And the crowns go to: Emily Crowel and Bianca Marrufo, this year’s Regatta Royalty.
Eight students competed for the title, and Crowel and Marrufo were determined the winners during the Regatta Festival on Sept. 21.
Marrufo was not expecting to win – she applied for fun after being encouraged by her resident assistant – but she’s really happy to see results from all the work she has put in.
“It’s such an honor, and I didn’t expect to be recognized as a leader at IUPUI as a sophomore,” she said.
Crowel always knew she wanted to be on the homecoming court – it was a part of her four-year plan. When homecoming shifted to Regatta Royalty last year, she couldn’t apply because she was a member of the Regatta Steering Committee. This year was her one-and-only chance to be on the court and potentially win.
“I’m really happy my leadership experience over the last three years has shined through, and it’s great to see my hard work pay off,” Crowel said.
Each received a $500 scholarship in addition to a crown and title.
“This scholarship is a huge relief to me and will help me finish paying for school this semester,” Marrufo said.
Crowel noted the scholarship will help her find some balance with the multiple jobs she works each week, allowing her to focus more on school for awhile.
If they had the choice, both say they would do it all over again.
“You meet so many people you might not otherwise meet, and it truly is a ton of fun to be on the court,” Crowel said. “Most schools have a homecoming, and it’s neat to be a part of something as unique as Regatta.”
Marrufo and Crowel are both student leaders on campus. Marrufo is a mentor with the International Peer Mentoring Program, a member of the Latino Student Association and a global scholar for the International House.
Crowel is a third-year resident assistant for the honors community at Riverwalk Apartments, president of National Residence Hall Honorary, a peer mentor for the Honors College and vice president of the Art Education Association at IUPUI.
To be considered for the Regatta Royalty court, you must complete an application process and participate in a 30-minute interview. From there, the top eight candidates are selected, and they compete in different activities and challenges for points. Posting on social media, raising money, volunteering for Regatta service day and asking people to vote are a few ways the court obtains points. The winners are chosen based on their application, interview and overall points gained through the process.
