Motazedi crowned Homecoming king, Olsen is queen

Northwest Missouri State University crowned Phillip Motazedi and Lily Olsen as its 2026 Homecoming king and queen Thursday night during the University’s annual Variety Show.

Motazedi is a senior digital media major with a content strategy emphasis and hails from Joplin, Missouri. He is active on campus as Student Senate president, Sigma Tau Gamma vice president and the Student Activities Council’s director of marketing and promotions.

Olsen is a senior social studies major from Persia, Iowa. She is involved in Alpha Sigma Alpha, Student Ambassadors, Order of Omega and Phi Alpha Theta honor society in addition to serving as ZeeMee influencer with Northwest’s Office of Admissions.

This year’s Homecoming prince is Ayden Peterson, who is the son of Northwest Director of Athletics Dr. Andy Peterson and his wife, Emily. The Homecoming princess is Kelbie Coulter, who is the daughter of University Event Coordinator Kaley Coulter and her husband, Justin. Both children attend kindergarten at Eugene Field Elementary School in Maryville.

Northwest undergraduate students selected the king and queen during online voting Oct. 15-28. The remainder of the 2026 Homecoming court appears below.

Northwest’s annual Homecoming week culminates Saturday, Oct. 31, with the theme of “Now Showing ... A Bearcat Homecoming.” For a complete schedule of activities and ticket information, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/homecoming/.

King candidates

	Brody Hatcher Year: Senior Major: Physical Education Hometown: Liberty, Missouri Campus Involvement: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Physical Education Club
	Cole Henderson Year: Senior Major: Social Studies: History Hometown: Cameron, Missouri Campus Involvement: Tau Kappa Epsilon, Bearcat Athletics sports manager
	Riley Nelson Year: Senior Major: Applied Health: Exercise Science Hometown: Falls City, Nebraska Campus Involvement: Interfraternity Council, Sigma Tau Gamma, Physical Education Club, Student Senate, Blue Key honor society, Student Ambassadors
	Drew White Year: Senior Major: Management Information Systems Hometown: Council Bluffs, Iowa Campus Involvement: Sigma Tau Gamma, Interfraternity Council, Student Senate

Queen candidates

	Bridget Hopkins Year: Senior Major: Speech and Theatre Education Hometown: Creston, Iowa Campus Involvement: Theatre Northwest, Future Speech and Theatre Educators, Alpha Psi Omega, Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi, Bearcat Marching Band, Tower Choir
	Madi Richter Year: Senior Major: Speech and Theatre Education Hometown: Brock, Nebraska Campus Involvement: United States Institute for Theatre Technology president, Future Speech and Theatre Educators, Alpha Psi Omega theatre honor fraternity, Residential Life, Theatre Northwest
	Ava Sammons Year: Senior Major: Foods and Nutrition: Dietetics Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa Campus Involvement: Student Senate, Student Ambassadors, Northwest Student Dietetic Association, Northwest Dietetics Ambassadors, Student Success Center tutor, Northwest Alumni Association Board of Directors, Kappa Omicron Nu, President’s Student Advisory Council, Honors Program
	Chloe Tomney Year: Senior Major: Applied Health: Sports Medicine Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri Campus Involvement: Bearcat Steppers, Panhellenic Council, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Order of Omega, Student Mobilization