May Day court named

Bluffton University has announced its 2013 May Day court, which was elected by the student body and will be honored during the annual May Day celebration at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4, on the Centennial Hall lawn. The rain location is Founders Hall.

The court includes King Zeke Tracy and Queen Leah Waltermyer, both seniors, along with senior escort Brent Schroeder, senior attendant Lisa Baglien and junior chairpersons Neil Macke and Katie Steenrod.

Tracy, the son of Buff and Tony Tracy, is from Continental, Ohio. An art major with a minor in peace and conflict studies, he has been a member of Camerata Singers, the University Chorale and the chapel band. A former J. Denny Beaver—the Bluffton mascot—he was also a Maypole dancer in the campus May Day ceremony as a first-year student, a Homecoming escort as a sophomore and a four-year participant in the May Day musical. In addition, he spent a semester abroad in Northern Ireland and served as sound booth supervisor in Yoder Recital Hall.

Waltermyer, from Washington, Pa., is majoring in fashion, interior design and retail merchandising. She has been a Yoder sound booth technician; active in theatre; and a member of the Spiritual Life Week Committee, the Fashion and Interiors Association, Gospel Choir, the P.E.A.C.E. (Peace Education and Action Community Endeavor) Club and the service group SERVE. Her parents are Don and Patty Waltermyer.

Also from Continental, Ohio, Schroeder is a religion major with a minor in philosophy. His activities have included chapel band, the Chapel Planning and Sustainability committees, Bluffton Safe Spaces and the Ultimate Frisbee Club. The son of Ken and Lisa Schroeder, he is a dean’s list and departmental honors student.

Baglien is a social work major from Fallbrook, Calif. The 2009 graduate of Celina (Ohio) High School is a member of the Social Work Club and has been a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, a volunteer at a local nursing home and a court advocate intern with Crime Victim Services in Lima, Ohio. A Maypole dancer as a first-year student and a Homecoming attendant as a sophomore and senior, she has also been an orientation leader, hall chaplain, pastoral assistant, campus ministries office assistant, events coordinator for both Spiritual Life Week and the Marbeck Center Board, and a member of the Shining Through music ministry team. Her parents are Paul and Susan Baglien.

Macke, of Ottawa, Ohio, is majoring in music with a concentration in music business. He has been a member of Camerata Singers and Gospel Choir, a May Day musical cast member and president of Bluffton’s chapter of the Ohio Collegiate Music Educators Association. A Maypole dancer as a first-year student, he has also been active on the Marbeck Center Board and the planning committees for Homecoming and Cabaret for a Cause. He is the son of Ted and Nancy Macke.

Majoring in middle childhood education, Steenrod is a dean’s list student, with distinction, who has served as an ambassador for the admissions office, a pastoral assistant and a Web and photo assistant for the public relations office. She is also a member of the women’s soccer team, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference all-academic women’s soccer team and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The Sidney, Ohio, resident is the daughter of Rick and Sarah Steenrod.

May Day is one of the oldest traditions at Bluffton University. In addition to the crowning of the king and queen, the day’s events include the Maypole dance by first-year students and recognition of graduating seniors.

Photo: Comprising Bluffton University’s May Day court are (foreground) king Zeke Tracy of Continental, Ohio, and queen Leah Waltermyer of Washington, Pa.; (middle) senior escort Brent Schroeder of Continental, Ohio, and senior attendant Lisa Baglien of Fallbrook, Calif.; and (back) junior chairpersons Neil Macke of Ottawa, Ohio, and Katie Steenrod of Sidney, Ohio.