TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Lacey Valeska of Dothan was named Homecoming Queen and Mike Kuffner of Huntsville was named Capstone Gentleman for 2004 at The University of Alabama. Their selection was announced at UA’s homecoming pep rally on Friday, Oct. 15.

UA students selected the queen and gentleman in a general campus election held Tuesday, Oct. 12. Some 3,500 UA students voted in this year’s election. A new recognition, Capstone Gentleman, was included this year. The Capstone Gentleman serves as the male counterpart to the female Homecoming Queen, with other students selected as members of the homecoming court.

The queen was crowned and the gentleman was recognized during halftime of the homecoming football game between Alabama and Southern Mississippi on Saturday, Oct. 16, in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Valeska , a senior majoring in history, is president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, secretary of ODK and a member of both Golden Key and Order of Omega. Kuffner, a senior accounting major with a 4.0 grade point average, is currently the SGA vice president of financial affairs, a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and Mortar Board, and is serving as treasurer of You’ve Got a Friend.

The female students chosen to be members of the 2004 UA Homecoming Court were:

• Bess Copeland, a junior secondary education major in the language arts from Cullman
• Katie McCrory, a senior public relations major from Bessemer
• Chequetta Moore, a senior accounting major from Tuskegee
• Maridi Thompson, a senior marketing major from Tuscaloosa

The male students chosen to be members of the 2004 UA Homecoming Court were:

• Matthew Bees, a senior Human Environmental Sciences major from Georgiana
• Aaron Paul Brown, a graduate student in musical conducting from Birmingham (zip code 35234)
• Justin Carroll, a senior nursing major from McCalla
• Lucas Elgie, a senior business management major from Snellville, Ga.

The 16 th annual Roll Tide Run was held on Sunday, Oct. 10. More than 50 individuals participated in the 10k race. Male winners included: 1st place – Peter Kiprono,  Eldoret, Kenya; 2nd place – Shinichiro Noya, Osaka, Japan. Female winners included: 1st place – Elizabeth Tiller, Tuscaloosa; 2nd place – Justina Guinney, Demopolis; 3rd place – Kristina Eden,  Peachtree City, Ga.

The second annual Homecoming Bowling Tournament was held on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Winners included: 1st place – MBA Student Association, 2nd place – Harris Hall, and 3rd place – Theta Tau.

The Homecoming Choreography Contest took place on Thursday, Oct. 14. Winners included: 1st place – Alpha Delta Pi, 2nd Place – Phi Mu, 3rd place – Kappa Alpha Theta, best costume – Alpha Delta Pi.

The banner competition winners were announced on Thursday. The winners included: 1st place – Yell Crew, 2nd place – Arts and Sciences Ambassadors, and 3rd place – (tie) Delta Zeta and Phi Mu.

Winners in several of UA’s annual homecoming events also included:

Basketball tournament winners: Men’s division: 1st place – Bryce Lawn 1, 2nd place – Bryce Lawn 2, 3rd place – Honors Program Student Association; Women’s division: 1st place – Alpha Omicron Pi, 2nd place – Delta Zeta, 3rd place – Phi Mu.

Residence Hall Decoration Competition winners: 1st place – Rose Towers (11th Floor), 2nd place – Parham Hall, and 3rd place – Somerville Hall.

Lawn decorations winners for this year included: Independent organizations – 1st place-Alabama Student Society for the Communication Arts, 2nd place-Computer-Based Honors program, 3rd place Baptist Campus Ministries; Greek Organizations – 1st place Phi Mu, 2nd place-Delta Zeta, 3rd place-Kappa Alpha Theta.

Quad Games winners included: 1st place-Computer-Based Honors program, 2nd place-Alpha Delta Pi, 3rd place-Kappa Alpha Theta.

Paint the Town Red contest winners included: 1st place-Yell Crew, 2nd place-Zeta Tau Alpha, 3rd place-tie, Kappa Alpha Theta and Alpha Delta Pi.

Parade winners included: 1st place-Phi Mu, 2nd place-Zeta Tau Alpha, 3rd place-Gamma Phi Beta.

Spirit cup winner was Phi Mu.