Homecoming debut blasts box office
Campus Times
October 31, 1997
After their numbers were reduced to five "good men," seniors
Andrew Bills, Manuel Estrada, Sergio Velazquez, Jerome Garcia and Michael
P. Bailey were elected to the 1997 Homecoming Court. The princes were introduced
to students and faculty during the Illumination Ceremony held on the Founders
Hall steps Monday night.
Stealing the spotlight, princesses Alma Barrera, Sharlyn Preece, Wendy
Lau, Elizabeth Lomeli and Andrea Gardner stopped atop the Founders Hall
steps after the Illumination Ceremony on Monday night.
The students at the University of La Verne were looking for a "Few
Good Men" and some "Beautiful Girls" to represent ULV's population
as king and queen of the Homecoming Court.
The field was narrowed to seniors Manny Estrada, Michael P. Bailey,
Andrew Bills, Jerome Garcia and Sergio Velazquez for the men and seniors
Wendy Lau, Andrea Gardner, Sharlyn Preece, Elizabeth Lomeli and Alma Barrera
for the women.
Estrada, a computer science major, is a member of the Associated Students
Federation (ASF) Forum and Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Estrada shared his most memorable moment with girlfriend sophomore Marlen
Davalos when they recently found out that they would be becoming the parents
of a baby boy.
Bailey, a psychology major, is interning at Charter Oak High School
where he hopes to work after graduation.
He said the most influential person in his life is his father.
"He is everything I want to be and more. I learned everything from
him. If I turn out like my dad, then I think I will do all right. "said
Bailey.
His involvements include being a member of the Afrikan American Student
Alliance (AASA), which nominated him, and the Brother's Forum and competing
with the track team, throwing the javelin and discus.
Bills, a broadcast major, hopes to fulfill his lifelong dream of working
at MTV, specifically "The Real World."
Bills started with broadcasting when his pastor father began taking
video production classes.
"He was always needing someone to help and since I was there, I
just helped out," he said.
Bills was nominated by Iota Delta.
Bills' other involvements are ASF Forum member (the Homecoming theme
was his idea), a resident assistant in the Oaks, historian for AASA and
is currently pledging Phi Delta Theta.
Garcia is a biology major who hopes to go to graduate school and receive
his Ph.D. in toxicology and do cancer research.
"I love 'Pulp Fiction.' I love the dialogue. It was realistic and
the movie kind of made you think," said Garcia.
Garcia, who was nominated by the Society of Physical and Life Science
Scholars (SPLSS), is active as an OWL and a tutor in genetics and physics.
Velazquez's most memorable moment was when he received his national
certification to become a tutor. He tutors in the areas of piano, geography
and American government.
Velazquez says his parents have been influential in his life.
"They have watched me grow up and they have shaped me into who
I am now. I couldn't have done it without them. They were very supportive,"
said Velazquez.
Lau, whose favorite movie is "The Princess Bride," is president
of Phi Sigma Sigma, has a membership in the Alpha Chi national honor society,
is on Prism and works as a part-time debater.
"Being involved has helped me to develop leadership. I need a lot
of things to do or I procrastinate," said Lau.
Lau is going to go to law school hopefully at either UCLA or USC so
she can become an entertainment lawyer. She would like to work in the music
industry.
Gardner, a broadcast journalism major, shares a common thread with fellow
Homecoming nominee Bailey. Both have the same favorite movie, "Ferris
Bueller's Day Off."
"It is the classic '80s comedy. If you really study it you realize
that the writing is superb in its comedic excellence. It is very wacky and
very '80s," said Gardner.
Gardner is editor in chief of Campus Times, works with KULV The Rock,
is the public relations director for the newly-founded "Hunter"
Club and is president of Sigma Kappa.
Preece is a broadcast major who would like to work in the film industry
after graduation. She is thinking of applying to film school, but is also
thinking of taking a year off and traveling Europe.
Preece is an OWL, vice president on the Inter-Fraternity Sorority Council
(IFSC), manages the Student Center and is the new members orientation chair
for Phi Sigma Sigma.
"That Thing You Do" is Preece's favorite movie because she
loves Tom Hanks.
"Anything written, directed, and starring Tom Hanks cannot be bad,"
she said.
Lomeli is a psychology major who is involved with the OWL program, is
a resident assistant in Stu-Han and is co-chair for the Phi Sigma Sigma
Sapphire Ball.
Lomeli said that she loved the movie "Forrest Gump."
"It shows a man who no one thought could make it and he made it
far beyond that. He had so much love in his heart and he accomplished things
he didn't know he could do," said Lomeli.
Barrera, an athletic training and diversified major, said she would
like to attend Stanford to get her master's in exercise science.
Barrera is Phi Sigma Sigma vice president, IFSC president and head student
trainer for the football team. She is also on the senior retreat committee.
The movie "Like Water For Chocolate" is her favorite because
it is an interesting movie about growing up, self-discovery and family struggles.
