MITCHELL, S.D. — Dakota Wesleyan University crowned its homecoming royalty Monday night during Coronation. Ady Dwight of Langford, and Austin Lee of San Antonio, Texas, were named the DWU Homecoming Royalty for 2023.

Adyson Dwight, Langford, or Ady, as she’s known to her friends and fans, is a nursing major and is a member of the Student Nurses Association where she served as newsletter correspondent in 2022. Ady has been honored during her time at DWU as a 2023 GPAC A.O. Duer Award Recipient; a 2023 Jerry Miller Endowed Scholarship recipient; and a DWU Teammaker Scholar. She is well known for her talent on the volleyball court where she has served as team captain twice; is a three-time NAIA All American, twice on the first team; a three-time GPAC All Conference First Team member; a 2022 Dakotronics/NAIA Scholar Athlete; 2022 AVCA West Central Attacker of the Year; AVCA all-region player, a 2021 CoSIDA Academic First Team All American, as well as a 2021 CoSIDA Academic All District. She was the 2021 Argus Leader College Female Athlete of the year; a 2020 AVCA West Central Region Freshman of the Year; 2020 GPAC Freshman of the year and was named NAIA Attacker of the Week three times. In her “free” time, she has worked at Edgewood Memory Care and Cabana Tan. Ady is the daughter of Tara and Jason Dwight.

Austin Lee, San Antonio, Texas, is a Biochemistry major and is captain of the Tiger football team. Austin is a member of CHAOS club and serves as its social media coordinator. He is a winner of the Homer Carhart prize in science. The graduate of MacArthur High School is the son of Brenna and William Lee.

DWU also crowned its 2023 Beanie Royalty – a title bestowed on two freshmen who have already made an impact on the campus community during their short time at DWU and have embraced DWU’s values of learning, leadership, faith and service. Lilly Honermann, Mitchell, and Quenton Walls, Huron, were named this year’s Beanie Royalty.

The following were also candidates for homecoming royalty:

Aaron Black, Omak, Wash., is majoring in Exercise Science. He is a member of the football team and is the recipient of both a Presidential scholarship and an athletic scholarship. Aaron is a part of DWU’s TRIO team. He graduated from Omak High School. His parents are Bill Black and Michaela Black.

Seth Christiansen is from Victor, Idaho, where he attended Teton High School in Driggs. Seth majors in Wildlife Management with a minor in Criminal Justice, and he had the opportunity to complete an internship with the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Seth plays baseball for DWU and received an athletic scholarship. He is the son of Jason and Megan Christiansen.

Lexy Durham, Rapid City, graduated from Saint Thomas More High School. She holds a Psychology major with a concentration in counseling and a minor in Sociology. She is a Presidential scholar and has worked at Dakota Counseling. Lexy’s parents are Nick and Jennifer Durham.

Reagan Grossi, Vail, Ariz., is a Digital Media and Design major with a three-tier concentration in marketing, graphic design, and web design. She attended Empire High School in Tucson. Reagan is a Presidential scholar and also received the 2022 Jennie Orr Memorial Scholarship. She is a member of the softball team and served one year as captain. She was recognized in 2022 and 2023 as a Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athlete. She also served on the Pulse Committee during her junior year, a position she continues to hold. Reagan is a member of Student Senate where she serves as the Female Athletic representative-at-large for 2023. Reagan is also the designer of the 2023 DWU Homecoming official t-shirt. She served a two-year internship with Sports Information, and works with men’s and women’s soccer to assist with stats, scoreboard, graphics, etc. Off campus, she has worked for Jostens of Southern Arizona as a digital designer for social media and the graduation planner for 2022-2023. Her parents are Joe and Jan Grossi.

Audrey Koesters, Omaha, Neb., is a graduate of Millard West High School and is the daughter of Julie Oesterle and the late Robert Oesterle. Audrey is a biology major, a Randall scholar, and has received the St. Joseph Memorial scholarship, a TRIO grant, and a Methodist Recognition scholarship. Audrey is a member of Student Ministry Council; Student Senate, serving as the 2022-23 Vice President; is a current Senior Class Representative; a member of the Worship Lead Team at Fusion Church; serves on the Homecoming Committee; and is the Phone-a-thon Student Manager. She has worked as a veterinary assistant at an urgent pet care center and as a barista at Caribou Coffee.

Taylee Indahl, Burke, is majoring in Elementary Education with a coaching endorsement. She played for the Women’s Volleyball team for three years and is a member of the Future Teachers Organization. Taylee has received a Presidential scholarship, the O’Byrne scholarship and a TeamMaker scholarship. When she returns home to Burke, she spends time working at the community daycare where she loves spending time with kids. She is the daughter of David and Billie Jo Indahl.

Marissa Morris, Silver Creek, Neb., majors in English Education with an endorsement in ELL. She is the treasurer of the Future Teachers Organization and volunteers for Big Friend, Little Friend. Marissa is a Presidential scholar. She is a graduate of Twin Rivers Public School in Genoa, Nebraska. Her parents are Mike and Sandy Morris.

Oscar Pravecek, Winner, graduated from Winner High School. He is majoring in Entrepreneurial Leadership with a concentration in Agriculture. Oscar plays on the baseball team and has received and athletic scholarship. In his free time, he works for Pravecek Feeding, Farming, and Fertilizing. He is the son of Dan and Betsy Pravecek.

Julia Sanderson, Sioux Falls, is a biochemistry major. Julia played Volleyball for two seasons. She is an active member of the campus community, serving as an RA; a tutor; 2022 Chaos club president; a member of the CHAOS executive team this year; secretary for Lost and Found; a Big Friend Little Friend mentor; Children’s Ministry Teacher at Northridge Church; and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Zeta Honor Societies. She is a Randall Scholar, received the St. Joseph Hospital Endowed Scholarship, the Carhart Award in Science, and the Vicki Clarke Leadership and Service Endowed Scholarship. She is a graduate of Sioux Falls Christian School. Her parents are Joel and Nicole Sanderson.

The following were also candidates for Beanie Royalty:

Lewis Cunningham, Glasgow, Scotland
Kyra Gropper, Mitchell
Kadence Halvorson, Mitchell
Landon Iverson, Hot Springs
Hailey Oswald, Rapid City