Ohio State Marion has announced its 2026 Homecoming Court, recognizing six outstanding students selected for their academic achievement, leadership, school spirit, integrity, and involvement on campus.
Members of the 2026 Homecoming Court are Princess Amin of Douala, Cameroon, a biology major; Halle Kufrin of Lewis Center, Ohio, a psychology major; Pierre Lavette of Marion, Ohio, an engineering technology major; Andrew Schlect of Marion, Ohio, an electrical engineering major; Lillian Watkins of Carey, Ohio, a primary education major; and Gavin Westendorf of Marysville, Ohio, an engineering technology major.
Homecoming Weekend at Ohio State is scheduled for October 9-10, 2026. Throughout the year, Homecoming Court members will serve as student representatives for Ohio State Marion at a variety of campus and community events, including Welcome Day, the Marion Popcorn Festival Parade, the Alumni Association’s Big 10 Buckeye Bash, the Homecoming Cookout, and other university activities.
From this group, the two students receiving the highest overall scores will be selected as Ohio State Marion’s Homecoming Royals. The final selection process includes a one-on-one interview with Dean Schlueter in September, with final scores determined through a combination of the selection criteria and interview results. The Homecoming Royals will be announced during the coronation ceremony at the Longaberger House in Columbus on Friday, October 9.
Ohio State Homecoming is one of the university's longest-standing traditions, dating back to 1912 when alumnus and professor George Rightmire helped establish the first celebration, then known as "Ohio State Day." Over the years, Homecoming has grown into a university-wide celebration of Buckeye pride, bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends through events, service activities, parades, and traditions. Since 2011, Ohio State's regional campuses have participated in the Homecoming celebration, extending opportunities for student leadership and engagement across the university system.
Since 2011, Ohio State's regional campuses, including Ohio State Marion, have played an active role in the Homecoming celebration, providing students with opportunities to represent their campuses while strengthening connections across the Buckeye community.