Oct. 20, 2023

Ross crowned Homecoming king, Nwuba is queen

Northwest Missouri State University crowned Darren Ross and Obioma Nwuba as its 2023 Homecoming king and queen Thursday during the University’s annual Variety Show.

Clockwise from top left are Darren Ross, Obioma Nwuba, Neeli Johnson and Crosby Webster. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)

Ross, of St. Louis, is a senior computer science major. He is active on campus in the Minority Men’s Organization, Black Student Union, Student Senate, African Student Organization, International Student Organization and TRIO, and he serves as a School of Computer Science and Information Systems student ambassador.

Nwuba, of Anambra State, Nigeria, is a junior early childhood education major. She is active on campus in the African Student Organization, International Student Organization, Student Missouri State Teachers Association and Student Senate in addition to serving as a Career Services ambassador and Writing Center tutor.

This year’s Homecoming prince is Crosby Webster, a first grader at Eugene Field Elementary School in Maryville; he is the son of Josh and Heidi Webster. The Homecoming princess is Neeli Johnson, a second grader at grader at Oak Grove Elementary School in St. Joseph; she is the daughter of Blaire and Dr. Jay Johnson, who is the associate provost for academic operations and development at Northwest.

Northwest students selected the king and queen during online voting Oct. 9-17.The remainder of the 2023 Homecoming court appears below.

King candidates

	Brendon Engeman Year: Senior Major: Agricultural business Hometown: Montrose, Missouri Campus involvement: Delta Tau Alpha, Colligate Farm Bureau, Order of Omega, Alpha Gamma Rho, Interfraternity Council, Student Senate
	Robert Keays Year: Senior Major: Business management Hometown: Raymore, Missouri Campus involvement: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Interfraternity Council, Newman Center, Student Senate
	Coy Kirby Year: Senior Major: Instrumental music education Hometown: Weston, Missouri Campus involvement: Bearcat Marching Band, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, National Association for Music Education.
	Jacob Waters Year: Senior Major: Physical education Hometown: Olathe, Kansas Campus involvement: Sigma Tau Gamma, Blue Key Honor Society, Campus Recreation, StuMo, Basketball Club, Women’s basketball scout team

Queen candidates

	Ashton Dain Year: Senior Major: Mass media: Sports media Hometown: Olathe, Kansas Campus involvement: Bearcat soccer, Blue Key Honor Society, Lambda Pi Eta, School of Communication and Mass Media social media intern
	Jada Grovijohn Year: Senior Major: Psychology Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska Campus involvement: Alpha Sigma Alpha, Panhellenic Council
	Elizabeth Motazedi Year: Senior Major: Social studies, history education Hometown: Joplin, Missouri Campus involvement: Student Senate, Student Regents, Phi Mu, Presidential Search Committee, Order of Omega, Writing Center
	Bradlie Wilmes Year: Senior Major: Agricultural education Hometown: Clarinda, Iowa Campus involvement: Collegiate Farm Bureau, Block and Bridle, Sigma Alpha, Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association, Delta Tau Alpha