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When ����ɫ��ҹ University celebrates Homecoming Week, the spotlight often falls on the parade, the game and the crowning of the Homecoming Court. But for the 12 student leaders selected for the 2026 court, the experience represents much more than a campaign for a crown. Across a whirlwind week of judging contests, high-impact community service projects and campus traditions, these candidates dedicate dozens of hours to representing the heart of the university community.

����ɫ��ҹ Today asked the candidates about representing the university, their commitment to serving the community and their role in carrying on the Golden Flashes legacy.  

“����ɫ��ҹ is a community that inspires me to grow, gives me people to believe in and makes me incredibly proud to be a Golden Flash,” said candidate Sophia Montgomery, a senior interior design major and construction management minor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

And that sentiment is the thread of many of the candidates’ thoughts. Through their shared dedication to giving back, these Golden Flashes demonstrate how student leadership transforms campus traditions into meaningful community impact.

Being a Candidate  

Following a competitive application process that requires maintaining a 2.25 GPA, completing 60 credit hours, securing official faculty sponsorship and submitting a personal essay on their ����ɫ��ҹ experience, 12 candidates were selected to represent ����ɫ��ҹ’s 2026 Homecoming Court.  

For many candidates, making the court was a way to honor the supportive community they found on campus.  

“����ɫ��ҹ is a very important place to me as an international student. I was so excited, and I felt so honored to be considered for this privilege,” said Isha Gupta, a senior computer science major with minors in cybersecurity and mathematics from New Delhi, India. 

“This is not just a place I chose to go to college, but this was the place I chose to be my first home in a new country,” Gupta said.

Candidate Ridwan Olayiwola, a junior mechanical engineering technology major from Osun, Nigeria, said ����ɫ��ҹ has become a home away from home.  

“As someone with a different background, who brings diversity and openness to campus, being chosen to represent ����ɫ��ҹ means a lot,” Olayiwola said. “It’s a real privilege. It’s the place where I’ve found community, and I’d love to help other students feel that same sense of welcome and belonging.”

Other court members were motivated by a desire to bring recognition to their academic programs and campus organizations.

“We have a world-renowned architecture program,” Montgomery said. “And I felt I needed to represent the College of Architecture and Environmental Design.”  

She shared how passionate she was about interior design and the college and wanted to represent them in a way that would bring the program positive recognition and exposure.  

Others felt a deep sense of gratitude for the student organizations that defined their time at ����ɫ��ҹ. 

Lauren Hand, a senior fashion merchandising major and textiles minor from Fishers, Indiana, saw her nomination as a way to honor her peers.  

“I’m just so excited to get to represent the university,” Hand said. “I feel fortunate to have this role and to represent the color guard and every other organization that I am in.”

For other nominees, the motivation extended beyond organizational pride to personal mentorship and setting an example for future students.

“I really want to inspire other people who are coming from out of state, not knowing anyone, that they can succeed academically, socially and professionally,” said Hannah Sietz, a senior peace and conflict studies major from Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

Each candidate brings a unique story to the court and demonstrates how student leadership takes many forms across the ����ɫ��ҹ community.

Serving the Community  

Homecoming Court candidates were announced at Black Squirrel Fest on Sept. 25, which kicked off a week of events leading up to Homecoming. As part of their candidacy, the candidates were encouraged to attend events throughout the week, including FlashBash, the Campus Decorating Contest judging, Campus Homecoming Field Day, Paint the Town Blue and Gold judging, and the ����ɫ��ҹ versus Bowling Green State University volleyball game.  

The candidates will also participate in the Flashes Fighting Hunger service project, connecting their Homecoming involvement with a community service opportunity.  

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community before Homecoming and really just put ourselves out there,” said Kailyn Moneer, a senior psychology major with a minor in marketing from Ashland, Ohio. 

“So everybody knows and sees how much we care for this community and how inspired and loved we feel,” Moneer said. “And the action that we want to take because of what ����ɫ��ҹ has given us.”

The Flashes Fighting Hunger project is the largest service initiative of the week. Candidates work alongside student volunteers to assemble and distribute free meal bags for local families while raising awareness about regional food insecurity.

For candidate Hailey Moltz, a senior human development and family science major from Cleveland, Ohio, participating in this event is deeply personal. This is a moment that brings years of growth and memories at ����ɫ��ҹ full circle.

“In my first semester here, as part of my major, we had a service requirement, and we did a lot of community service,” Moltz said. “It just feels nice that now I’m ending my ����ɫ��ҹ experience volunteering with Flashes Fighting Hunger, which is where I volunteered my freshman year.”

Service is already a central passion for many court members through their involvement in student organizations across campus.  

“I’m a part of a sorority, and we do a philanthropy, so just giving back is something that I am really passionate about,” said Brenna Johnson, a senior psychology major and pre-law minor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  

For this year’s court members, wearing the sash is more than school spirit. Showing gratitude through action and stepping into leadership roles that directly impact the local community, the candidates demonstrate the generosity and heart of the Golden Flashes.  

What It Means to Be a Golden Flash  

For the 12 candidates representing their peers on the Homecoming Court, defining what it means to be a Golden Flash comes down to a shared sense of belonging and deep connection across the Kent Campus.

For Mira Zarobinski, a senior speech pathology and audiology major from Perrysburg, Ohio, that moniker begins with how students treat one another every day.

“To me, being a Golden Flash means treating other people with kindness, always having a smile on your face and being happy to help others,” Zarobinski said.

That commitment to kindness creates a welcoming campus environment where students cultivate deep connections and a genuine sense of community. 

Bailey Bowles, a senior visual communication design major from Fairview Park, Ohio, experiences closeness across the Kent Campus daily.

“Being a Golden Flash means accepting everybody and being immersed in a community that is truly tight-knit,” Bowles said. “It is about meeting everyone, talking to people and being part of a supportive campus where you see familiar, friendly faces every day.”

This strong sense of belonging inspires Golden Flashes to turn their values into action through service and school pride. 

Brittany Lucia, a senior advertising major with a minor in photojournalism from Geneva, Ohio, noted that the university experience extends far beyond academics.

“Being a Golden Flash means the world to me,” Lucia said. “I love it here, and it’s about the community service that goes into all of it and showing your school pride and what Kent will give to you even outside of the classroom.”

This shared student journey ultimately inspires a deep sense of self-discovery that remains with alumni for a lifetime. 

Alexa Dunkle, a senior integrated language arts major with a minor in English from Hartville, Ohio, reflected on how her time on campus defined her as a person.

“Being a Golden Flash means everything to me,” Dunkle said. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without this place.”

The student body voted for Homecoming royalty from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. The Homecoming Court candidates will appear in the Homecoming Parade on Oct. 3, followed by the official announcement of the court royalty at halftime during the ����ɫ��ҹ football game against the Ohio University Bobcats at Dix Stadium.

Review the full schedule of events, parade details and Homecoming activities.