Every year at halftime during the Homecoming game, a new Homecoming Queen is crowned. This year, Sigma Theta Chi President Alli Dennis was crowned by returning queen and Siggie alumna Lauryn Hines.

Dennis, a senior speech pathology major from Garland, is an ACU legacy, as her parents, grandparents and sister are alumni, as well.

“When they called my name I was totally shocked,” Dennis said. “I just felt really honored. It was really sweet to get to share that with my dad. He was really encouraging to me. I’ve felt really encouraged by the kind words that people have said to me since then.”

As the President of Sigma Theta Chi, Dennis said club has been especially impactful in her college experience.

“In Siggies our motto is ‘seek through Christ’- I feel like that’s really impacted me as a person,” Dennis said. “That has been something that has really grown me as a person, to be encouraged to let that out with the girls in club and how I’ve really seen that throughout my experience.”

In addition to being involved in Siggies, Dennis is also in the Honors college and gives back to the Abilene community through Young Life.

“I have done Young Life for four years,” Dennis said. “I am a high school leader for Abilene High. I lead a Bible study every week in my home with another leader. It’s been a really sweet and encouraging experience, getting to serve that way.”

Dennis said her biggest take away from ACU will be the incredible relationships that she has developed throughout her years here.

“I have just made so many life-long and Christ-like relationships here,” Dennis said. “I felt so encouraged coming here and just being surrounded by people who are on fire for the Kingdom, people who are genuinely kind.”

Her sister was a Squig, a pledge of Sigma Theta Chi, in 2013 and Dennis said she has been to every ACU Homecoming since then.

When asked about her favorite Homecoming tradition, Dennis chose the parade without hesitation.

“That’s my favorite,” Dennis said. “Everybody from the community coming out and having so much energy, all the clubs cheering for each other, just the comradery that is felt, especially this year when it was cold outside and everyone still came. I have the best memories from being a squig winning the parade and then last year helping lead.”

Last year, Dennis was Keeper of the Key, which means she helped make the Siggie parade float and led the Squigs in their Homecoming routine.

“ACU is my favorite place,” Dennis said. “I feel so honored, I respect this university so much and feel incredibly honored to be representing it.”

Dennis plans on going to graduate school somewhere in Texas, and hopes to one day work in a clinical setting, particularly with stroke victims.