The University of Illinois Homecoming Committee receives numerous homecoming court applications every year. From those submissions, they must narrow the selection down to 15 males and 15 females.
These students are chosen because of their academic, leadership and service achievements throughout their years spent at the University. After an extensive interview process in front of various Illinois faculty and staff, 10 males and 10 females are chosen to represent Illinois’ Homecoming Court.
This year’s selection represents a diverse and accomplished pool of Illinois seniors. Here is the 2013 Illinois Homecoming Court, their fun facts and most notable changes from their time at Illinois.
Michael Allensworth
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Hometown: Kewanee, Ill.
College: LAS
Fun fact: Addicted to Starbucks
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Sees self as a more diversified citizen
Margarita Altidis
Hometown: Naperville, Ill.
College: LAS
Fun fact: Spent a night in the Sahara Desert
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has been amazed by the passion of Illinois faculty and staff
Alaina Behrends
Hometown: Bloomington, Ill.
College: Business
Fun fact: Taught herself how to juggle
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has built many networks on and off campus
McKennon Biers
Hometown: Mendota, Ill.
College: Business
Fun fact: Won a hot dog eating contest when he was 16
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has grown significantly as a person, improved his perspective and developed as a leader
Caroline Cavallo
Hometown: Staunton, Ill.
College: ACES
Fun fact: Competitively shows horses
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has become a more vocal and confident student
Jacob Ekstrand
Hometown: Yates City, Ill.
College: ACES
Fun fact: Enjoys Westerns and is a John Wayne fan
Freshman-to-senior-year change:Has learned invaluable skills and gained lifelong friends from around world
Kyle Granger
Hometown: East St. Louis, Ill.
College: ACES
Fun fact: Recreationally and competitively dances
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Strives to help younger students set high goals
Kurt Hansen
Hometown: Lake Zurich, Ill.
College: ACES
Fun fact: Was born left-handed, but broke his left wrist and is now right-handed
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has learned that with a good team, determination and elbow grease, anything is possible
Maria Jolly
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
College: LAS
Fun fact: Met President Barack Obama when he was still a senator
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has learned how to change ideas into action and manage time more appropriately
Douglas Lavey
Hometown: Champaign, Ill.
College: LAS
Fun fact: Dances to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” around campus every Halloween
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has seen personal maturation and intellectual growth
Christopher Lowery
Hometown: Benton, Ill.
College: LAS
Fun fact: Loves all forms of entertainment, including movies, music and television
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Can now leave Illinois feeling confident
Nishant Makhijani
Hometown: Godhra, Gujarat, India
College: Engineering
Fun fact: Can speak four languages
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has acted as a role model for other students and created a positive impact on the campus
Stuti Mehta
Hometown: Glendale Heights, Ill.
College: LAS and Media
Fun fact: Has been a vegetarian for her whole life
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has become more determined and confident
Stephanie Mieczkowski
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
College: LAS
Fun fact: Family has owned more than 10 cats
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Found a passion for volunteering and social justice
Marika Nell
Hometown: Cheverly, Md.
College: Engineering
Fun fact: Loves traveling is going to Cameroon in December
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has stepped out of comfort zone and has become a leader for many organizations
David Perez
Hometown: Hoffman Estates, Ill.
College: Business
Fun fact: Delivered President Barack Obama’s barbecue lunch in North Carolina during Spring 2013 when he was a White House intern
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has been given the opportunity to grow and appreciate every experience
Fadya Salem
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
College: Applied Health Sciences
Fun fact: First time surfing was in Portugal; first time skiing was in the Italian Alps
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has become more open-minded and learned to adapt to difficult situations
Robert Schnitzer
Hometown: Highland Park, Ill.
College: Education
Fun fact: Attended his first Illinois basketball game at age 3
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has become a campus leader that loves to learn and grow
Marin Thompson
Hometown: Jackson, Wis.
College: LAS
Fun fact: Has been to four continents in the past six months
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Will always be an Illini, no matter what
Julia Weiss
Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
College: Business and LAS
Fun fact: Is a soccer referee for youth and club soccer
Freshman-to-senior-year change: Has become a stronger leader, better at managing people and tasks
David can be reached at [email protected].
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article misidentified the 2013 Illinois Homecoming Court as the 2013 Illinois Homecoming Committee. The Daily Illini regrets the error.
