Grad student, 71, running for Homecoming Queen

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Grad student, 71, running for Homecoming Queen

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By Sean Kennedy, Press Staff Writer

Tahlequah-
When the 2005 Northeastern State University Homecoming Queen is crowned Saturday, it could be a school record, of sorts, for an Oklahoma institute of higher education.

Muriel Saunders, 71, a Muskogee graduate student working on her master's degree in communications, is one of five candidates for the honor this year.

"I had some friends encourage me to run," said Saunders. "In talking to people about running, I got a really positive response, so I decided to try for it."

Saunders, who was named to the President's Honor Roll last year, was nominated by fellow graduate student Gaylynn Nance. Nance tapped Saunders because of her life experience.

Saunders, a native of Muskogee, spent some time in California, where her children still live, before her job moved her back to Oklahoma. After she retired from IBM, she decided to head back to college.

"I had always planned to go back to school, but life got in the way," said Saunders. "Then I just decided to do it, and it has been a really great ride."

Saunders received her bachelor's degree in speech communication in May and decided to pursue her master's.

She is also a strong proponent of education, having served on the Muskogee Public Schools Board of Education for the past 11 years. She is also active in the poetry club and is assistant director of the communication lab at NSU.

"Everyone has reacted positively to my running," said Saunders. "I've had a lot of people tell me they are happy I'm running. The response has been very positive from both students and teachers."

Saunders was one of 12 nominees for Homecoming queen last week, before a judges' panel formed by the Office of Student Affairs selected her as one of the five finalists. There were also four nominees for Homecoming king.

If she is elected, Saunders plans to represent the university to the best of her abilities - with pride.

The NSU Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned during halftime of Saturday's Redmen Homecoming football game against East Central. The game starts at 2 p.m.

Other candidates for Homecoming Queen include: Martha Bacon, 21, a Tahlequah junior majoring in psychology; Amanda Huffman, 23, a Tahlequah senior majoring in elementary education; Tiffany Lewis, 27, a Tulsa junior majoring in mass communication; and Tori Woods, 20, a Welling junior majoring in pre-pharmacy.

The Homecoming King nominees are: Coleman Lee Cox, 20, a Tahlequah sophomore majoring in mass communication; Kellen Cole Eco Hipieye Palmer, 22, a New Mexico junior majoring in political science; Scott Weatherman, 21, a Tahlequah junior majoring in mass communication; and Kyle Wooten, 21, a Tahlequah senior majoring in financial planning.

Students will vote for the Homecoming royalty Thursday and Friday in the University Center lobby.

Whether she wins or loses on Saturday, Saunders is just enjoying the experience.

"It makes me feel great to know people are interested in what I'm doing," said Saunders. "This just puts the icing the cake of my collegiate career."

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She won too!!!