homecoming game on Oct. 9.
MORGAN WOOLRIDGE (she/her/hers)
Sponsoring organization: Office of New Student Programs
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Major: Double major in biology and Spanish
Plans after graduation: After graduation, Woolridge will attend graduate school to work toward her Ph.D.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “I’m a member of the Mizzou Black Women’s Initiative, and we had a lock-in and spent the night at the [Gaines/Oldham] Black Cultural Center. It was a movie night with face masks, music and dancing. My other favorite memory would be Tap Day, when I got to bring in a class that I picked. Just being able to speak to the student body, then watching them get revealed and receive their flowers was very touching to me.”
Favorite place in CoMo: The social justice centers.
Biggest fan: “My family. Even with small accomplishments or goals, they still encourage me. The kinds of things that I would take for granted that I accomplished are a big deal. It impacts me a lot and makes me feel so happy and supported.”
GRACE SCHOLLMEYER (she/her/hers)
Sponsoring organization: Kappa Kappa Gamma
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri
Major: Nursing
Plans after graduation: Schollmeyer will graduate in December, then take her nursing license exam in January. Her goal is to become a NICU or Labor & Delivery nurse.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “I’m an RA in the dorms and I think that’s probably some of my most memorable moments as a student at Mizzou. I think specifically just because I’ve made so many connections through this position, and I’ve met so many students every single year.”
Favorite place in CoMo: A lounge room in Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Biggest fan: “My parents. They’ve been my biggest support system my entire life. I would not be able to handle everything without them. I feel truly honored and blessed to have them as my parents.”
Sponsoring organization: Chi Omega
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
Major: Biological sciences
Plans after graduation: Berke is currently in the application process for medical school in fall 2022.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “During my sophomore year when my sorority, Chi Omega, and [fraternity] Delta Chi won Homecoming.”
Favorite place in CoMo: The Quad.
Biggest fan: “My little sister. She actually ended up coming to Mizzou after I did and she’s now a sophomore. She also rushed Chi Omega, so we’ve gotten to do everything together. I’m also her biggest fan.”
DAYVION ROBINSON (he/him/his)
Sponsoring organization: MU Tour Team
Hometown: Carpentersville, Illinois
Major: Health sciences, with a pre-professional emphasis.
Plans after graduation: Robinson plans on obtaining a job in medical information technology, where he can achieve his passion of combining medicine and technology.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “Being captured in a picture right after Tiger Walk because it’s one of my first memories with who is now my best friend and roommate. He’s just the most awesome person ever.”
Favorite place in CoMo: The Heidelberg.
Biggest fan: “My mom. She always tells me how proud she is of me. She makes me realize that just because I’m not meeting my own standards necessarily, that doesn’t mean I’m not meeting the standards of anybody.”
DYLAN CALHOON (he/him/his)
Sponsoring organization: Office of New Student Programs
Hometown: Carthage, Missouri
Major: Biological sciences
Plans after graduation: Calhoon hopes to enroll in a Ph.D. program for cancer biology.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “Tiger Walk. I’ll never forget running through the Columns with my class.”
Favorite place in CoMo: Pizza Tree.
Biggest fan: “My sister Emily.”
YMBAR POLANCO PINO (he/him/his)
Sponsoring organization: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Major: Mechanical and aerospace engineering
Hometown: Maracay, Venezuela
Plans after graduation: While Polanco Pino enjoys engineering, he wants to focus on supporting and advocating for others. He is still considering getting his Ph.D., but wants to focus more on the business and administration side of it, so he may also pair his education with an MBA.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “It was probably with the mentor that was able to take me under their wing. Dr.[Terrell] Morton was able to create a space for me early on campus. He saw me in Speakers Circle and he was like, ‘Hey, what’s your name?’ And I was like, ‘Ymbar.”’ And he was like, ‘Why don’t I know you?’ And he told me to come to his research called Black and Brown in STEM, and there we got to talk about what it means to be a Black student, to be a Latino student in the College of Engineering and to create a more inclusive environment and communicate that to faculty.”
Favorite place in CoMo: Lafferre Hall.
Biggest fan: “Definitely my parents. My parents and my sister are by far my biggest fans, and I’m the biggest fan of them as well. There’s a lot of love within us four.”
DYLAN HOOD (he/him/his)
Sponsoring organization: Theta Chi
Major: Health sciences with a pre-professional emphasis
Hometown: Wardsville, Missouri
Plans after graduation: Hood will attend the MU School of Medicine for his graduate degree.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “My favorite memory would probably be getting to partake in Homecoming my sophomore year and building the float with my fraternity. Working together and seeing the final outcome was pretty awesome.”
Favorite place in CoMo: Faurot Field on game day.
Biggest fan: “My biggest fan would probably be my mother. She’s always had my back, always supported me throughout growing up and high school and now in college.”
MADISON HERWECK (she/her/hers)
Sponsoring organization: Alumni Association Student Board
Major: Nursing
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Plans after graduation: Herweck plans to move back to St. Louis to work as a nurse, specifically with interest in pediatrics, labor and delivery or postpartum care.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “One of my favorite memories would be my Alumni Association Student Board reveal. It was a really cool experience that was really incredible to share alongside members that you’re with for four years.”
Favorite place in CoMo: The Health Sciences Library.
Biggest fan: “One of my most incredible mentors would have to be my nursing mentor, Donna Otto. I always feel like she has my best interests at heart and is cheering me on at different times and helping me through different stages of nursing, as well as preparing to transition into post-grad life.”
ALEX KLUMB (he/him/his)
Sponsoring organization: Alumni Association Student Board
Major: Chemical engineering
Hometown: Moline, Illinois
Plans after graduation: While Klumb has nothing set in stone, he’s been searching for a full-time job as a process engineer post-graduation.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “My favorite memory at Mizzou was Tiger Walk my freshman year. I came to Mizzou not really knowing anyone and I met some of my very best friends that day.”
Favorite place in CoMo: The Columns.
Biggest fan: “I have two younger brothers who are twins. They’re sophomores at Mizzou and their names are Steven and Adam. They’re my biggest fans and my best friends.”
ERIKA SHOCK (she/her/hers)
Sponsoring organization: Chi Omega
Major: Health sciences with a pre-professional emphasis
Hometown: Gideon, Missouri
Plans after graduation: Next year, Shock will attend the MU School of Medicine to get her medical doctorate.
Favorite memory at Mizzou: “My favorite memory at Mizzou is probably winning Traditions level my sophomore year with my sorority and our pairing, and seeing how involved and passionate the members of not only my organization were, but also other organizations participating as well.”
Favorite place in CoMo: The Student Center.
Biggest fan: “My biggest fan would probably be my mother. She’s spent her whole life dedicating herself to me and my brother. She’s always that person that will reach out to me and make sure I’m doing good.”
Edited by Shannon Worley | sworley@themaneater.com
