SAGE Students Win WT Homecoming Queen, King and Float Competition

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Students representing one of West Texas A&M University’s most active organizations were crowned Homecoming Queen and King during halftime of the Buffalo football game Oct. 4.

Morgan Elarton, a senior management major from Canyon, was crowned queen, and Andrew Berngen, a senior agribusiness and economics major from Dalhart, was named king. Both represent Students Assisting in Good Endeavors, or SAGE.

SAGE was established in 2000 and is a faith-based community service organization.

“This is surreal,” Elarton said. “I’m just so thankful for every opportunity that I’ve gotten at WT, and just to be able to represent SAGE is amazing. I’m really thankful for everything that the Lord has blessed me.”

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to represent SAGE,” Berngen echoed. “I’m just grateful and blessed that God has put me in this position.”

SAGE’s float won both the People’s Choice award and first place in large floats from the official judges at the Homecoming parade.

Homecoming royalty was announced at the end of halftime of WT’s blowout 56-7 victory over Sul Ross State University in Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.

The Homecoming queen finalists also included Katelyn Lechwar, a junior sports and exercise sciences major from Canyon, representing Delight Ministries; Leah Aviles, a senior general business major from Amarillo, representing Hispanic Student Association; and Jazmyn McKeel, a senior music major from Allen, representing Baptist Student Ministry.

King finalists were Cole Kemp, a senior accounting major from Dalhart, representing Baptist Student Ministry; Javier Rivera Cordero, a junior communication studies major from Fort Worth, representing F1RSTGEN; and Ubaldo Campa, a senior political science major from Amarillo, representing Alpha Tau Omega.

The Homecoming court was presented flowers provided by the WT Horticulture Club.

Student organizations nominate candidates to represent them on the court. Nominees began campaigning Sept. 16, with the student body vote taking place Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Finalists were announced Oct. 3 at Pigskin Revue, the annual Homecoming pep rally.

Queen nominees also included Melinda Thomas, a senior music education major from Amarillo, representing the Sound of West Texas Buffalo Marching Band; Gizelle Borunda, a senior accounting major from Sunray, representing Student Government Association; Brenda Garcia, a senior nursing major from Vernon, representing Maroon Platoon; Landri Ivie, a senior education major from Amarillo, representing Delta Zeta; and Sheyla Trejo, a senior business major from Dumas, representing F1RSTGEN; Jordan Byrd, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Kingwood, representing Chi Omega and the Campus Activities Board; and Natalie Saucedo, a senior animal science major from Dallas, representing Alpha Sigma Alpha.

King nominees also included Jack Montgomery, a senior music education major from College Station, representing the Sound of West Texas Buffalo Marching Band; Dominic Narvaez, a senior mechanical engineering major from Amarillo, representing Hispanic Student Association; Diego Flores, a junior pre-engineering major from San Antonio, representing Student Government Association; and Javier Mendoza, a junior pre-engineering major from Dimmitt, representing Omega Delta Phi.

Hispanic Student Association’s float won the small float category, with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in second and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Judges selected Delta Zeta and Kappa Alpha’s float second and Chi Omega and Alpha Gamma Rho’s float third in the large float category.

Audience members in person and watching on TV or via streaming could vote for the people’s choice award via QR code.

Fostering a commitment among students to be part of something larger than one’s self is a key value set out in the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Morgan Elarton, left, and Andrew Berngen were named West Texas A&M University Homecoming Queen and King during halftime of WT's victorious game over Sul Ross State University on Oct. 4.

—WT—