Homecoming has always been Abby Spangenberg’s favorite Buckeye tradition. The fourth-year ODI Scholar (MSP) from Sunbury, Ohio, has spent her undergraduate career as a member of the Student Alumni Council (SAC), working to unite current and former Buckeyes, especially during Homecoming Week. 

“Being on Homecoming Court is a very full circle moment. Homecoming has been such a part of my college experience because of SAC,” Spangenberg said. “That was my first introduction to school spirit, and it’s really cool to be able to see the evolution of my own spirit and leadership throughout my four years, get to be a mentor for other people, and represent the values I’ve gained throughout my experiences here.” 

Now SAC President and a member of the court, the chemical engineering major is fundraising for the organization that led to her love of Homecoming festivities. 

“SAC has been such an influential part of my college experience, and I attribute so much of my success in college to joining this organization,” Spangenberg commented. “Through SAC, so many students and alumni get an opportunity to network and form lifelong connections. I am fundraising to keep the spirit of SAC alive for Buckeyes past, present, and future and give back to an organization that has given me so much.” 

Outside of SAC, Spangenberg is involved in University Ambassadors and the Ohio State Alumni Association Board of Directors. She has also completed internships at a Spanish strategic advertising company through the Fisher Global Internship Program and at JP Morgan Chase & Co. She says her experience in the Morrill Scholars Program has influenced her in all of these roles. 

“Everything I do always has the ODI values behind it. As a tour guide, for example, we get to talk about the history of Hale Hall and ODI’s programs,” Spangenberg explained. “I get to tell prospective students about ODI and MSP, how that influenced my decision to come to The Ohio State University, and how that has affected my time at Ohio State. It’s really cool to share those ODI values through the work that I’m doing.” 

For Barry Nickell, nothing is more important than representation, whether on campus or on stage dancing. A member of 2024 Homecoming Court, the fourth-year ODI Scholar (MSP) proudly represents students of color as he holds one of The Ohio State University’s highest honors. 

“One of my biggest goals is to serve as inspiration for other students that look like me,” Nickell commented. “I want to serve as a representation for African American students, so that was one of the reasons I went out for Homecoming Court. I want to show the campus community that people who look like me can hold these high-up positions, especially at a PWI as large as Ohio State.” 

The Columbus native seeks to support students of color not only through representation, but also financial assistance. As a court member, Nickell is fundraising for programming for the ODI Hale Black Cultural Center, which develops activities for the advancement of all Buckeyes, particularly African American students, and documents Black achievements in science, art, literature, and more. 

“I want to use my Homecoming Court position to give back to the community and help the organizations and centers that helped me get to where I am,” Nickell said. 

Nickell is an ambassador for the Center for Belonging and Social Change, the Director of Community Engagement and Social Justice for the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and a member of the African American Heritage Festival and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. As a dance major, he is passionate about increasing Black representation in dance and is the founder of the Black Dance Association and a volunteer for Columbus Public Schools’ Activists in Motion. 

“There’s not a lot of African Americans in the dance field, so I want to continue performing as well as serve as a face for people that look like me in dance. I want to be on stage and show Black and brown people that you can go out and do dance just like everyone else,” Nickell said. “The best way to fight injustice is to have representation, so we can inspire more people to take on these roles and pave the way for future generations.” 

Bethany Massenburg-Jackson learned about The Ohio State University Homecoming Court from role models who paved the way for her. Now, the fifth-year ODI Scholar (MSP) from Prince George’s County, Maryland, is looking to return the favor. 

“I didn’t really know much about Homecoming Court until seeing Amanya [Paige], Kyla [Hurns], and other ODI Scholars do it. Sometimes until you see someone else doing it, you don’t really know something is an option,” Massenburg-Jackson explained. “Being on Homecoming Court is a celebration of how far I’ve come, and it’s an opportunity for advocacy and bringing light to issues on campus that people may not know about.”  

The electrical engineering major is taking advantage of that opportunity by fundraising for Ohio State’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Massenburg-Jackson has been a leader within NSBE and decided to become a Buckeye thanks to the organization. 

“Being surrounded by other Black professionals and seeing other students so interested in NSBE really helped me keep going,” Massenburg-Jackson stated. “NSBE’s mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. The funds I raise will help further the mission and support Ohio State students.” 

Beyond NSBE, Massenburg-Jackson has also served as co-overall of the African American Heritage Festival, and she works in programming for the Center for Belonging and Social Change and for the Department of Athletics’ audio-visual team. 

Massunberg-Jackson says her Buckeye journey was not without obstacles—including mental health issues, a family member’s death, and a sleep disorder diagnosis—but she credits the ODI and S-SAS staff with helping her move forward. She encourages students who are struggling to make use of university resources and take life one day at a time. 

“I didn’t necessarily have the smoothest road through Ohio State. There were hiccups and a lot of twists and turns. Sometimes, as an ODI Scholar or a minority student, you might feel a lot of pressure,” Massenburg-Jackson said. “As ODI Scholars, we strive for excellence, which is a good thing, but sometimes it’s genuinely okay to put your best foot forward, even if it’s not perfection. You can even still end up on Homecoming Court.” 

Bobby McAlpine has spent his college career representing fellow Buckeyes through Undergraduate Student Government. But this year, the fifth-year ODI Scholar (MSP) is representing The Ohio State University in a new way—as a 2024 Homecoming Court member. 

McAlpine is best known as Student Body President in USG, where the city and regional planning major is currently serving his second term. However, through his Homecoming Court fundraiser, the Cincinnati native is sharing a lesser-known side: his type 1 diabetes, a diagnosis he received in high school. 

“While [diabetes] been a challenge, it has also shaped the person I am today. It has made me more resilient, determined, and committed to making a difference,” McAlpine wrote in his Buckeye Funder description. “That’s why I’m using my platform on Homecoming Court to support research for type 1 diabetes, in hopes of finding better treatments and, one day, a cure.” 

In his time with USG, McAlpine was named the Steen Shaver Assembly Member of the Year and fought for increases in mental health resources and diversity initiatives like Ohio State’s first annual Black History Month Gala. 

As McAlpine put it: “I’m passionate about leading my peers and building strong communities.” 

Kira Deerman is no stranger to The Ohio State University Homecoming Court. The fourth-year ODI Scholar (MSP) from Grove City, Ohio, spent her freshman year working at the Longaberger Alumni House, where she met court members and learned about the tradition of Buckeye spirit and service. 

“I got to help with Homecoming Court on the day of, and they just all seemed so adult and so accomplished. That was what got me interested,” Deerman said. “So many Homecoming Court members have gone on to do so much good work for the communities they’re a part of. I take a lot of pride in knowing that I get to be a part of such a longstanding tradition.” 

Now, the human development and family science major with minors in American Sign Language and global public health is on the court herself, where she is using her platform to fundraise for the Homeless Youth Research Fund. Deerman became familiar with the issue of homelessness as a Department of Human Development research assistant and member of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. 

“Homelessness is extremely difficult for all ages, and young homeless people often don’t even have their own records or forms of identification,” Deerman explained. “I believe we can make a tangible difference in the lives of unhoused youth and connect all unhoused people with the resources they deserve.” 

Deerman is heavily involved on campus as a teaching assistant for the Department of Human Development, a business office assistant for University Press, and a student panelist for the Office of Student Life. She is also in Human Development and Family Science Club, Undergraduate Student Government, and Cap City Percussion. 

“If you want something, you just have to ask for it,” Deerman advised. “Every job that I’ve got and every executive board position that I’ve received has come from asking one person, and then continuing to ask up the ladder until you make it to those resources you’re looking for.” 

Some know her as the former Undergraduate Student Body Vice President, but this year, ODI Scholar (MSP) Madison Mason is stepping into a new role: member of The Ohio State University Homecoming Court. 

“Homecoming Court is a culmination of my four years of hard work, but it’s even more special because it allows me to be a leader for the entire university, not just a particular section,” the fifth-year political science major commented. “I’m happy that I get to show how much I love Ohio State, serve the university community through volunteerism and fundraising, and do new, interesting things that I haven’t done before.” 

Fundraising is a crucial aspect of the court for the Hilliard native, who is raising money for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research. 

“It’s a cause that’s near and dear to my heart because at the beginning of my fourth year at Ohio State, my mom was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. That completely changed my college career and my perspective on life,” Mason said. “It was really hard to watch her go through that, and I developed an appreciation for the hard work that the folks at Stefanie Spielman do for patients and families going through breast cancer treatments.” 

Mason’s many involvements include serving as a senator for Undergraduate Student Government, the parliamentarian for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and a student assistant in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Student Life, among others. She believes ODI was central to her Buckeye experience. 

“ODI made me visible in the university and allowed me to connect with administrators and different program directors,” Mason explained. “It has allowed me to connect with so many different parts of campus, and it has enabled me to impact campus in a way that made me stand out and was really meaningful.” 

Nigel Gore never imagined he’d be a member of Homecoming Court. In fact, he never imagined he’d be a Buckeye at all. The fourth-year public policy major from Solon, Ohio, sought a small, private-school college experience—until he earned a spot in the Morrill Scholars Program. 

“Being on Homecoming Court is full circle for me because I never imagined really weaving myself into the fabric of Ohio State, but once I forged those everlasting connections, I gained an appreciation for what this place is,” Gore noted. “It wasn’t until I found my community and curated the space that I wanted that I realized I could still have that small school feel at Ohio State.” 

Although Gore is a Chair of Undergraduate Caucus within Undergraduate Student Government, an ambassador at Center for Belonging and Social Change, and a member of the Phi Chi Theta business fraternity, he says ODI and MSP were instrumental in helping him create his Buckeye community. 

“There is a sense of connectivity that often happens among marginalized students in general, so once you bring us together, we are building off each other with resources, which is the coolest thing in the world,” Gore explained. “I’ve benefited from the connections as well as the opportunities to have a space to meet and engage in free thought with people who look like me.” 

As a Homecoming Court member, Gore hopes to help other students find connection and belonging through ODI. For his Homecoming Court fundraiser, he has chosen to pay forward to MSP. 

“College is beyond expensive, and I would not be at Ohio State without MSP,” Gore explained. “Currently, many of the rights and opportunities of diverse and marginalized people are being stripped away, but ODI programming and experiences are a reality that should always remain on this campus.” 

He encourages students to construct the Buckeye journey they want, not the one expected of them. 

“Don’t say yes to everything, and don’t feel like you have to fit into others’ opinion of what your college experience has to be,” Gore advised. “Ultimately, it’s about formulating the experience that you think is best for you.” 

Without the Morrill Scholars Program, ODI Scholar (MSP) Zoe Lee never would have attended The Ohio State University. That’s why, as a member of 2024 Homecoming Court, Lee is fundraising for MSP. 

“The Morrill Scholars Program means so much to me. The people I’ve met through the program have become mentors to me who I can go to at any time,” Lee said. “I want to fundraise for Morrill Scholars so other students have the opportunity to come to Ohio State. They’ve done so much for me, and I want to give other students those opportunities.” 

An operations management major from Detroit, Lee is a three-year resident advisor for the MSP Learning Community, where she plans events and mentors incoming ODI Scholars. She is also a Buckeye Leadership Fellow, the Director of Administration and Communications for the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a former Vice Chair of Systems and Operations for the Undergraduate Black Caucus, and an office assistant. 

“With the number of students who go here, having the privilege to represent all that I am on this campus as a member of Homecoming Court really means a lot,” Lee commented. “It’s an honor to come into this space and change it for the better. Hopefully, other people will see me and be like, ‘Oh my goodness, I can do this too.’” 

She recommends that students take chances and actively pursue their goals, as doing so can open doors to unexpected opportunities. 

“A lot of times, we listen to the people around us, whether they’re friends or not, and we let that cloud our judgment or stop us from doing things we want to do,” Lee explained. “I say, ‘Go for it.’ If you don’t try, the answer will always be no, but if you try, you never know what the answer might be.”