Kelsey Gorman
Hometown: Mansfield, Ohio
Major: psychology and public relations
Nominated by: Orientation Leaders
Transferring from Ohio University, Kelsey Gorman believes her decision to come to Otterbein was “the best decision of my life.”
With all the activities Homecoming has to offer, the parade is her favorite.
“I love having apple cider on a fall day with the leaves all sorts of different colors, just watching or being in the parade.”
She expressed her gratitude for the alumni and what they have given to Otterbein.
With her nomination coming from Orientation Leaders, she said orientation can make or break a new student’s experience.
Gorman said Otterbein will also be considered her home even after she leaves when she graduates in May.
Kahla Johnson
Hometown: Germantown, Ohio
Major: broadcasting
Nominated by: Otterbein.TV
Kahla Johnson’s main goal in life is to make a difference in the world.
“If I can make someone smile or laugh, that is the greatest feeling in the world for me,” Johnson said.
Johnson has a goal of becoming Ellen DeGeneres’ next intern by posting daily videos to YouTube so she can gain support and attention.
She said she wishes everyone on court could win the title of king or queen.
“We all come from different areas of campus and are super involved and are all deserving.”
The hype and spirit around the Homecoming season is Johnson’s favorite part. She enjoys everyone coming together and showing school pride.
Lindsay Wargelin
Hometown: Chesterland, Ohio
Major: biology
Nominated by: Sigma Alpha Tau sorority
Becoming Homecoming queen would be a way to give back to
Otterbein, Lindsay Wargelin said. She said Otterbein has had an incredible impact on her life and that being crowned would be an honor.
“I love the small-campus feel because Otterbein is so full of opportunities.”
Those opportunities all led her to join many student organizations on campus.
Having a passion for people goes to show why her favorite part of Homecoming is talking to the alumni and hearing their stories.
“The experiences and relationships that I have had here have helped shape me into who I am today.”
Rose Powell
Hometown: Wadsworth, Ohio
Major: nursing
Nominated by: Theta Nu sorority
Rose Powell said she has a great deal of respect for the Homecoming court and the crown, as well as a great love for Otterbein.
She said her favorite part of Homecoming is the parade floats.
“I always especially look forward to Pi Sig’s spin on the Homecoming theme each year.”
Powell joked that being on court might give her a competitive edge when applying for nursing jobs.
“But in all honesty, being on court alone has been an honor, and I think everyone on court is deserving of a crown,” she said.
Powell said she believes that she and Theta Nu can give back to Otterbein through community service.
“We love helping out the community and getting everyone excited to be a part of something bigger.”
Michelle Dippold
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Major: environmental sociology (individualized major)
Nominated by: Gamma Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity
Michelle Dippold was surprised to be nominated for Homecoming queen but said that if she wins, it would be the capstone to her
Otterbein experience.
“My freshman year at Otterbein, I could never have dreamed that I would be on Homecoming court. It is very humbling to feel as though I have made enough impact on campus and within my involvements to have been nominated.”
What Dippold likes about Homecoming is meeting alumni and seeing her friends who have graduated.
She said she chose Otterbein because “the minute I stepped on campus, I felt like I was home.”
When she moves on from Otterbein, she said the thing she will miss most is the people.
Cody Parsons
Hometown: Louisville, Ohio
Major: nursing
Nominated by: Sigma Delta Phi fraternity
Cody Parsons’ experience at Otterbein has been life-changing, he said. Freshman year, Parsons became a Christian and ever since, he said he has been thankful for Otterbein.
Bringing people together is something Parsons strives to do. Something he wishes Otterbein would do is create something like Ohio State University’s “Oval.”
“I have always wanted a place on campus where all students can go, hang out and there would always be tons of people.”
Seeing the alumni surround the streets during the parade is one of Parsons’ favorite parts of Homecoming.
Parsons will graduate this spring, and what he’ll miss from Otterbein the most is the people.
Chris Perin
Hometown: Chesterland, Ohio
Major: nursing
Nominated by: Red Zone
Chris Perin said his four years at Otterbein have made him grow “astronomically” as a person.
Perin decided to come to Otterbein because of its “great nursing program” and to be a part of the first recruitment class for the new Otterbein lacrosse team.
If he could change one thing about Otterbein, it would be the parking siutation.
Besides nursing and helping others, Perin also has a love for sports.
Perin believes getting more school spirit is what Otterbein needs.
His favorite Homecomming activity is the parade.
Cameron Change
Hometown: born in San Diego and raised in Dayton, Ohio
Major: life science with a concentration in pre-professional health sciences.
Nominated by: Men of Vision
Cameron Change’s favorite part of Homecoming is the football game.
“The nervous excitement right before kickoff or as the ball is up for grabs between a receive and a defensive back is a feeling that I wouldn’t trade for all the contents in the U.S. Treasury.”
Change said he thinks he should be the king “because of the support that I have for the people that encouraged me to. I know this sounds cheesy, but I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for them.”
Change chose Otterbein because it offered him financial assistance and had a welcoming environment.
He said what he will miss most about Otterbein is the sense of community.
Christopher Wood
Hometown: Mendon, Ohio
Major: speech communication
Nominated by: Otterbein’s Chapter of the Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society
Christopher Wood wants to be Homecoming king because he believes that it will be a great testament to the services he has done for the school he loves.
The one thing that Wood said he would change would be the cost that it takes to be a student at Otterbein.
Wood said his experience at Otterbein has bettered him as a person, showing him what he wanted to do with his life and giving him the experience to do it.
“My favorite part of Homecoming is the football game,” Wood said. “I love the atmosphere of a football game on a beautiful fall day.”
When Wood graduates he said he is really going to miss his friends.
Thomas Martin
Hometown: Sidney, Ohio
Major: political science
Nominated by: The Center for Student Involvement
Thomas Martin chose to become part of the Otterbein family during his tour because he felt at home the instant he walked onto the campus.
“I really would like to be king because I know if I was to be king, I would do my best to continue to represent Otterbein (as) the great university and home in which I have found it to be for the last four years,” he said.
What Martin truly enjoys about Homecoming is that it brings the past and the present together. He believes that this is best seen in the Homecoming parade.
Working as the student manager for the Center for Student Involvement helped Martin become a better person. He said it taught him leadership skills and how to work with people.
