Mackenzie Chase, a senior nursing student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, was named this year’s Homecoming Queen during the halftime show of the Homecoming game on Saturday.
Chase was one of five candidates, including senior nursing student Elaine Gerlt, running for this prestigious title.
Prior to the announcement, Chase was honored simply for being selected as a representative on the Homecoming Royalty Court.
“I always saw members of the Homecoming Court as individuals that embodied UCF spirit and represented the student body,” says Chase. “I saw being named Homecoming Queen as a tremendous honor and would love the opportunity to achieve this title.”
Aside from earning this title, Chase’s other academic achievements include receiving the UCF Pegasus Gold Scholarship award in 2012 and most recently receiving the Marlie Kai Dodson Endowed UCF Oncology Nursing Scholarship. She has also made the president’s list and the dean’s list.
As a UCF student, Chase is involved in a number of organizations such as the Student Nurses Association, the President’s Leadership Council, and the 4EVER KNIGHTS Student Alumni Association. She is also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Women’s Fraternity—the Greek chapter that nominated her for homecoming queen—and serves on the Morale Team for Knight-Thon, UCF’s largest student-run philanthropy.
For the next year, alongside Homecoming King, Jason Skidmore, Chase will represent the university by attending various events and embodying the UCF Creed. Chase will then have the honor of coming back and passing on her title to another student in fall 2016.
The homecoming board, made up of students, chooses applicants who meet the basic requirements which include having a 3.0 GPA and being of junior, senior or graduate student standing. Applicants must be nominated by an organization or group on campus and submit a resume with their application.