Each year, the University chooses 20 student leaders from the senior class to represent the school as members of the Homecoming Court. According to the University’s Homecoming website, the students are carefully chosen based on their academic achievements, campus leadership and community involvement. 

Students may apply or be nominated by their peers to serve on the court. The Daily Illini had the opportunity to get to know some of the 2024 court members.

**Responses were sent to The DI via email and edited for length and clarity.**

Ayanna McDaniel is an education administration major from Chicago, Illinois.

DI: What are your education and career goals?

McDaniel: As an education administration major, I aspire to continue my work within DEI practices here at the University by obtaining a master’s in educational policy, organization and leadership. I hope to someday work within higher education in a place where I can help students find a sense of belonging and be unapologetically themselves.

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University? 

McDaniel: By being the embodiment of an involved and empowered student through my endless acts of community service, the responsibilities I have partaken within all of the organizations I am a part of and how I have developed into a well-rounded leader, friend and sister during my time here.

Jasmin Aquino is a studio art major born in Chicago, Illinois, and her family is native to Puerto Rico.

DI: What does it mean to be a part of the Homecoming Court?

Aquino: Being a part of the Homecoming Court means being a role model. It means representing my Latinx culture and pride. Even though we are a minority group, we are accomplishing big things on campus and are leaders in the community. 

DI: What are your education and career goals?

Aquino: I am studying toward my studio art degree with a concentration in fashion. I hope to further my education in New York, where I am applying to graduate schools to earn my MFA in studio art. I hope to either have my own fashion brand one day or work with a sustainable company as a designer to reduce fashion waste. 

Emilio Reyes is a journalism major from Lafayette, Indiana.

DI: What are your education and career goals?

Reyes: I’m majoring in journalism with minors in Spanish and communication. After graduation, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in broadcast journalism. My ultimate career goal is to work in broadcast journalism, where I can leverage my platform to amplify minority voices.

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University?

Reyes: I believe I represent the diverse student body at the University. The University’s diversity has played a significant role in helping me discover who I am and deepening my connection to my Latinx heritage. At the University, I’ve had the opportunity to form friendships with people from all walks of life, which I find truly beautiful.

Rawnie Singh is an electrical engineering major from Los Angeles, California.

DI: What does it mean to be a part of the Homecoming Court? 

Singh: To me, being part of the Homecoming Court feels like the completion of my journey here at Illinois. Over my four years, I’ve come to love this place in ways I could have never imagined, and being able to represent this place that I now consider my home means everything to me.

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University? 

Singh: I feel I best represent the University through the way I treat people. I try to treat everyone I encounter with kindness, respect and genuineness. It’s my little way of leaving a positive impact on the world.

Jae’da Thompson is an interdisciplinary health sciences major from Chicago, Illinois.

DI: What are your education and career goals?

Thompson: I’m majoring in interdisciplinary health sciences and minoring in public health. After undergrad, I plan to obtain my MPH through the BS-MPH program offered at the University. My end goal is to be a psychiatric healthcare provider. 

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University? 

Thompson: I feel I best represent the University by continuing to say “yes” to the unknown, as that is what has made my experience here so meaningful. During my time here, I was reminded the goal is to get the degree, but opening your heart to new things brings a truly meaningful experience.

Sydney Turner is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, and is majoring in psychology and communication.

DI: What does it mean to be a part of the Homecoming Court? 

Turner: Choosing to attend the University of Illinois has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. It’s a full circle moment for me, as I never would have imagined how much I would grow as a student and leader in college when I began as a freshman. 

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University? 

Turner: I best represent U of I by believing in myself in everything I do. This has allowed me to take the opportunities given to me as a student and flourish.

Andres Vazquez is majoring in urban studies and is from South Chicago, Illinois.

DI: What are your education and career goals?

Vazquez: I am pursuing a degree in urban studies and planning with a minor in environmental economics and law. After I graduate, I want to pursue a career focused on improving cities worldwide through planning initiatives and policy creation.

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University? 

Vazquez: I represent the supportive community and helpfulness found at Illinois. The support I have received from my friends, professors and campus resources has allowed me to flourish and grow during my time as a student. I carry the support with me in all that I do.

Monica Milanowski is a supply chain management Major from Niles, Illinois.

DI: What are your education and career goals?

Milanowski: I am studying supply chain management with minors in earth, society & environment and Spanish. After graduation, I will join Bain & Company in Chicago as an associate consultant. In the long term, I hope to work in the climate tech space to advocate for greater resource allocation for communities disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change. 

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University? 

Milanowski: I best represent the University by continuously seeking new opportunities to grow as a person and leader. Learning from peers, courses, RSOs and resources from all across campus has led me to become a huge advocate for stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and seeing all that the University has to offer.

Yureni Roman is a psychology and Spanish Major from Wheeling, Illinois.

DI: What does it mean to be a part of the Homecoming Court? 

Roman: Being part of the Homecoming Court is an honor recognizing my commitment and contributions to the University. It enables me to represent the Latino community across campus and hopefully influence others to embrace their heritage and contribute to the University’s diverse and inclusive environment. 

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University?

Roman: I represent the University by being a well-rounded student with a strong presence in the Latino community on campus. I’ve had the opportunity to pave the way for gradual change through my involvement in advocating for student success and hope to inspire other students to continue the work.

Ben Shapiro is a biochemistry major from Deerfield, Illinois.

DI: What does it mean to be a part of the Homecoming Court?

Shapiro: It is truly an honor to be part of the longest ongoing homecoming tradition in the nation. It’s a unique opportunity to showcase the values and spirit that make our school special, and I am grateful for the chance to contribute to this legacy.

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University?

Shapiro: I best represent the University through the connections I’ve built and the impact I’ve tried to make across campus. As a cancer researcher, I’m proud to contribute to work that has the potential to change lives. As president of the Jewish community on campus, I’m able to create a space where people feel welcome and valued, which means a lot to me.

Ashley Equihua is a nutrition and health major from Summit, Illinois. 

DI: What does it mean to be a part of the Homecoming Court? 

Equihua: Being part of the Homecoming Court is truly an honor. It is incredible to be recognized along with my peers, who have all contributed greatly to campus. I hope this will inspire other first-generation Latinx students to find their place at Illinois and succeed in any field they choose.

DI: What are your education and career goals?

Equihua: After graduating, I plan to attend medical school, where I will apply the knowledge obtained from my nutrition and health degree to advance the field of medicine. 

Courtney Dillion is a journalism and sociology major on the pre-law track from Chicago, Illinois.

DI: What are your education and career goals?

Dillion: I am a pre-law student pursuing a dual degree in sociology and journalism. I am also minoring in criminology and political science. I am currently applying to MSW programs and plan to pursue law school following that. My ultimate goal is to be a civil rights or criminal defense attorney. 

DI: What’s your favorite homecoming tradition, and what are you most excited about?

Dillion: My favorite homecoming tradition is definitely the parade. I love seeing local residents come to campus to watch the parade that showcases our different organizations and departments on campus. I am extremely excited to take part in this tradition this year.

Evan Walker is an advertising major from Flossmoor, Illinois.

DI: What does it mean to be a part of the Homecoming Court? 

Walker: It’s a great honor to represent the student body and all the various RSOs I’ve been lucky to be a part of during my time here.

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University?

Walker: I think my ambitious, outgoing and competitive attitude most resonates with the bulk of our student body.

Teagan Rehn is an elementary education major from Galesburg, Illinois.

DI: How important is the University’s Homecoming and its traditions? 

Rehn: Homecoming has always meant something special, as I often think about my dad. While I never got to experience being an Illini with him, I have always felt very close to his spirit during this weekend. It feels like such an incredible honor to his life and who he was to me, being a part of the Homecoming Court this year. 

DI: How do you feel you best represent the University? 

Rehn: I feel that I best represent the University in how I have taken advantage of many of the opportunities this place has to offer. When I came to this University, I started as a grieving teenage girl with an undecided major. Today, I am proud to serve as an example of how this University can change you for the better.

Emma Darbro is a brain and cognitive science major from Plainfield, Illinois.

DI: What does it mean to be a part of the Homecoming Court? 

Darbro: I biked across the country this summer and met many amazing and generous alumni in even the least expected areas. The Illini community and University spirit run strong, even away from Champaign, and I’m so honored to be a part of this special weekend.

DI: What are your education and career goals?

Darbro: I am studying brain and cognitive science and have a minor in informatics. I hope to go to medical school after a gap year and work on improving, defending and expanding reproductive healthcare.

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