CSU students named 2021 homecoming king, queen

October 26, 2021

Columbus State University’s 2021 homecoming queen, king and spirit royalty were crowned on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the halftime of the women’s soccer game against Georgia Southwestern University. The nominees were voted on by their peers after a weeklong campaign that resulted in over 965 votes. 

Senior pre-med biology major Imani Arnold is the 2021 homecoming queen. Arnold represented the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and made CSU history by being the first member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. to become queen. Arnold is a part of CSU’s track and field and the women’s basketball teams. Upon graduation, she aspires to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon.

Senior kinesiology major Donterrious Watts is this year’s homecoming king. He represented the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and is also a member of Collegiate 100, a mentorship organization that supports the social, economical and education development of area youths. After graduation, Watts plans to pursue a career as a coach and teacher at the middle and high school levels.

Junior graphic design major Gabrielle Castleberry is the 2021 spirit royalty. Castleberry is a student assistant in the office of Student Life and Development. She is also a diversity peer educator as part of CSU’s Diversity Programs and Services.

Other members of the Homecoming Court include senior nursing major Alysse Guerrier, senior criminal justice major Setta Toure, freshman marketing major Elisha Sims and junior business major Stevon Lester.

“Homecoming is a great campus tradition that brings together current students and alumni for an opportunity to connect and get involved through enduring events like Paint the Paws and our Campus Spirit Bonfire,” said Dr. Melissa Dempsey, director of student life and development.

During the week of Oct. 18-23, the Office of Student Life and Development provided students with a variety of events that involved more than 25 campus organizations and culminated in a student block party at the Main Campus Clock Tower, Dance Under the Stars, and midnight dodgeball.

The greater Columbus community joined CSU's students, athletics teams and alumni on Oct. 22 for the “Downtown Domination” and the annual RiverPark Campus/Uptown Columbus homecoming parade. Students and alumni tailgated together on Saturday around the women’s soccer game and the Office of Alumni Engagement’s Oktoberfest-style CougarFest at the Walden Soccer Complex.