BUCKHANNON, West Virginia —  From performing on the sidelines to being honored at center field, West Virginia Wesleyan College’s 2026 Homecoming Royalty brought their Bobcat spirit to the spotlight in a new way.

Melody Calkins ‘27, of Elkins, West Virginia, and Tyree Archer ‘27, of Clayton, Delaware, are this year’s Homecoming Royalty and are both members of the Bobcat Competitive Dance Team.  Calkins is a graphic design major with a dance minor. She is also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha (VP Communications and Campus Relations position) and The Pharos layout editor. Archer is a public service and sociology major from Clayton, Delaware. He is vice president of Student Senate and vice president of Chi Phi Delta Xi Fraternity. Archer is also a member of the Black Student Union.

WVWC President James Moore and First Lady Jessica Moore crowned the two at center field prior to the start of Saturday’s Homecoming game versus the Fairmont State University Falcons. The Bobcats won the game, 34-16.

Also selected as senior attendants for the Homecoming Court are Emily Dennison ‘27, an accounting major with a criminal justice minor from Belington, West Virginia; Graci Ketterman ‘27, a nursing major from Buckhannon, West Virginia; Kanaan Abbas ‘27, an exercise science major from Marysville, Ohio; Kent Niland ‘27, a political science, criminal justice and sociology triple major from Fort Ashby, West Virginia; Laura Gatewood ‘27, a psychology and religious students major with a focus in Christian Formation and liturgy; Robert Bailey ‘27, an applied physics major from Tacoma, Washington; Sophia Shoemaker ‘27, of Elkins, West Virginia, who majors in biochemistry and minors in psychology and human biology; and Sneha Sundaraneedi ‘27, an applied physics major from India. 

Madelyn Lambert ‘30, a nursing major from Elkins, West Virginia; Heath Gilliam ‘29, a marketing major from Fayetteville, West Virginia; and Trey Greer ‘28, a political science and public service administration major from Ripley, West Virginia, were chosen as class attendants. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for 136 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2027 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan 4th in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and counseling; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.