Jamie Smith, a senior music education major from West Des Moines, Iowa, was crowned homecoming royalty at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln during halftime of the Oct. 5 Nebraska-Rutgers football game.
Smith, along with Emmerson Putnam, a biological sciences major in the College of Arts and Sciences, were elected as homecoming royalty in an online vote of the student body on Oct. 2-3.
“Hearing my name announced was completely surreal,” Smith said. “At first, I didn’t even register it was me, and I just began clapping. But I looked around to see everyone staring at me and telling me to head over to the 50 [yard line] to grab my medal. It really started to set in.”
Smith said being selected homecoming king was incredibly special to him, especially considering how he started his college journey.
“As an out-of-state student, I really wasn’t sure if Nebraska was the place for me,” he said. “I was really worried I wouldn’t make friends or find a place for myself here—I don’t think my freshman self could ever fathom I’d be where I am now. Furthermore, I feel this selection is just a testament to all of the wonderful people I’ve had the privilege of connecting with all around campus. UNL has gifted me so many amazing friends and peers, and it’s all because of them, I am the person I am today.”
Smith is co-vice president of the Black Masque Chapter of Mortar board. He is also president of UPC Nebraska and the UNL chapter of the National Association of Music Education. He is also a member of the UNL Jazz Orchestra, the UNL Symphony Orchestra and the UNL Trombone Choir.
He is the son of Carrie Siepel and Roelof Siepel and the late Thomas Smith.
“My biggest takeaway from this week was just seeing how far I’ve come through my college journey,” Smith said. “Homecoming week made me feel so connected to both my campus and the people around me. UNL is such a special place, especially during Homecoming.”