Howard Payne University has announced its 2025 Homecoming Court nominees. The students will be featured during the Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 11. Later that day, the Homecoming Court will be crowned during halftime at HPU’s football game versus East Texas Baptist University at Brownwood’s Gordon Wood Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Homecoming King nominees are Deaven Connelly, Victoriano Cooper and Byron Foster. Queen Nominees are Brenna Douthit, Julie Ivy and Bailey Nobles. Prince Nominees are Brock Horton, Benjamin Mabry and Nathan Weems. Princess Nominees are Kaylin Gregor, Addison Long and Sydney Tate.

Homecoming Queen Nominees

Brenna Douthit is a nursing major from Waxahachie. She is an honorary member of DEO, a member of SAC and Gamma Beta Phi, and is captain of HPU’s women’s soccer team. She serves on the worship team for the college ministry at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church, works for HPU Intramurals and is a student worker for the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement.

Julie Ivy is a Christian education major with ministry leadership emphasis from Shiner. She is a member of the HPU Heritage Band and HPU Theatre.

Bailey Nobles is a biomedical science major and psychology minor from Robstown. She is a member and chaplain of HPU’s cheer team; and a member of the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) Serve Team, Gamma Beta Phi, Beta Beta Beta and HOSA. She works as a medical assistant for Epiphany Dermatology and serves as a resident assistant in Veda Hodge Hall.

Homecoming King Nominees

Deaven Connelly is a mathematics education major from Burleson. He is captain of HPU’s men’s soccer team; president of the Pickleball Club; a member of Student Activities Council (SAC), Student Athletic Academic Council (SAAC), Student Advisory Council, Rocket League E-sports team; and is an honorary member of Delta Epsilon Omega (DEO). He is a student worker for University Services and resident assistant for Newbury Place Apartments.

Victoriano Cooper is a biochemistry and music major with piano concentration from Early. He is a member of the HPU Heritage Band, HPU Jazz Ensemble, HPU Community Band, HPU Concert Choir, HPU Theatre and is an honorary member of Delta Chi Rho. He serves as an assistant for the chemistry department.

Byron Foster is an allied health science major from Brownwood. He is a member of HPU’s baseball team, SAC, and is an honorary member of DEO.

Homecoming Princess Nominees

Kaylin Greger is an allied health science major from Belton. She is a member of HPU’s women’s soccer team and works at the HPU Wellness Center and 7Brew Coffee.

Addison Long is a nursing major and information technology minor from Cross Plains. She is a member of Delta Chi Rho and serves on the Christian Association of Student Leaders (CASL) committee. She is a student worker for the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement.

Sydney Tate is a finance and Guy D. Newman Honors Academy major from Royse City. She is a member of HPU’s women’s soccer team, SAC, and serves on the CASL committee. She works as a peer tutor in the Center for Student Success and is an intern for the college ministry at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.

Homecoming Prince Nominees

Brock Horton is an accounting and Guy D. Newman Honors Academy major from Fort Worth. He participates in intramurals, is a member of Zeta Chi and a student worker for University Services.

Benjamin Mabry is a Christian education major with an emphasis in ministry leadership from Gatesville. He is a member of HPU’s tennis team, Pickleball Club, BSM Outreach Team and Zeta Chi. He serves as the interim youth pastor at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.

Nathan Weems is an information systems management major from Abilene. He is the captain of the Super Smash Brothers Esports Team and a member of BSM Lead Team. He is a student worker in the Office of Information Technology.

For more details about HPU’s Homecoming, please visit www.hputx.edu/homecoming.