Bluffton University’s annual May Day ceremony is moving to a new time this year—1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2—but its traditional elements remain the same, including the crowning of a king and queen and the Maypole dance by first-year students.
Filling those roles this year are seniors Jeremy Amstutz of Cassopolis, Mich., and Julia Thomas of Springfield, Ohio—the May Day king and queen—and 16 first-year students who will perform the Maypole dance.
Amstutz is a business administration and marketing major. He has served as president of the Bluffton University Business Leaders and, for the last two years, as mascot J. Denny Beaver. He has also been active in SERVE, a student service organization, and in the Ultimate Frisbee Club. He is the son of Pete and Portia Amstutz. His grandmother is Mary Amstutz of Bluffton.
Thomas is majoring in Spanish education, with an endorsement in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is a C. Henry Smith Scholar and, among other campus activities, has been a hall chaplain and pastoral assistant; a member of the University Chorale and Gospel Choir; and a student ambassador. Her parents are Melissa Hunter and Herbert Thomas.
As first-year students, Amstutz and Thomas were also Maypole dancers—as are these students this year, listed with their dance partners:
• Emily Short, a biblical and theological studies major from Archbold, Ohio, and the daughter of Randy and Deb Short, and Jonathan Grayczyk, a chemistry and physics major from Oregon, Ohio, and the son of Joseph and Shari Grayczyk.
• Kenny Beeker, a history and communication major from McComb, Ohio, and the son of Brent and Judy Beeker, and Katie Keesbury, the daughter of Doug of Defiance and Sandra Keesbury of Bryan, Ohio. She is undecided about a major.
• Abigail O’Donnell, an intervention specialist and early childhood education major from Arcanum, Ohio, and the daughter of Angela and Tim O’Donnell, and Greg Koviak, a criminal justice and social work major from Clyde, Ohio, and the son of Sara and Joey Miller.
• Carrie Blust, an early childhood education major from Sidney, Ohio, and the daughter of Jeff and Amy Blust, and Cody Stuckey, a music education major from Fayette, Ohio, and the son of Greg and Susan Stuckey.
• Taylor Lewis, a chemistry major from Defiance, Ohio, and the daughter of Mike and Niki Lewis, and Blake Hershberger, the son of Barry and Tanya Hershberger of Canton, Ohio. He is undecided about a major.
• Zoe Tracy, an English major from Continental, Ohio, and the daughter of Tony and Buff Tracy, and Kyle Johnson-Evers, a music performance major from Muskego, Wis., and the son of Connie and Steve Johnson-Evers.
• Dakota Dellenbach, an intervention specialist major from Perrysville, Ohio, and the son of Dale and Barb Guernsey, and Kayla Brooksbank, an early childhood education major from Lockland, Ohio, and the daughter of Robin and Greg Brooksbank.
• Chris Brenner, a mathematics major from Defiance, Ohio, seeking an AYA (Adolescent/Young Adult) teaching licensure, and the son of Dave and Deb Brenner, and Laura Galley, a food and nutrition major from Indianapolis, Ind., and the daughter of Paul and Danielle Galley.
