STUDENT LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIALCLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS CROWNING Senior Wanru Huang was named Homecoming queen during Harding's· 94th annual Homecoming football game. F or 94 years, the student body selected a Homecoming queen from multiple social clubs and organizations chat represented the diverse members of the student body, but there had not been an international student queened until fall 2018. When President Bruce McLartycrowned Huang, Ritchie stood nearby on the football field and saw Huang's grace and poise. She,along with Director of Multicultural Student Services Tiffany Byers, understood how much the title meant to Huang and other international students. On Oct. 20, 2018, for the first time in Harding's history, the studentt body selected an international student to serve in this capacity. During halftime of the 2018 Homecoming football game, senior accounting major Wanru Huang, also known as Cloris, was named Homecoming queen. "Cloris has huge aspirations and is so thankful for the welcoming she has had at Harding, and I think she 1s very representative of who we are "It makes those that are minorities here realize that there is a place for them," Byers said. "And there is a chance to have a very notable place here on campus. Cloris was very ecstatic when she won." Byers thought Huang embodied the university's values because of her desire to serve the university after being crowned the 2018 Homecoming queen. as a whole." Huang came to Harding from Shenyang, China, in fall 2015 with - Tiffany Byers little knowledge of what the university had to offer. "The only thing I knew is that it is a Christianuniversity," Huang said. "My parents thought a Christian school would be safer, ... and they had some really nice friends who are Christians, so that is why I came here." Huang joined women's social club Delea Nuduring her first semester at Harding to aid in her transition from Chinese culture to American culture. Senior biochemistry and molecular biology major and 2018 Homecoming Queen finalise Caroline Ritchie joined Delea Nuwith Huang and noticed her joyful and humble spirit. "I think she is one of the most warm-hearted people I have ever met," Ritchie said. "During the whole [Homecoming] process, she wanted to talk about me and make me feel important." President Bruce McLartycrowns senior WanruHuang, known to her friends as Cloris, as the 2018 Homecoming queen at First Security Stadium on Oct. 20, 2018. Huang was thefirst international student recognized with this honor. I photo by Sterling McMichael Huang celebrates with Assistant Professor ofBusiness Administration Ellis Sloan after receiving the title ofHomecoming queen at First Security Stadium on Oct. 20, 2018. Huang viewed Sloan as a life mentor after being in several ofhis classes. I photo by Sterling McMichael "She feels such a need to give back, and I think it's just so key to Harding's community of mission," Byers said. "Cloris has huge aspirations and is so thankful for the welcoming she has had at Harding, and I think she is very representative of who we are as a whole." Reflecting on the moment she heard her name called, Huang said she was shocked and could not believe the support and love shown to her by the student body. After receiving support from people throughout campus, Huang decided she wanted to actively seek ways to give to ochers. "I just feel like I've been given to by everyone else," Huang said. "Like all the people around me help me, and they've been kind to me. I think it's time for me to give it back.... I'm willing to do anything for Harding in any way I can help someone." story by Jacob McAlister 24
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