Pensacola State College | PSC nursing students crowned 2023 Homecoming Queen and King

decorative image of homecoming-new-1 , PSC nursing students crowned 2023 Homecoming Queen and King 2023-02-23 11:41:51 Two nontraditional Pensacola State students helped bring back a long-gone tradition at the College.

Nursing students Jocelyn Gebhard and Derek Olford were crowned 2023 Homecoming Queen and King by PSC President Ed Meadows during halftime of the women’s basketball game against Northwest Florida State College on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Gebhard, 25, showed up at Hartsell Arena in hospital scrubs for the presentation of the court and coronation ─ coming straight from her job as a patient care technician. She had to style her hair and change into her gown in a gymnasium dressing room.

But Gebhard is a working mom and student. She’s used to juggling tasks. And she’s used to being a role model for her three children, ages 1, 4, and 8.

“It’s really to show them that you can do anything you set your mind to,’’ said Gebhard, who earned an Associate in Arts degree from Pensacola State in 2020 before entering the nursing program. “It’s been a new experience, a growth experience.”

Gebhard was escorted by her fiancé Michael Peltier and accompanied by two of her children, R.J., 4, and Michael, 1. Her oldest child, Danny, 8, was not able to attend.

Olford, 43, was escorted by his 10-year-old daughter Basileigh, dressed in her Marvel “Scarlet Witch” costume. He and his wife, Amanda, have two other daughters – Payson and Rebekah Shea.

“This is a second chance for me,’’ said Olford, who suffered a spinal injury and a heart attack a few years back while in job training at a local jail. His doctor urged him to switch careers. Olford followed that advice and was accepted into the PSC nursing program in December.

“This College had been awesome for me,’’ he said. “It’s given me confidence and a goal. This is my comeback story.”

It was Basileigh who urged him to run for Homecoming King.

“He never got to do those kinds of things,’’ she said. “I thought it would be cool if he tried. I’m proud of him.”

More than 1,000 people voted for Homecoming Queen and King. This is the first Homecoming celebration at the College since the 1970s. Events included tailgate parties at Pirate basketball and baseball games, a Homecoming Court Meet and Greet event and a Fat Tuesday Celebration.

“I’m excited PSC brought it back,” Gebhard said. “I think it’s a really cool idea, and I’m glad I was part of it.”