Yirak, Evangelista announced as IVC’s Homecoming King and Queen

David Grant

Wednesday night was a night to remember at Irvine Valley College, and the packed Hart Gymnasium was only the beginning. The Laser Homecoming had the arena buzzing as rival Saddleback was visiting for the culmination of the first-ever President’s Cup between the two schools. Both President Tod Burnett from Saddleback and President Glenn Roquemore from IVC were in attendance to cheer on their schools in the rivalry contests.

“It has been a great series so far,” Roquemore said. “We’re looking forward to the rest of it.”

At intermission, the Saddleback men led 33-28 and the red carpet was rolled onto the hardwood in preparation for the big announcement. IVC cheerleaders showing off midnight blue and silver team colors lined the carpet as each nominee was introduced.

Last year’s Homecoming Queen, Hannah Lee, waited for the nominees to be called before relinquishing her crown to this year’s proud winners. Andrew Yirak and Elizabeth Evangelista were announced as IVC’s Homecoming King and Queen, as both were selected from a list of several worthy candidates. Yirak won the nomination over Austin Alva, Thomas Pak and Paul Sandoval, while Evangelista was chosen over fellow competitors Christie Agnew, Kimberly Girard and Ashley Nguyen.

The newly crowned King and Queen walked arm in arm down the red carpet and out of the arena as fellow colleagues, friends and family cheered them on. 

Yirak came from out of the country to attend IVC and quickly began making friends by working in the student lounge. His job in the lounge helped him to become a member of the student government. Yirak became a senator-at-large and assisted other senators with their reports. According to his pledge to voters, he felt that “this job helped make Irvine Valley College better for students and faculty alike.”

Evangelista is a sophomore at IVC and has taken this time on the Homecoming ballot to not only get involved in her school and community, but to meet some of what she considers “the most talented, friendly, outgoing, and overall amazing people in my life,” according to her pledge to voters. She has been a cheerleader for two years at IVC and became a Phi Theta Kappa officer in September, where she learned the importance of helping others and ways to improve herself. Evangelista is also a member of the Honor’s Program at IVC and feels that these experiences have “helped her grow in ways beyond the classroom and that the friends she has made will be friends for life.”

Both Yirak and Evangelista have made IVC proud with their hard work and dedication to academics, programs and helping those around them achieve their very own personal goals. 

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