By Sarah Carlson, Student Reporter

Four student leaders have been selected by the Alumni Relations staff to help make Homecoming as much a student event as it is an alumni event.

The 2003 Homecoming co-chairs are Cody Dishman, junior integrated marketing communication major from Missouri City; Kaylane Ketchersid, junior human resource management major from Bloomington, Ind.; Lindsey McCrary, junior marketing major from Austin; and Todd Watlington, junior marketing and management major from Rowlett.

The co-chairs were chosen after submitting written applications and being interviewed by members of the Alumni Relations staff.

Betsey Craig, coordinator of the alumni network, said the AR staff informally asked members of the junior class, including the junior class officers, to submit names of students who they thought would be good candidates. The staff then sent out invitations to those students to apply.

McCrary said she doesn’t know who submitted her name, but decided to fill out an application for the position after receiving her invitation.

“At first I was nervous about taking on a whole lot of responsibility,” McCrary said, “but after meeting with the other co-chairs, I am excited about the opportunity.”

Ketchersid said her friend submitted her name, and this will be the first year that she will have the opportunity to be involved with Homecoming.

“I’m extremely excited about this opportunity and know that I have a lot to live up to from last year’s co-chairs,” Ketchersid said in an e-mail.

Craig said in an e-mail that co-chairs need to be “creative, dependable, enthusiastic about ACU, knowledgeable about ACU traditions, have leadership experience and school spirit.”

One of the first responsibilities of the co-chairs will be to solicit, interview and choose interested students for the steering committee, which will help run the events. The co-chairs will also serve on the Purple Power Team, which is the overall coordinating team for Homecoming.

Craig said the “student perspective of the co-chairs, along with their ideas for student participation, are invaluable to the success of Homecoming.”

The co-chairs will meet this week to finalize plans for selecting a steering committee, and Craig said planning for the rest of Homecoming, such as the 10 reunion dinners, is already under way.

Students currently have the opportunity to submit theme ideas for Homecoming 2003, from which the co-chairs will choose the best. They also will begin to work on the major events of Homecoming, such as various queens’ activities, the carnival and parade. Most of the major planning for Homecoming will be finished by the end of the summer, Craig said.

McCrary said the co-chairs will basically be a liaison between the Homecoming steering committee and the Alumni team, and will be trying to create new ideas and new ways to get students involved in Homecoming.

“We want Homecoming to be a big bang this year,” McCrary said. “We want everyone on campus to be involved.”