Homecoming Honor Humbles, Inspires Lotte Sjulin

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

What an incredible weekend it was for senior softball player Lotte Sjulin, who was named Nebraska's 2016 Homecoming Queen on Saturday during halftime of the Huskers' 31-16 victory over Illinois. Sjulin was elected in a vote of the student body among a group of 10 distinguished finalists.

“This is an honor that I’ll remember forever,” said Sjulin, an Omaha native, campus leader and active member of the Lincoln community. “Having the opportunity to be on court with 19 other amazing individuals was really special. There were a few individuals who I had not known personally prior to this week and through the festivities, I was able to spend time with them and learn more about their story here at UNL.

“It's quite an honor to be selected for court,” Sjulin said. “All week, we were able to enjoy these memories together and that will last forever.”

A biology major with minors in business, biochemistry and gerontology, Sjulin carries a 3.797 grade-point average. In addition to being a two-time academic All-Big Ten honoree, Sjulin is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and has been named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll every semester of her collegiate career.

Saturday, in particular, “was something I'll never forget,” said Sjulin, who serves as the 2016-17 president of the Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She has been awarded a Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award and earned three appointments to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team for her outreach efforts in the community. Sjulin is also a Mortar Board member and an Alpha Phi sorority member.

“My father was on homecoming court during his senior year at UNL and he always spoke of the memories he made with those people,” Sjulin said. “He gave me a vivid description of his emotions on the field, and I think it's safe to say I experienced all of those and more today.”

Sjulin Appreciates Support from Her Teammates, Athletic Department and Sorority

When Sjulin heard her name announced as queen, “I was quite humbled and honored,” she said. “Throughout the week, I had quite a few people text me telling me they would be thinking of me but never did I imagine that this would be the turnout. I can't begin to tell you the support I've had from my teammates, the entire athletic department, my sorority, as well as in various groups I'm involved!”

Once she learned she was Homecoming Queen, “I heard my teammates and other athletes start chanting ‘Lotte, Lotte, Lotte,’” Sjulin said. “I've been on the field many times from my official visit for softball to hosting other recruits, but never in a million years could I have dreamed that my name would be chanted in Memorial Stadium with 90,000 of the best fans in the nation. I'd be lying if I said this wasn't one of my favorite memories at UNL and to share it with (Homecoming King) Matt Foleyis extra special."

Matt was one of the first people Sjulin met at UNL her freshman year. “Luckily, we stayed in contact,” she said. “When we heard that we could pick our partners, I got a text from Matt asking if I'd be interested in being his partner. Little did he know, I already had that text written up and ready to send to him.

“I look up to Matt in a lot of ways and am truly blessed to share this honor with him,” Sjulin said. “I’d like to thank all of my friends at UNL, my fellow Homecoming candidates, my family, and my teammates for all of their support. There truly is no place like Nebraska. I'm honored to have attended this university and made these memories with people so near and dear to my heart.”

Sjulin Played on NCAA Regional Title Team, Earned Big Ten Sportsmanship Award

On the field, Sjulin has seen action as a catcher, outfielder, pinch hitter and pinch runner for Nebraska the past three seasons, helping the Huskers win an NCAA Regional title in 2014. She has earned both a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and a Nebraska Wright-Borg Coaches Award. 

“Lotte has served the University of Nebraska and the Softball team with purpose, attention to detail and devotion. Nobody outworks Lotte!” said head softball coach Rhonda Revelle, Nebraska’s all-time winningest coach. “If you come to practice, you would not be able to tell if it is a game day or practice day. Lotte has personal pride and a standard that commands excellence in everything she does. She is a get-better, work-harder, team-first player who always breaths energy into her teammates and her coaches.

“She has selflessly given back to her teammates,” Revelle said. “Lotte is grateful for all of the opportunities and responsibilities that come with being a Nebraska student-athlete. We’ve all been touched by her attitude, effort and consistency.”

Revelle was especially moved when Lotte took the time to visit Mel Ulrich, a Lewis Training Table employee, when he was in hospice care in one of the last days of his life. “Lotte told me that she wanted just one last good-bye,” Revelle said. “When I asked her what inspired her to visit Mel, she said, ‘he made a difference in my life and I felt he should know it.’ Lotte Sjulin is a terrific leader and student-athlete. But above all of that, she is an incredible human being.”

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

N-Sider Archives