Kieran Casey and Sydney Auteri were crowned Thomas More University’s 2019 Homecoming king and queen. Kieran is a junior majoring in theatre. Sydney is a junior accounting and law double major with a minor in business administration. Get to know your Homecoming king and queen as they reflect on their time here and explain what receiving this honor means to them.  

Kieran Casey (KC) – Homecoming king

Shannon Smyth (SS):What year are you and why did you choose Thomas More? 

KC: I am a junior. I chose Thomas More because I wanted to go a school that was far enough away from home to be independent from my family but still close enough to be able to visit them whenever I want to. It also allowed me to major in theatre and to be able to work on shows while still in school. I also loved the close-knit family feeling that I got when I visited.   

SS: What are you involved in on campus?

KC: I am involved with the Villa Players, Marching Saints, Bishops Foys Scholars, Agape Latte, Student Ambassador, Orientation Team, and Camp Summit.

SS: What does winning Homecoming king mean to you?

KC: It shows me how many connections that I have made here at Thomas More, and I am so grateful for all the people that I have met in my time here. 

SS: During Homecoming, what was the highlight of your day? 

KC: The highlight of homecoming for me was getting to perform with my fellow Marching Saints and friends at half time.

SS: What type of impact do you wish to leave on Thomas More?

KC: The impact that I hope to leave on Thomas More is the community that I was able to help build with the Villa Players – having it as a place in which everyone is welcome no matter who they are and what they are interested in. The bonds that I have seen created through the Villa Players have shown me how much of an impact that I have made for that group. 

Sydney Auteri (SA) – Homecoming queen 

SS: What year are you and why did you choose Thomas More?

SA: I am a junior accounting and law double major with a minor in business administration. I chose Thomas More because the second I stepped onto campus, I knew I was home. With such a student-oriented atmosphere and close personal relationships, the Thomas More community instantly became my family. The faculty and staff truly care about each and every student on a person level and go above and beyond to help us reach our goals. With its small size, academic excellence, and close proximity to my family, I knew that Thomas More was the college for me. 

SS: What are you involved in on campus?

SA: One of my main involvements at Thomas More has been the Student Government Association. I am currently the executive vice president and have served two prior years as a delegate and as the vice president of programming. In addition, I am also the president of our newly founded Law Society, a member of the Accounting Society, and a James Graham Brown Honors Student. Because of my academic achievements, I was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society and the Delta Mu Delta Honors Society. For the past year, I worked in the Admissions Office as a student ambassador, and I recently became a presidential ambassador in the Office of Institutional Advancement. I am also a peer tutor and volunteer through our Accounting Department at the Center for Great Neighborhoods as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistant.

SS: What does winning queen mean to you?

SA: Being crowned as Homecoming queen is an honor that I cannot put into words. I am so grateful for the opportunities that Thomas More has provided me. With so many outstanding students and deserving recipients, I am so appreciative to have been named the 2019 queen. I am very proud to represent the student body and uphold the mission of Thomas More University. 

SS: During Homecoming, what was the highlight of your day? 

SA: The highlight of Homecoming was being on court with such exceptional students. They are all such close friends of mine and well-deserving of the honor. It was such a fun experience to spend the day with them while cheering on the Saints. The comradery that we share is one of the most valuable things that Thomas More has given me. 

SS: What type of impact do you wish to leave on Thomas More?

SA: Thomas More has given more than I could ever repay, but I hope that I can make a lasting impact through the Law Society. With the guidance of the chair of the Law Department, Amanda Siegrist, the Law Society was created this year. I have such a passion for law and am so excited to be the president of this new student organization. I hope that other students will be able to appreciate our events on campus, preparation sessions for the LSAT, and guest speakers. I strive to be a role model for incoming students through my various leadership positions such as the Student Government Association and the Accounting Society.