Coronation of Karns Crowns Homecoming Weekend of Activity

 

The half-time scoreboard immobilized in Bethany's favor--43 to 41. In silence 2100 spectators watched a spotlighted center gym.

 

"The 1968 Homecoming queen of BNC is Miss Carolyn Karns." The voice was muffled by a cheer of congratulations as former queen Connie West placed the crown on the tall, dark-haired senior.

 

Carolyn took over her reign as queen during the half-time ceremony of the 1968 Homecoming basketball game. Escorted by her fiance Garry Pate, she took the throne for the remainder of the game.

 

The mid-game crowning began with the presentation of the 1967 queen who gave a short farewell note.

 

The queen candidates were introduced as they walked through an honor guard of male class officers down a white runway where they met their escorts.

 

Candidate Connie Davis was escorted by Graydon Dawson to the circular platform where she bowed to the spectators on both sides of the gymnasium. Dana Hauserman walked with Bill Behrens; the future queen was introduced with her escort; Barbara Moore was on the arm of Stan Zahorsky; Susie Neumann was escorted by her fiance Randy Smith. After the crowning, Queen Carolyn gave a formal curtsy to the crowd.

 

A music major from Pratt, Kansas, Carolyn has been an active part of BNC throughout her four years. She was named recently to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities for the second time, has been a class officer and the Student Council secretary-treasurer, and won the Outstanding Freshman Award. Carolyn plans to teach music in Kansas City after her marriage this summer.

 

With the accompaniment of Les Stallings pep band "the beat went on" as Carolyn Karns reigned over a victorious second half of the game.

 

–Newspaper clipping saved by Verna (Dawson) Karns.

[From The Reveille Echo, student newspaper of Bethany Nazarene College, dated 5 Dec 1968.]