Hastings College juniors Olen King, Chadron, Neb., and Kymbre Lytle, Cairo, Neb., were named 2009 Homecoming king and queen at a special coronation dinner held Friday, Sept. 25. Royalty were selected by a vote of the student body. Juniors, Justin Goettsch, Ault, Colo., and Alyssa Farmer, Hastings, Neb., were named prince and princess. The couples presided over the 58th Melody Round-Up Parade in downtown Hastings, at the football game and at other weekend activities.

2009 Hastings College Homecoming Court
King - Olen King, son of Don and Stephanie King, Chadron, Neb., is a secondary education major. On the Dean’s List, he is a Resident Assistant for Bronco Hall and a member of the Beta Chi Christian men’s fraternity. He has participated in the Hastings College Collegian and HCTV. King participates in the Hastings College men’s cross country and track teams and the Bronco Yearbook. He was named a 2009 All-American Athlete and volunteers as a YMCA flag football coach.

Queen - Kymbre Lytle, daughter of George and Kimberly Lytle, Cairo, Neb., is a music education major. On the Dean’s List, she is a member of Inter-Residence Council, Hastings College Band and Women’s Choir. Lytle is Resident Assistant for Taylor Hall, member of the Taylor Hall Council and a DJ for Hastings College KFKX radio. She has participated in the Hastings College Symphony Orchestra and has volunteered at The Zone after-school program.

Prince - Justin Goettsch, son of Larry and Marcia Goettsch, Ault, Colo., is a math education major. He is a member of the Public Relations Council, Student Alumni Ambassadors, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia men’s music fraternity and Hastings College Band. Goettsch served on the New Student Days planning committee and is co-chair of the intramural sports committee. He was a Resident Assistant, and he participated in Hastings College Jazz Ensemble, a theatre production and the Hastings College baseball team. Goettsch was named Mr. Bronco his sophomore year.

Princess - Alyssa Farmer, daughter of Tim and Lori Farmer, Hastings, Neb., is an exercise science major. She is a member of the Public Relations Council and the Hastings College softball team. She has played for the Hastings College women’s basketball team, and she is team captain for the women’s track and women’s cross country teams. Farmer is a member of the Hastings College 4x8 school record, she was named a 2009 All-American Athlete and she is a volunteer coach for the Hastings Saints Track Club.

2009 Finalists for King and Queen
Christopher Hollister, son of Doug and Sherri Hollister, Hastings, Neb., is an elementary education major. On the Dean’s List, he is a member of the Hastings College Men’s Choir, FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), and he has participated in the Hastings College men’s basketball team.

Daniel Kramer, son of Drs. Jim and Ann Kramer, Columbus, Neb., is a biology major and Christian Ministry minor. On the Dean’s List, he was a member of Student Senate and treasurer for Altman Hall. He is a member of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, College Republicans, Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, Bronco Village Board and Common Grounds. Kramer is president of the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate and the Beta Chi Christian men’s fraternity.

Nathan Mertens, son of Dave and Tammie Moore, Waverly, Neb., is a saxophone performance major. On the Dean’s List, he is a member of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, Student Senate, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia men’s music fraternity and has participated in his Resident Hall Council. Mertens participates in Hastings College Band, Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Saxophone Quartet, Woodwind Quintet and the Hastings Symphony Orchestra and was named to the Inter-Collegiate Honor Band.

Evan Wheeler, son of Stuart and Anne Wheeler, Littleton, Colo., is a business administration major. He is a member of the Student Alumni Ambassadors and Inter-Greek Council. Wheeler is president of the Psi Theta Epsilon men’s social fraternity.

Julia Albin, daughter of Doug and Laurie Albin, Wakeeney, Kan., is a health systems major. On the Dean’s List, she is a member of the Public Relations Council, Student Alumni Ambassadors, Alpha Omega Christian women’s sorority and the Student Government Executive Council. Albin was a Resident Assistant and member of her Residence Hall Council. She participates in the Hastings College Women’s Choir and volunteers for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Campus Crusade, and she has participated with the Hastings College tennis team and spirit squad. Albin was named a 2009 Academic All-American Athlete.

Kristin Beller, daughter of Glenn and Lori Beller, Lindsay, Neb., is an elementary education and special education major and Spanish minor. She is a member of the Public Relations Council, Artist Lecture Series Student Symposium, Student Alumni Ambassadors and the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC). Beller is a member of the Student Senate, Alpha Omega Christian women’s sorority, Inter-Greek Council and Fellowship of Catholic University Students. She was a Resident Assistant for Taylor Hall, and she volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.

April Christensen, daughter of Bruce and Cheryl Christensen, Ruskin, Neb., is a piano performance major. On the Dean’s List, she is president of the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), Alpha Omega Christian women’s sorority, Student Alumni Ambassadors and the Hastings College Choir. Christensen was president of the Altman Hall Council and was a member the Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society and the Artist Lecture Series Student Symposium committee.

Ashley Potrzeba, daughter of Duane and Kathleen Potrzeba, Hastings, Neb., is a business administration and human resources management major. On the Dean’s List, she is member of the Hastings College Women’s Choir, FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), the Religious Organizations Committee (ROC) and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She is board member for the Youth Leadership Academy and a member of the Hastings College tennis team. Potrzeba was a member of Professional Business Leader’s Club and Babcock Hall Council. She was also secretary for Babcock Hall.

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,150 students. Hastings College was named 75th Best Value College in the nation and #1 in Nebraska by Forbes.com and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. It was named a 2010 “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review and rated a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s.