diessnerc2@lopers.unk.edu
UNK held its 32nd annual lip sync and homecoming royalty crowning last Thursday in the Health and Sports Center. Gabriel Amegatcher and Fayth Jackson were crowned UNK’s homecoming king and queen.
Social distancing measures were followed to keep everyone safe.
“The groups had to not only perform it with distance, they also had to practice that way,” said Tim Danube, the associate director of the student union and student engagement. “They had to wear the shield in addition to the masks. They had to arrange practice times if they didn’t have their own spots to practice. A lot of different things like that went into it that don’t normally have to be considered.”
Safety guidelines for the event included two extra seats between each audience member and required mask use for attendees. Face shields were worn by all lip sync participants, and only 30 students per team were allowed to perform.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a taped-off section on the gym floor marked where participants were to perform.
Judges consisted of UNK faculty and staff Jake Jacobsen, Len Fangmeyer, Matthew Bice, Josh Pierce and Brad Green.
The UNK Fraternity and Sorority Life organizations Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Tau Delta and Sigma Lambda Gamma combined to form the team that won first place in the competition.
“They looked as good this year as any year,” Danube said.
Royalty crowning took place while judges scored performances.
Amegatcher and Jackson were two of eight UNK homecoming royalty finalists.
Other finalists were Jayden Fish, Kelsey Sanger, Olivia Slater, Henrique Adabo, Trey Janicek and Noah Limbach.
Amegatcher is a junior from Romeoville, Illinois majoring in math with a construction management minor. Representing the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he is also a member of the UNK football team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Black Student Association.
“I really didn’t expect it. I expected one of the other candidates to win,” Amegatcher said. “When they called my name, I was just shook.”
Jackson is a senior from Lincoln majoring in social work with a minor in psychology. Representing Gamma Phi Beta, Jackson is also a member of the UNK cheer team, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, TRiO and Teammates mentoring program.
“I was not expecting this whatsoever,” Jackson said. “I’m still trying to let it set it in. It’s so surreal, but it will hit me later. I am just so thankful to be with Gabe, and I’m thankful for my peers to vote for me.”
Even with changes in rules and social distancing, students still came to cheer on their teams and support the new king and queen.
“I think with the changes and just it being a little more difficult to organize, I think it went very well,” Danube said.
