Students don’t need royal blood to be crowned Homecoming King or Queen, but they do have to… Students don’t need royal blood to be crowned Homecoming King or Queen, but they do have to meet a few requirements.

Each candidate must be a full-time undergraduate student in good standing with the University and have a cumulative GPA above 2.5, said Elaine Lewis, vice president of Traditions for the Blue & Gold Society.

Candidates must also have the sponsorship of a SORC-recognized student organization on campus, Lewis said.

For the past few weeks, the 16 candidates have campaigned around campus to garner support from student organizations and local businesses.

They also spoke to fellow students about what they hope to achieve and why students should vote for them. Candidates have tabled on campus in the past, and others have petitioned student organizations for endorsements.

Although many candidates choose to base their campaign on a philanthropic organization, Lewis said that this is not a requirement this year.

Greeks are likely to be involved as Homecoming candidates because the Greek population on our campus is involved in all aspects of campus life, Lewis said.

Even though membership in a Greek organization is not a requirement, in the past three years almost all King and Queen victors have been members of Pitt Greek Life.

The Homecoming Queen in 2007, Mia Dragoslovich, was the only Queen or King winner in the past three years who was not a member of Greek Life at Pitt. She was active in the Pathfinders organization and was a resident adviser in Litchfield Towers.

Students can begin voting at noon today on my.pitt.edu. The top 10 candidates, or the Homecoming Court, will be announced tomorrow after tomorrow night’s fireworks show. On Saturday, the court members will meet at the William Pitt Union at 9:30 a.m. and proceed to Heinz field together.

The court will partake in the “March to Victory” parade at 11 a.m. before the football game at Heinz Field. Every candidate chosen for the court is part of the parade. Members of the Homecoming Court  will pair together in the parade based on alphabetical order, Lewis said.

After the royal couple is chosen, they will receive crowns, but not much else.

Lewis said the Homecoming King and Queen have one specific duty within their roles as the royal couple — they must visit Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC in Lawrenceville. She said that does not diminish their presence on campus.

“We encourage the King and Queen to be a strong representative of the University in their everyday life,” Lewis said.