Last week, we had the chance to meet briefly with all of the Homecoming Student Court candidates and ask them each a few questions that they probably don’t get asked every day (Note: all of the italicized bios below are taken from the official Homecoming Student Court site). Check them out below, and VOTE if you haven’t already!

The Girls

Athena Abate: Originally from Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, Athena Abate is a senior majoring in electrical engineering. Abate’s involvement includes Women in Engineering, Engineering Ambassadors, Phi Sigma Rho and College of Engineering Career Envoys. She also completed a co-op with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where she will be working full time after her graduation in December.

Anna Muzio: Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Anna Muzio is a senior majoring in pre-medicine and pictures herself attending medical school in the future. Aside from school, Muzio throws for the Penn State women’s track and field team and serves as the team’s captain and is Vice President of the Student Athlete Advisory Board.

Shadé Olasimbo: Shadé Olasimbo, from Houston, Texas, is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. Olasimbo’s involvement includes: No Refund Theatre; Penn State Thespians; The Penn State Association of Journalists for Diversity; Cultural Expressions Diversity Newsletter; Penn State Network Television (PSN-TV); The LION 90.7 FM; College of Communications Diversity Ambassador; College of Communications Peer Mentor; Student Support Services Program; Student Minority Advisory and Recruitment Team; Campus Girl Scouts; and The Great Show Squad.

Lauren Perrotti: Lauren Perrotti is a senior majoring in Spanish, Italian, and global and international studies. She came to Penn State from Springbrook, Pennsylvania because she felt she could excel academically and professionally while growing as a person. Perrotti is the President of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC) and a Student Coordinator of the Beaver Stadium Run. Her further involvement includes Lion Ambassadors, Paterno Fellows and Senior Class Gift.

Paige Rothaus: Paige Rothaus, originally from Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, is a senior majoring in advertising. Rothaus is the President of the Panhellenic Council and her further involvements include Chi Omega Fraternity, Advertising Club and THON.

The Guys

Rene Garcia: Rene Garcia is a senior from Herndon, Virginia, and is majoring in forensic chemistry. He is the President of the Blue and White Society, serves as a Resident Assistant and is on the Penn State cheerleading team.

Kyle Lorenz: From Glenside, Pennsylvania, Kyle Lorenz is a senior majoring in political science and media studies. Lorenz’s involvement includes Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Campus Crusaders for Christ (Cru), Movin’ On, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) and the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON).

Gary McMillen: Gary McMillen, originally from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, is a senior majoring in accounting and Spanish. McMillen’s involvement includes being the Special Events Director for the PRIDE Sportsmanship Team; an Alumni Relations Captain for Homecoming 2011; and a member of Lion Ambassadors, Mission Mexico and Penn State Senior Class Gift.

Travis Salters: Originally from Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, Travis Salters is a senior double majoring in broadcast journalism and African/African American Studies with minors in political science and sociology. Salters is the President of the National Associated for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Mr. Black Penn State.

Unfortunately, we could not arrange a video interview with Travis, but he was kind enough to answer some questions via email.

Onward State: If you could be any dinosaur, which would you be and why?

Travis Salters: I would be a raptor because I attack situations from different angles to get the job done.

OS: Complete this sentence: Before I die, I’m going to…

TS: …Be President of the United States.

OS: Word Associations. Royalty.

TS: Mansa Musa.

OS: America.

TS: Long, untold history.

OS: Graham Spanier.

TS: Interesting guy.

OS: Kumquat.

TS: Wish I knew what it meant.

OS: Dogs.

TS: Eh, they gotta be small.

OS: They make a movie out of your life. Who plays you, and what song plays over the closing credits?

TS: Myself, I can act hahaha. But probably the kid from ATL, Evan Ross. The song would be “Change Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, that was one of the songs from the movie Malcolm X.

OS: Describe why you love Penn State in the form of a haiku (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables).

TS: Nowhere is Perfect
But Penn State is Pretty Close
School, Party All Night

Will Sheehan: Will Sheehan, from Broomall, Pennsylvania, is a senior majoring in civil and environmental engineering. He serves on the Interfraternity Council as the Vice President for Programming, the Chief of Staff of UPUA and is the Homecoming Chairman for Beta Theta Pi.

This video interview series would not have been possible without the following people:

• Meghin Moore, who helped with the filming and interviewing.
• Samantha Hatfield, who kindly provided the video equipment and did a spectacular editing job.
• Chadwick Lynch, Dennis McNamara, and John Tecce, who all contributed to the questions that were asked.
• The Homecoming Student Court, for being generally awesome people and allowing me to ask them silly questions.