UK 2023 Homecoming royalty crowned

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 14, 2023) — Princess Magor Agbozo, of Ghana, West Africa, and Joshua Griffith, of Greenup, Kentucky, were crowned the 2023 University of Kentucky Homecoming queen and king during the halftime ceremonies at the UK vs. Missouri Homecoming football game at Kroger Field Saturday night.

Agbozo, a senior in the Lewis Honors College, is a first-generation international student, pursuing a degree in the UK College of Public Health. She has plans to pursue a career in the global health field with the aim of enhancing health equity and eliminating health disparities to improve quality access to health care for all individuals. Agbozo holds many leadership positions on campus, including vice president of Internal Affairs for UK’s Student Activities Board. In her leisure time Agbozo enjoys traveling and learning more about the communities around her. She is the daughter of Stephen and Janet Agbozo.

Griffith, a senior in the Lewis Honors College, is pursuing a degree in neuroscience from the UK College of Arts and Sciences. He served as past president of of Phi Delta Epsilon, and is involved in the Markey Cancer Center Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program and the Appalachian Health Initiative. He also serves as a representative on the UK Appeals Board, Lewis Honors College Peer Mentor, Corporate Committee member for DanceBlue, Arts and Sciences Ambassador, Visitor’s Center tour guide and leadership team member, and is co-director of Wildcat Ambassadors. Additionally, Griffith is an undergraduate researcher for Joseph Kim, M.D., chief of surgical oncology for the UK Markey Cancer Center, investigating gastrointestinal cancers. He plans to attend UK’s College of Medicine after graduation. Griffith is the son of Darrell and Trina Griffith.

Earlier this week, Harrison Goode and Imani Barnes were crowned Mr. and Ms. Black UK 2023. The Mr. and Ms. Black UK Scholarship Pageant is an annual ceremony presented by the Black Student Union in partnership with the Mu Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Learn more about this celebrated UK tradition here.

Goode, from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a senior studying equine science and management with a minor in agricultural economics. He is a member of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS), where he serves on the executive board, and participates on the UK Saddle Seat team. Last semester, Goode achieved awards such as the 2023 Intercollegiate Saddle Seat Riding Association’s National Senior Division High Point Champion through the UK Saddle Seat team and a leader on the Chapter of the Year award at the National MANRRS Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, guiding the UK MANRRS chapter to their eighth consecutive win. Goode has interned for John Deere the past two summers expanding his network, knowledge of the marketing world and interest in the corporate space. He is the son of Antwain and Andrea Goode.

Barnes, from Indianapolis, Indiana, is a senior majoring in communication and minoring in journalism. She is currently interning with UK Athletics and is an entrepreneur for MinkedByMani Lash Extension. Her future goal is to become an evening news anchor. Barnes is the daughter of Tijuanna Arnette and Ron Barnes. 

Students are nominated to the Homecoming Court by their peers. The winners were determined by student voting earlier this week.

Other finalists for Homecoming queen and king were:

• Maddie Duff, a junior from Prestonburg, Kentucky, in the Lewis Honors College majoring in neuroscience and minoring in Appalachian studies. Duff is currently the president of the Appalachian Health Initiative and the ACTION Student Organizations. She was also elected senator for the undergraduate student body. Duff is a member of Alpha Phi, the Apollo Society, Neurocats and Phi Delta Epsilon. Her future plans include attending medical school and returning home to Eastern Kentucky. Duff is the daughter of Jon and Meredith Duff.
• Lizzy Hornung, a senior from Louisville, studying biomedical engineering. Hornung serves as the student body president, a role she used to help incorporate wellness resources into student IDs, as well as working with UK Transportation Services to develop new solutions for late-night rides. After graduation, Hornung hopes to attend medical school and serve the children of Kentucky as a pediatrician. Hornung is the daughter of Jill and Dan Berg.
• Shannon Nguyen, a senior from Louisville, in the Lewis Honors College majoring in biology and neuroscience. Nguyen is a first-generation college student and is serving a second consecutive term as president of the Iota Nu chapter of Alpha Phi sorority. Nguyen is also the senator of the College of Arts and Sciences through the Student Government Association and an official student host of UK through the Alumni Ambassadors, who work under the UK Alumni Association, UK Office of the President and UK Office of Philanthropy. Nguyen is also involved in DanceBlue and volunteers at Kentucky Refugee Ministries. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school to become a physician for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with a hope to provide equitable, quality health care to Kentuckians. Nguyen is the daughter of Tri and Julie Nguyen.
• Caroline Sumner, a senior from Louisville, studying neuroscience and biology, with a minor in business. Sumner is the overall chair for DanceBlue, the student philanthropy that fundraises each year to support pediatric oncology and hematology patients in UK’s DanceBlue Clinic. She is involved in research at UK’s Neurobehavioral Systems Lab and will be attending UK College of Medicine after she graduates. Sumner is a member of Alpha Phi sorority and Phi Delta Epsilon medical fraternity. While at UK, she has been recognized as a Singletary Scholar, a Chellgren Research Fellow, an ambassador for Lewis Honors College and by the Dean’s List every semester. Sumner is the daughter of Griffin Terry Sumner and Greg Sumner.
•  Artin Asadipooya, a senior, majoring in neuroscience and minoring in biology and chemistry. Asadipooya is originally from Iran, but migrated to the United States in June of 2013, and to Kentucky in December of 2017. Asadipooya hopes to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. in the future and study the underlying mechanisms of substance use disorders. Beyond his academic endeavors, he serves as a student program coordinator for Presentation U, master of ceremonies for the Alpha Chi Sigma co-ed chemistry fraternity, an international student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences, and a research ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research. Additionally, he volunteers at the Albert B. Chandler Hospital surgery waiting room, serving patients and their families in any way he can. Asadipooya is the son of Kamyar Asadipooya and Mahshid Doroudchi.
• Bryson Fields, a senior from Lexington, Kentucky, studying political science with plans to earn a master’s degree in sports management upon graduation this spring. Fields began his athletic and academic collegiate career at Lindsey Wilson College, where he played football and earned two Mid-South Championships and the 2020 NAIA National Championship. After playing two seasons, he transferred to UK to obtain his bachelor's degree. Fields is the president of the EXalted Epsilon Chi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the owner of KyFields Landscaping. He enjoys watching and playing football and serving and mentoring youths.
• Harrison Goode, who was also named 2023 Mr. Black UK (see bio above).
• Jason Marcus, a senior from Chicago, Illinois, studying political science with a minor in criminology on the pre-law track. Marcus serves as the student body vice president and is a College of Arts and Sciences Ambassador for the Department of Political Science, a role he uses to focus on equity and transparency within administration, engagement and integration of campus resources, and community welfare for all students. After graduation, Marcus hopes to attend law school and help represent the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He is the son of Julie and Mike Marcus.