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ULV King and Queen crowned

Senior Brian Ortega was chosen as the 2004 Homecoming king by the student body in last week's election. Jason Walker, 2003 Homecoming king, returned to crown his successor. Ortega was nominated by Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Sigma sororities. / photo by Gloria Diaz
Senior Brian Ortega was chosen as the 2004 Homecoming king by the student body in last week’s election. Jason Walker, 2003 Homecoming king, returned to crown his successor. Ortega was nominated by Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Sigma sororities. / photo by Gloria Diaz

Hugo Bryan Castillo
Staff Writer

On Saturday, Brian Ortega and Rachel Leber were crowned as Homecoming King and Queen at Ortmayer Stadium during half time at the football game.

“It’s an awesome feeling knowing people think of you in such a good light,” Ortega said about being crowned king. “It’s such an honor.”

The Homecoming court was composed of eight other individuals. The princes were Luis Chavez, Rasheed Ivy, Kapono Kobylanski and Dane Sawyer. The princesses were Amy Fontenot, Alexis Rampaul, Jaclyn Urquidez and Jessica Valerio.

Ortega, 21, is a senior communications major. He is a brother and vice president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, president of the Inter Fraternity Council, and served as senator for the Associated Student Federation for three years. He was also an Orientation Week Leader for two years and is a Landis Leadership Scholar. Ortega was nominated by the women of Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Sigma sororities.

As his name was called for Homecoming king, he watched his family and friends cheer with joy.

“When I heard my name being called out, I definitely thought it was unreal,” Ortega said. “It was a great feeling of excitement.”

When asked if he had confidence that he was going to win, he said no.

“We all deep down inside thought it would be awesome to win,” Ortega said.

But if he were to choose one of the princes to take his place, he couldn’t choose just one.

“They all do great in their own way,” he said.

In regard to his Homecoming queen, he described Leber as amazing.

“She is so much fun. She keeps me laughing,” Ortega said. He was happy that she was crowned queen.

As to whether people treat him differently now, he said that every now and then he would get a joke as he walks into class. But he knew that it is all in good fun.

When asked if he knew why he got crowned king, he was speechless at first and then laughed. He really didn’t know why.

He said his greatest memory will be all the times he shared with the ULV community and his crazy times with the Phi Delts.

“Meet a lot of people. You never know who you are going to meet,” Ortega said.

Leber, 23, is a senior business administration major.

She is captain of the dance team, a sister of Sigma Kappa sorority, a tour guide for the office of undergraduate admissions and a Sigma Alpha Epsilon Violet.

Leber was nominated by her sorority, Sigma Kappa.

When Leber was crowned queen, she was completely surprised.

“I was more excited than I thought I would be,” Leber said.

When she was announced as Homecoming queen, she said she looked for her mom in the crowd.

“I was looking for my mom in the crowd because I knew she was crying,” Leber said.

However, Leber did not have confidence that she was going to win.

With all the competition, she thought she did not have a chance.

But if she could choose one of the princesses to take her place, Leber would choose Rampaul.

“I would choose (her) because I knew that she really wanted to be queen. But all the girls deserved to win,” Leber said.

And her opinion of the Homecoming king?

“I absolutely love Brian Ortega,” she said.

After being crowned queen, Leber said she encountered some people who treated her unfairly and rude. But she said most people congratulated her.

Leber had a positive attitude when it came to the reason why she got crowned queen.

“I had an enormous amount of support from my dance team, Sigma Kappa and Phi Delta Theta,” she said. “I think the rest of the school just knew me from being so active on campus.”

Leber’s greatest ULV memory is watching the dance team that she created.

“I was just honored to be nominated, and anyone who falls into that category should cherish the time they get to be a prince or princess,” Leber said.

The women of Iota Delta and his fraternity, Chi Delta Omicron, nominated Chavez, a 21-year-old TV broadcasting major.

“It was a great feeling being in court since in high school I wasn’t,” Chavez said. “It’s memorable being on a university court.”

In regards to the homecoming king and queen, Chavez said, “I’m glad that they won. They’re good people and represent us well.”

The ULV cheer squad nominated Sawyer, a senior philosophy/religion major.

“Being nominated was quite a shock,” Sawyer said. “I never thought it would happen.”

But, Sawyer did lack confidence that he was going to win because he knew Brian was going to be crowned.

“I’m not shocked Brian won,” he said. “I’m not surprised (Leber) was given the crown. But I am glad for them.”

Senior psychology major Amy Fontenot was nominated by her sorority, Iota Delta.

She was excited when she got nominated.

“I am happy for [Ortega and Leber]. They are both involved in school and that is definitely a good reason why they won,” Fontenot said.

Rampaul, a senior sociology major, was nominated by her sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma.

“Being nominated was something I never thought would happen,” Rampaul said.

She described Ortega and Leber as “good representatives of the senior class. They are both very deserving.”

“I knew Brian was going to win,” Rampaul said. “He deserves it because he puts a lot of work into what he’s doing.”

Once they graduate, Ortega and Leber will remember the day when they were crowned Homecoming king and queen at ULV.

For all those who know them, they will definitely miss the two. Especially Ortega’s humor and Leber’s imposing character when they graduate from ULV.

Hugo Bryan Castillo can be reached at hcastill@ulv.edu.

Hugo Bryan Castillo
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