Daily Collegian Story - Br. Daniel Cartwright Homecoming Court

as published by the Daily Collegian, October 6, 2010 - story by Kathleen Loughran

Nominees remember royalty

For Dan Cartwright and Katherine Larimer, Homecoming court is not their first taste of royalty.

Hailing from England, Cartwright (senior-energy, business and finance) was Prince Eric for his fraternity's "Little Mermaid"-themed float during his sophomore year at Penn State.

And Larimer (senior-supply chain and information systems), donned a royal sash when she was on her school's Homecoming court.

Dan Cartwright (senior-business and finance) and Katherine Larimer (senior-supply chain and information systems) pose for a picture on Oct. 4. Kelley King/CollegianLarimer's fellow sorority member Jessica Hanth said her selection is a testament to how much she deserves the position.

"Honestly, I did expect [that Larimer would be selected]," Hanth (senior-actuarial science) said. "I think she deserves it because she's been involved in so many things on campus — it shows that she really, really cares about Penn State and the student body, and she does everything for the right reasons."

Geoff Rolstone — Cartwright's fellow Theta Chi fraternity member — said the same Penn State spirit can be found in Cartwright.

"I think he really represents what a senior at Penn State should be — well rounded, smart and really has a sense of pride for the university," Rolstone (junior-energy, business and finance) said.

When Cartwright moved to the United States, he heard about Penn State — but he didn't realize how much he wanted to attend the university until his junior year in high school.

"I visited the University of Pittsburgh and saw a T-shirt making fun of [Penn State] and was really offended by it," he said. "At that point I was only a junior in high school, so I knew I needed to come to Penn State."

And Cartwright's Penn State pride is contagious. His sister, Emma Cartwright, currently a freshman, said one of the reasons she decided to attend the university was because she saw how much her brother loved it.

Dan Cartwright is the current Interfraternity Council vice president of communications and is a member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Committee among other activities.

Larimer has also been an active member of greek life — having served as an Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon chairwoman for her sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha. She was a king and queen captain for Homecoming 2009, and she also works as the student chairwoman for the Centre County Out of the Darkness 5K Walk.

As community co-chairwoman of the Out of the Darkness Walk, Susan Kennedy said she has had the pleasure of working with Larimer for nearly three years.

"My experience with her has just been outstanding," Kennedy said. "Not only is she a good representation of Penn State, but on the committee we work on, she leads a group of other students who are the chairs of other committees."

When Larimer's father suggested they tour colleges during her junior year of high school, she didn't want to: She already knew she wanted to attend Penn State.

Richard Larimer, Class of 1974, said he's glad his daughter chose to attend his alma mater.

"I can't think of anything better really," he said. "I love the place. It's become a family affair."