Bluffton University’s annual May Day ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, and will include the traditions of the crowning of a king and queen and the Maypole dance by first-year students.
Filling the roles of king and queen this year are seniors Samuel Stucky of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Alicia Rodriguez of Phoenix, Ariz.
Stucky is majoring in mathematics and music. He has been involved in many activities on campus including University Chorale, Camerata Singers, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Chapel Band, Ultimate Frisbee Club and Sustainability Club.
He was also a part of the Sunday Night Worship planning committee, SERVE, Cabaret for a Cause planning committee, C.Henry Smith Scholars and the Honors Program. His parents are Max and Lynda Stucky.
Rodriguez is majoring in food and nutrition with a concentration in dietetics and minoring in public health. She has been a student supervisor in the library, a student ambassador, Kit guide, and a mentor for the Becoming a Scholar class.
She has also been the president of the Bluffton University Nutrition Association (BUNA) and has volunteered at a nursing home for two years. Her parents are Albert Rodriguez and Jane Yoder Rodriguez ’81.
First year students chosen to participate in the Maypole dance include:
∙ Wearing red is Colyn Starrett, a business administration major from Killbuck, Ohio, and the son of Todd and Zina Starrett, and Genna Zachrich, a middle childhood education major from Findlay, Ohio, and the daughter of Craig and Beth Zachrich.
∙ Wearing orange is Jonah Eckert, a general studies major from Terra Haute, Ind., and the son of Steve Eckert, and Morganne Faler, an early childhood education and intervention specialist major from Huntsville, Ohio, and the daughter of Lyle and Holly Faler.
∙ Wearing yellow is Justin Berg, an intervention specialist and early childhood education major from Goshen, Ind., and the son of Terry and Cathy Beery Berg ’78, who was May Day Queen. Justin is accompanied by Hannah Stephens, a dietetics major from St. Clairsville, Ohio, and the daughter of Scott and Kathy Stephens.
∙ Wearing green is Seth Regula, a music business major from Jackson Center, Ohio, and the son of Bert and Marlene Regula, and Kasandera Knief, a music education and piano pedagogy major from Lewistown, Ohio, and the daughter of Kyle and Hillary Knief.
∙ Wearing teal is Austin Schaller, a business administration major from Findlay, Ohio, and the son of Dan and Missy Schaller, and Caitlin Haab, an early childhood education major from Normal, Ill., and daughter of Jeremy Haab and Tina Horna.
∙ Wearing blue is Claire Clay, a public relations major from Van Wert, Ohio, and the daughter of Brad and Lydia (Clay ’02) Mendenhall, and Cara Echols, an art and writing major from New Bremen, Ohio, and the daughter of Roosevelt ’88 and Julie (Bibler ’88) Echols. Cara’s parents were May Day dance partners in 1985.
∙ Wearing lilac is Ezra Amstutz, a business administration major from Goshen, Ind., and the son of Peter ‘89 and Portia (Miller ‘87) Amstutz, who was a May Day dancer in 1984. He is accompanied by Becky Boban, an art and writing major from Madison, Ohio, and the daughter of John and Lori Boban.
∙ Wearing purple is Eddie Martin, a music education and saxophone performance major from Goshen, Ind., and the son of Grant and Janelle Martin, and Meghan Gibson, a music education and vocal performance major from Pandora, Ohio, and the daughter of Sarah Sprunger.
