Wayne State announced its 2025 Homecoming royalty on Monday, Sept. 22, with the results including record–breaking voting numbers and a historical tie.
Applications for homecoming court were due on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and voting ended Sunday, September 21.
Candidates for queen were Natalie Stallbaum, Morgan Czajkowski, Robynne McMaster, Victoria Harrington, Morgan Kruger, Hailey Hoffman, Reagan Fries, Azania Kumalo, Brooklyn Epler, Alexis Dart, Paige Lingle and Caslynn Schmidt. Candidates for king were Jay Ashby, Billy Reynolds, Cayden Otte, Tyler Baue, Rylee Ross and Andrew Bakula.
The winners were announced at the coronation in Ramsey Theatre on Monday, Sept. 22 by Cody Westerhold, the WSC dean of students. The 2024 Homecoming queen, Bre Matzen, was also at the coronation to present the winners their flowers, crowns, pins and sashes.
At the coronation, king and queen attendants Hailey Hoffman, Jay Ashby and Billy Renolds were named. Hoffman is a construction management and safety management major. Ashby is an industrial technology major with a drafting and design minor. Reynolds is an industrial technology and drafting and design major with a manufacturing management minor.
This year, for the first time, the race to be Homecoming Queen ended in a tie. Azania Kumalo and Robynne McMaster, both from Johannesburg, South Africa, both received the title.
Applications for homecoming court were due on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and voting ended Sunday, September 21.
Candidates for queen were Natalie Stallbaum, Morgan Czajkowski, Robynne McMaster, Victoria Harrington, Morgan Kruger, Hailey Hoffman, Reagan Fries, Azania Kumalo, Brooklyn Epler, Alexis Dart, Paige Lingle and Caslynn Schmidt. Candidates for king were Jay Ashby, Billy Reynolds, Cayden Otte, Tyler Baue, Rylee Ross and Andrew Bakula.
The winners were announced at the coronation in Ramsey Theatre on Monday, Sept. 22 by Cody Westerhold, the WSC dean of students. The 2024 Homecoming queen, Bre Matzen, was also at the coronation to present the winners their flowers, crowns, pins and sashes.
At the coronation, king and queen attendants Hailey Hoffman, Jay Ashby and Billy Renolds were named. Hoffman is a construction management and safety management major. Ashby is an industrial technology major with a drafting and design minor. Reynolds is an industrial technology and drafting and design major with a manufacturing management minor.
This year, for the first time, the race to be Homecoming Queen ended in a tie. Azania Kumalo and Robynne McMaster, both from Johannesburg, South Africa, both received the title.
McMaster is a criminal justice and business administration major with a pre–law minor. She serves on the student senate, Pi Gamma Mu, and the Rural Law Opportunities Program. She is a resident assistant, peer tutor, and was named this year’s Wayne State Student Trustee.
“I am extremely honored and forever grateful to have been elected as homecoming Queen alongside Azania,” McMaster said. “I look forward to collaborating with this multitalented, multicultural Court to make Homecoming a success.”
Kumalo is president of the Student Navigators, the campus tour guides, and FBLA collegiate chapter. She also serves as a member of the student senate.
“The girls that were nominated were all deserving of the title, so when they said ‘it’s a tie,’ I wasn’t surprised at all,” Kumalo said.
“Being an international student, especially a black woman, as well, it was a moment where I felt so seen,” Kumalo said. “It felt rewarding, like all my contributions and hard work is being recognized.”
This year’s Homecoming king was Tyler Baue from Wausa, NE. Baue is a K–12 vocal and instrumental education major who is active in the Concert and Chamber choirs, wind ensemble and acapella club. Baue is also the assistant conductor for the Fortis choir and leads the marching band as one of three drum majors.
“I’m grateful I get to represent this institution in a special way through this tradition, and can’t wait to see what else in store for my final year,” Baue said
To be considered for Homecoming court, nominees were required to be full time students with a minimum of 60 credits completed, must have 2.5 GPA or higher, must be in at least their second full term at Wayne State and they must be in good standing with the dean of students.
“I am extremely honored and forever grateful to have been elected as homecoming Queen alongside Azania,” McMaster said. “I look forward to collaborating with this multitalented, multicultural Court to make Homecoming a success.”
Kumalo is president of the Student Navigators, the campus tour guides, and FBLA collegiate chapter. She also serves as a member of the student senate.
“The girls that were nominated were all deserving of the title, so when they said ‘it’s a tie,’ I wasn’t surprised at all,” Kumalo said.
“Being an international student, especially a black woman, as well, it was a moment where I felt so seen,” Kumalo said. “It felt rewarding, like all my contributions and hard work is being recognized.”
This year’s Homecoming king was Tyler Baue from Wausa, NE. Baue is a K–12 vocal and instrumental education major who is active in the Concert and Chamber choirs, wind ensemble and acapella club. Baue is also the assistant conductor for the Fortis choir and leads the marching band as one of three drum majors.
“I’m grateful I get to represent this institution in a special way through this tradition, and can’t wait to see what else in store for my final year,” Baue said
To be considered for Homecoming court, nominees were required to be full time students with a minimum of 60 credits completed, must have 2.5 GPA or higher, must be in at least their second full term at Wayne State and they must be in good standing with the dean of students.
Westerhold said there were record voting numbers this year.
The king and queens will be attending various Homecoming events throughout the week, and all the candidates will be in the WSC Homecoming parade on Saturday, Sept. 27. The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. and go all down Main Street in Wayne, ending at the Willow Bowl on campus.
The king and queens will be attending various Homecoming events throughout the week, and all the candidates will be in the WSC Homecoming parade on Saturday, Sept. 27. The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. and go all down Main Street in Wayne, ending at the Willow Bowl on campus.
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