Misha Zhilin, Tessa Peters, Zach Dovenbarger (Homecoming King), Eastin Casey (Homecoming Queen), Jedidiah Duarte, and Kelli Traffas
Nineteen Bethany College students were elected to the 2013 Homecoming court during the college’s Homecoming festivities on Oct. 4 to 6. Every year, Bethany students select seniors to be Homecoming candidates and choose the Homecoming royalty after a second round of voting.
Zach Dovenbarger, Kersey, Colo., and Eastin Casey, Natoma, Kan., were crowned the 2013 Homecoming king and queen.
Dovenbarger, son of Paul and Merilan Dovenbarger, is majoring in communications. He is a member of the football team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes president, a resident advisor, and a Bethany Ambassador. Dovenbarger plans to pursue a career in network marketing and says that coming to Bethany College was the greatest decision on his life and was exactly what he wanted from his college experience.
Casey is the daughter of Jay and Valerie Casey. She is majoring in biology and minoring in psychology. Casey is a member of Tri-Beta sorority, Bio-Chem Club, College Choir, Pathfinders, Bethany Ambassadors, and basketball team. She will attend the University of Kansas School of Medicine next fall and plans to return to a rural Kansas area to practice as a family physician.
First runners-up were Mikhail “Misha” Zhilin, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, and Tessa Peters, Palmer, Kan.
Zhilin is the son of Valery and Elena Zhilin and is a double major in international management and finance with a minor in psychology. He currently holds the leadership positions as Pi Sigma Chi fraternity president and Greek Council vice president. He is also a member of Alpha Psi Omega, Psi Chi, Student Activities Board, and the Bethany College & Chamber Choirs. Zhilin plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career in hospitality.
Peters, the daughter of Bryce and Gaye Lyn Peters, is a psychology major. She is vice president of the Psych Club, president of Student Activities Board, member of Bethany Ambassadors, and member of the Swede Government Association. She has also been a member of the cheer team and attended nationals. Peters plans to attend graduate school to study student affairs and counseling.
Second runners-up were Jedidiah Duarte, Pueblo, Colo., and Kelli Traffas, Medicine Lodge, Kan.
Duarte is the son of Joseph and Edna Duarte and is majoring in history and political science. He is currently the vice president of Pi Sigma Chi fraternity, vice president of Alpha Psi Omega theatre society, and a member of the Bethany College Choir. Duarte will pursue a career on stage, television, or film.
Traffas, daughter of Rory and Jacque Traffas, is majoring in accounting with a minor in mathematics. She is a member of the softball team, secretary of the Business Club, chairperson of the Business Career Conference, member of Bethany Ambassadors, and a peer minister. Traffas plans to work at a public accounting firm while pursuing her Masters of Accountancy and CPA license.
(front to back, left to right) Hollind Englert, Kelli Traffas, Eastin Casey, Tessa Peters, Kaitlyn Davis, Elizabeth Ford, Meghan Klaassen, Kjerstyn Hansen, Caitlyn Ziegler, Sarah Doering, Mikhail Zhilin, Michael O’Connor, Ethan Linden, Michael Metcalfe, Wade Ahlvers, Eric Brown, John Castro, Zachary Dovenbarger, and Jedidiah Duarte
Other Homecoming candidates are as follows.
Kaitlyn Davis, daughter of Carl and Julie Davis, is from Hill City, Kan. She is majoring in health and physical education K-12 teaching with an endorsement in special education teaching 6-12. Davis hopes to teach somewhere in Kansas. She has been a member of the volleyball and track teams.
Meghan Klaassen, daughter of David and Margaret Klaassen, is from Marquette, Kan. She is a graphic design contract major with a concentration in drawing and a minor in mathematics. Klaassen has been involved with the Bethany Band, Jazz Band, Handbells, Chi Alpha Women’s Fellowship and Bible Study, and Art Club. She plans to work in advertising and marketing.
Ethan Linden, son of Bill and Kay Linden, is a math major with a physics minor from Ellinwood, Kan. Linden is an active member in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Blue Key, football and track teams, and the Von Neumann Society, where he is president. He plans to pursue mechanical engineering at Kansas State University.
Caitlyn Grey Ziegler is from Salina, Kan. Her parents are Marc and Casy Ziegler, Bethany College alumni from the classes of 1987 and 1988, respectively. Her brother is also an alumnus of 2012. Ziegler is majoring in business administration, marketing, and management with an English minor. She currently serves as senior class president and member of Alpha Theta Chi, Greek council, Gold Key, and Bethany Ambassadors. She works in the Office of Communications as web assistant and plans to move to Kansas City to pursue a career in event planning or writing.
Wade Ahlvers, son of Keith and Patty Ahlvers, is a secondary math education major from Frankfort, Kan. He has been a member of the basketball team for three years.
Elizabeth Ford, daughter Lori Jones and Tucker Ford, is from Effingham, Kan. She is majoring in theatre and communication with an emphasis in theatre and minor in psychology. Ford has been president of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Fraternity for two years and editor-in-chief of the Bethany College Messenger. She is a member of Sigma Phi Omega sorority, Greek Council, and Chi Alpha Women’s Fellowship. Ford plans to work in a non-profit organization and continue being involved in theatre.
Eric Brown is the son of Robin Brown from Topeka, Kan. He is majoring in biology and athletic training. Brown has been a member of the baseball team, Blue Key, and Bio-Chem Club. He plans to attend medical school next fall to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Sarah Doering, daughter of alumni Tad and Mary Doering, is from Apex, N.C. She is majoring in film studies and French. Doering is a member of the Swede Government Association, College Choir, Alpha Psi Omega, Alpha Delta Zeta sorority, peer ministry, and Pathfinders.
Michael Metcalfe is the son of Harley and Julie Metcalfe of Overland Park, Kan. He is a criminal justice major with a psychology minor. Metcalfe is a member of track and field team, a resident assistant for three years, and president of Law and Order club. He plans to serve as a probation officer and work toward a master’s degree.
Michael O’Connor is the son of David and Patricia O’Connor from Watertown, Wis. He is majoring in history and political science and is an active member in Phi Sigma Chi fraternity and soccer and tennis teams. O’Connor plans to join the Navy and serve his country as his father and grandfather did before him.
Hollind Englert, daughter of Kevin and Regina Englert from Castle Rock, Colo., is a biology major and member of Tri-Beta. She is a member of the softball team, president of Alpha Theta Chi sorority, and treasurer of Greek Council. Englert plans to continue her education in Colorado for physical therapy.
John “Rocky” Anthony Castro is the son of Robert Tilo Castro Sr. and Lucia Arreguin Castro from Santa Fe, Texas. He is a secondary math education major. Castro is captain of the football team and member of the track team and Alpha Sigma Nu fraternity. He is currently an algebra tutor and plans to be high school mathematics teacher, where he can also coach.
Kjerstyn “KJ” Hansen is the daughter of Tom and Suzette Hansen. She is a social science secondary education major from Galveston, Texas, who is currently student teaching. Hansen is an active member of Kappa Gamma Pi and a former member of the tennis team. She plans to attend college in Norway, taking courses in Norwegian history and elementary Norwegian, before teaching in Texas.