With Homecoming Week finally here, members of the court eagerly await the king and queen selection. This year’s winners will be announced during pre-game on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

Students were selected through a rigorous application and interview process in the spring, said Josh Harraman, director of student programs for the Ohio State Alumni Association.

Although voting helps decide who receives the honors, it’s not the only way the king and queen are selected.

Harraman emphasized that homecoming is not a popularity contest.

The 2010 Homecoming Court was selected based on students’ applications (30 percent), interviews (60 percent) and grade point averages (10 percent). The king and queen are chosen during Autumn Quarter through a combination of the application, interview and GPA (90 percent) and a student vote (10 percent), Harraman said.

The king and queen each receives a $1,000 scholarship from the Alumni Association, an official ring, a sash and a medal with the university’s seal. The queen also receives a tiara.

Harraman said this year’s candidates have “really come together as a group.”

Candidates agreed that bonding with fellow court members was an important part of the experience.

Alevtina Feinstein, a fourth-year in marketing, agreed that it’s not about winning.

“It’s not a competition,” she said. “It sounds corny but it’s true.”

The candidates come from diverse backgrounds. Feinstein moved to America from Russia when she was 4 years old.

“I had to explain the significance to my parents,” she said. “I guess I’m a first-generation American college student.”

Chloe Bender, a fourth-year in communication and political science, said she applied because her mom always wanted her to do it.

The best part about finding out she was a court member was being able to tell her mom, Bender said, adding that she left a message “kinda crying” on her mom’s voice mail.

Cary Sloan, a fourth-year in hospitality management, said he didn’t even plan to go to college. He changed his mind when he visited OSU and “fell in love” with the school.

Sloan found out he was on the court when he was tricked into a fake meeting at the Union.

“I thought I was meeting about a club,” he said. “Instead it was my official tapping.”

When candidates are “tapped,” they are given a carnation and pin from the Alumni Association. They are also read a script, notifying them of their candidacy.

The candidates do not know when they will be informed and are usually caught off-guard, they said.

Justin Rismiller, a fourth-year in agribusiness and applied economics, said he was surrounded as he walked into a banquet.

Homecoming is a great tradition because it connects students and alumni, he said.

“It binds us all together,” Rismiller added.

Jeffery (Tyler) Cole, a fourth-year in business administration, found out he was selected for court while at work.

“It was a little embarrassing,” he said.

Cole considers being on the court a huge honor, but it doesn’t matter if he becomes king, he said.

“If I win, that’s great, but if the person beside me wins, that’s even better,” Cole said. “I’m going to be filled with joy for whoever.”