Creighton’s 2023 Homecoming King Hank Engelbert and Queen Amy Gassel were announced last Friday at the men’s soccer game after a series of events for the court of new and old friends to embrace the Creighton community.
The royal pair were surprised to walk away with the crowns; Amy Gassel, Senior in the College of Nursing and Homecoming Queen, said, “When I heard my name […] I was so surprised; I even voted for someone else.”
While Gassel may have been surprised, the crowd seemed to embrace her with powerful applause.
“I couldn’t hear who they said for king because the cheers for Amy were so loud,” Hank Engelbert, Senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and the homecoming king, said.
“Everyone was just so happy for everyone and happy to be together,” Gassel said.
The court was notified of their nomination last Spring when they each received an email explaining that one of their peers had written in support of them.
“I didn’t even realize what the process was like – and when I found out that someone had taken the time to write nice things about me, it was really touching,” Kate Williams, Senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the homecoming court said. “I was so appreciative,”
During their halftime introductions at the homecoming soccer game, each member was read a letter from one of their peers describing them to the crowd. “It was super flattering […] just cool to be thought of as someone to represent Creighton, a place I love so much,” Griffin Olson, a member of the homecoming court, said.
Williams went on to explain the new experiences that came along with the court nomination. “One of my favorite things maybe ever at Creighton was the pickleball tournament,” Williams said. “Hank asked me to be his partner, and we used to play intramural volleyball together, so I knew we’d make a good team.”
“We dominated even though we really didn’t dominate,” Engelbert elaborated on the pickleball duo.”
The court was given time to get to know one another at dinner before the soccer game. “I can see why people took the time to write about them,” Williams said. “They’re all amazing and the most welcoming people ever.”
The 10 members of the court were asked to describe what makes Creighton home to them during their preliminary interviews and throughout the remainder of their experience.
“When I think of home, I think of somewhere where I feel comfortable and am around supportive people who always push me to be better,” Engelbert said.
Students are selected by underclassmen through the Creighton Student Union for various characteristics of their Creighton experience.
“Walking out on the field just summed up what it was like to be an undergrad looking up to the upperclassmen and then to be an upperclassman with my friends just having a good time,” Olson said.