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Ryan Shurvington and Annie Punt react after being crowned Northwest's Homecoming king and queen Friday night during the Homecoming Variety Show. (Photos by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
Oct. 30, 2021
Northwest Missouri State University crowned Ryan Shurvington and Annie Punt its 2021 Homecoming king and queen Friday during the University’s annual Homecoming Variety Show.
Shurvington, of Clever, Missouri, is a senior agricultural education major. He is active in Phi Sigma Kappa, Student Senate, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Delta Tau Alpha, Alpha Tau Alpha, Ag Ambassadors and Missouri Tech Ag Ambassadors.
Punt, of Omaha, Nebraska, is a senior communication major with a public relations emphasis. She is active in Alpha Sigma Alpha, Panhellenic Council, Student Ambassadors and Commcats.
Left to right are Northwest's 2021 Homecoming royalty, Zoey Hendrix, Annie Punt, Carter Tapps and Ryan Shurvington as they rode in Saturday's Homecoming parade.
This year’s Homecoming prince is Carter Tapps, a kindergartener at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School. He is the son of Christy Tapps, an athletic trainer for Northwest, and Dr. Tyler Tapps, an associate professor of recreation.
The Homecoming princess is Zoey Hendrix, who attends transitional kindergarten at Horace Mann Laboratory School. She is the daughter of Ashlee Hendrix, a digital content manager at Northwest, and Mark Hendrix, the University’s scheduling coordinator.
Northwest students selected the king and queen during online voting Oct. 18-27.The remainder of the 2021 Homecoming court appears below.
Brady Fritts
Year: Senior
Major: Organizational behavior and human resource management
Hometown: Glenwood, Iowa
Campus Involvement: Interfraternity Council, Student Senate, Football and Tau Kappa Epsilon
Being a Bearcat means: “Being a part of a family that supports each other in everything we do. No matter the race, sexual orientation or religion, Bearcats support one another. We are truly a family.”
Zachary Howard
Year: Senior
Major: Physical education
Hometown: Bolivar, Missouri
Campus Involvement: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Mobilization, football, Professional Physical Education Club, Student Activities Council (SAC)
Being a Bearcat means: “Bearcats love deeper than others, work harder than our competitors, are more resilient than our toughest circumstances and when something seems impossible, we find a way.”
Kevin Nguyen
Year: Senior
Major: Criminology
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Campus Involvement: Interfraternity Council, Pi Kappa Alpha, National Society of Leadership and Success, Speaking Bearcats
Being a Bearcat means: “Appreciating and reflecting on the history of our institution while looking to the future and working to create progress that is much needed to ensure that every student and prospective student is excited for, committed to, and proud to say they are a part of the Bearcat family.”
Maxwell Spitzmiller
Year: Senior
Major: Middle school education
Hometown: St. Charles, Missouri
Campus Involvement: Baseball, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Blue Key Honor Society
Being a Bearcat means: “Being a Bearcat is something that is life-changing. Northwest and Maryville have become a second home. The friendships that I have made will be lifelong, and I am lucky enough to meet some of my best friends here. The experience that I garnered from studying here is second to none. Being a Bearcat is something that is special.”
Emma Bjork
Year: Senior
Major: Broadcast production
Hometown: Syracuse, Nebraska
Campus Involvement: Alpha Delta Pi, Society of Presidential Scholars, KNWT, AdInk
Being a Bearcat means: “Being a part of a family. It means having a support system of people who will help you and be there for you no matter what. Once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat.”
Lauryn Lee
Year: Senior
Major: Human services
Hometown: Bennington, Nebraska
Campus Involvement: Sigma Kappa, Active Minds, Order of Omega
Being a Bearcat means: “Being a Bearcat encompasses growth. As a Bearcat it should be our goal to exhibit self-growth and also to help grow our community for the better.”
Ashlyn Peterson
Year: Senior
Major: English education
Hometown: Madison, Missouri
Campus Involvement: Sigma Society, Sigma Tau Delta, St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn, MO Collegiate 4-H
Being a Bearcat means: “Being a part of something so much bigger than yourself. It’s showing up every day and working hard to achieve your goals. It’s putting others before yourself and striving to make this campus, community and world a better place. Most importantly, it’s a safe place to learn, grow, and be yourself.”
Meg Rieschick
Year: Senior
Major: Business management and marketing
Hometown: Auburn, Nebraska
Campus Involvement: Phi Mu
“Bearcats learn; we actively participate in our own learning. Bearcats connect; we work with others who represent diverse backgrounds and viewpoints; we promote an inclusive environment. Bearcats care; we value wellness of ourselves, each other and our campus. Bearcats practice civility; we hold ourselves to a higher standard and accept others for who they are. Bearcats show pride; we support one another and share in the University’s achievements.”
