Tyler Rock and Bernie Schneider were announced as Shippensburg University’s 2018 homecoming king and queen on Saturday afternoon during halftime of the football game against Kutztown University.
This year, 10 students on the homecoming court raised more than $12,000 for Hound Packs, which serves food-insecure students in the Shippensburg Area School District by providing them with meals.
The homecoming standings were: first runners-up Rachel Smith and Phillip Young; second runners-up, Casey Petrie and Eric Zampelli; third runners-up, Kaitlin Kratzer-Wilson and Stijn Cos and fourth runners-up, Taren Swartz and Cameron Hines.
Rock and Schneider held fundraisers to campaign. They sold smoothies, cupcakes and pretzels, and held a tie-dye event on campus. Rock and Schneider each had GoFundMe pages that they promoted on social media.
Rock reached out to alumni and people from his hometown. He even went door-to-door asking for donations.
Schneider also reached out to professors and administrators to donate.
“We wanted to engage with the campus community and get to know as many people as possible,” Rock said.
Rock raised $1,588 and Schneider raised $1,713.
Rock said hearing his name called felt like an “American Idol” moment, and he was blessed to be running along Schneider and the rest of the court.
“It was a lot to take in at once, but I was overwhelmed with happiness and fulfillment,” Rock said. “I have had an amazing four years at Ship, and to be chosen to represent the university as homecoming king brought me so much joy in that moment.”
Schneider had a similar reaction, and said she was shocked to hear her name called.
“Tyler knows I was shaking and couldn’t speak. Truly blessed. I didn’t expect to win, but I couldn’t be happier to represent Shippensburg University,” she said.
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