Each year during Homecoming, two faculty members are crowned EIU Faculty King and Queen in addition to the student homecoming court.

The deadline for students to nominate faculty members is Tuesday.

Emily Ritter, advisor for the Homecoming elections and coronation committee, said any student is able to nominate a faculty member that they feel represents the Eastern community.

“I think the position is a good representation because Homecoming is about not only the entire school, but the entire community, and having that school pride by showing your spirit,” Ritter said. “I think the more the faculty knows that the students appreciate what they give, the more it helps the faculty to feel like they are more of a part of the campus and the student body.”

Angela Yoder, assistant professor in the counseling and student development office, was crowned Faculty Homecoming Queen last year.

She said she felt touched, surprised and grateful for being nominated by her students.

“(My students) actually rolled out a red carpet for me in class and presented me with a crown, roses and brownies that spelled out queen,” Yoder said. “I actually started crying; I thought it was so sweet.”

Craig Eckert, chairman of the sociology and anthropology department, was crowned the Faculty Homecoming King.

“It’s another way that faculty can demonstrate their involvement in the life of the university and the lives of their students,” Eckert said. “To me, that is something that makes our faculty so unique compared to other university faculty.”

Yoder said she was honored to represent Eastern as Faculty Homecoming Queen.

“Being able to work with students side-by-side at Homecoming events really brings a person face-to-face with the kindness and integrity of our students,” Yoder said.

Ritter said the faculty king and queen nomination form asks for the nominator’s name and asks three questions about how the person feels the faculty member would be a good candidate to represent Eastern.

“(The winners) are announced at coronation and they each get sashes and a plaque,” Ritter said. “Then they also get to ride in a car that honors them during the parade and we also invite them to come out to all the other activities throughout the week to represent the EIU faculty.”

Applications can be found in the Student Activity Center and online at http://www.eiu.edu/homecoming/coronation_facultynomination.php.

Applications are due Tuesday by 4:30 p.m. to the SAC or 9 p.m. at the Homecoming Overall Meeting in the Arcola-Tuscola Room in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Ritter said students can vote for Homecoming Faculty King and Queen on Oct. 10-11.

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].