• Apply
  • Archives
  • NewsWatch
  • Classifieds
  • Multimedia
    • Ole Miss in Puerto Rico
    • Campus Protests
    • The Queen of Marks
    • Meet Aubrey Armstrong, a Real Champion and Local Celebrity
    • Mississippi voters passed Initiative 65. What’s next?
    • One year later: COVID-19 at Ole Miss
    • “It’s Just Not Fair”: One Woman’s Fight For Access to Community Water
    • A way with words
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
The Daily Mississippian
  • News
    State argues Jay Lee was strangled to death by Timothy Herrington

    State argues Jay Lee was strangled to death by Timothy Herrington

    Bond hearing postponed for man charged with student’s murder

    Bond hearing postponed for man charged with student’s murder

    Murder charge filed in connection with Jimmie “Jay” Lee case

    Murder charge filed in connection with Jimmie “Jay” Lee case

    “Hope for Jay”: LOU community gathers in support of missing student Jimmie “Jay” Lee

    “Hope for Jay”: LOU community gathers in support of missing student Jimmie “Jay” Lee

    Community, family searching for missing Ole Miss student Jay Lee

    Community, family searching for missing Ole Miss student Jay Lee

    Ole Miss welcomes new Student Media Center director

    Ole Miss welcomes new Student Media Center director

  • Sports
    Rebel Nation celebrates Ole Miss’ first College World Series championship

    Rebel Nation celebrates Ole Miss’ first College World Series championship

    Ole Miss Baseball returns home to crowd of fans

    Ole Miss sweeps Oklahoma to win National Championship

    Ole Miss sweeps Oklahoma to win National Championship

    Rebels bounce back to win thriller over Arkansas 2-0, advance to CWS Finals

    Rebels bounce back to win thriller over Arkansas 2-0, advance to CWS Finals

    Ole Miss is dominated again in game two

    Rebels victorious over Hogs, move on to bracket finals

    Rebs stay hot in Omaha, beat Auburn 5-1

    Rebs stay hot in Omaha, beat Auburn 5-1

  • Arts & Culture
    Ole Miss students study abroad in Taiwan, leave as China begins regular military drills

    Ole Miss students study abroad in Taiwan, leave as China begins regular military drills

    A step into the sports industry

    A step into the sports industry

    Ya heek ya balash: A month of exploring and experiencing Jordan

    Ya heek ya balash: A month of exploring and experiencing Jordan

    L.A. living

    L.A. living

  • Opinion

    Opinion: The shame of Confederate Heritage Month

    Farewell Column: I did my best and the DM did too

    Gas prices are Biden’s fault, not Putin’s

    CRT can’t be in Mississippi schools but homophobia must be?

  • Print / e-Editions
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Policy
    • Classifieds
  • Contact
  • News
    State argues Jay Lee was strangled to death by Timothy Herrington

    State argues Jay Lee was strangled to death by Timothy Herrington

    Bond hearing postponed for man charged with student’s murder

    Bond hearing postponed for man charged with student’s murder

    Murder charge filed in connection with Jimmie “Jay” Lee case

    Murder charge filed in connection with Jimmie “Jay” Lee case

    “Hope for Jay”: LOU community gathers in support of missing student Jimmie “Jay” Lee

    “Hope for Jay”: LOU community gathers in support of missing student Jimmie “Jay” Lee

    Community, family searching for missing Ole Miss student Jay Lee

    Community, family searching for missing Ole Miss student Jay Lee

    Ole Miss welcomes new Student Media Center director

    Ole Miss welcomes new Student Media Center director

  • Sports
    Rebel Nation celebrates Ole Miss’ first College World Series championship

    Rebel Nation celebrates Ole Miss’ first College World Series championship

    Ole Miss Baseball returns home to crowd of fans

    Ole Miss sweeps Oklahoma to win National Championship

    Ole Miss sweeps Oklahoma to win National Championship

    Rebels bounce back to win thriller over Arkansas 2-0, advance to CWS Finals

    Rebels bounce back to win thriller over Arkansas 2-0, advance to CWS Finals

    Ole Miss is dominated again in game two

    Rebels victorious over Hogs, move on to bracket finals

    Rebs stay hot in Omaha, beat Auburn 5-1

    Rebs stay hot in Omaha, beat Auburn 5-1

  • Arts & Culture
    Ole Miss students study abroad in Taiwan, leave as China begins regular military drills

    Ole Miss students study abroad in Taiwan, leave as China begins regular military drills

    A step into the sports industry

    A step into the sports industry

    Ya heek ya balash: A month of exploring and experiencing Jordan

    Ya heek ya balash: A month of exploring and experiencing Jordan

    L.A. living

    L.A. living

  • Opinion

    Opinion: The shame of Confederate Heritage Month

    Farewell Column: I did my best and the DM did too

    Gas prices are Biden’s fault, not Putin’s

    CRT can’t be in Mississippi schools but homophobia must be?

  • Print / e-Editions
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Policy
    • Classifieds
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
The Daily Mississippian
No Result
View All Result

Homecoming King Kenzee Blount is “authentically himself”

Jacob MeyersbyJacob Meyers
October 7, 2021
4 min read

“Throughout my three years here at the university, I’ve just been putting in effort into different organizations and trying to get to know people. So at the end of the day, it’s just a big accomplishment that I was able to pull off,” Kenzee Blount said. 

Homecoming king, senior Kenzee Blount, succeeded in being “authentically himself” and hopes to continue in sharing this message to others on campus. 

“So hopefully, throughout the rest of my time here at the university, I can really just encourage  people to truly just take advantage of all the resources in the community here at the university,” Blount said. “And to really just help them understand that they’re perfectly where they are, and that without them, our university wouldn’t be the same.” 

Photo by HG Biggs.

Throughout his time at the university Blount has been involved in organizations including co-director for special events for Active Minds, a learning and engagement ambassador, MPower peer leader, director of Rebel Run and an orientation leader.

“The one position that really helped me just growing leadership skills and the individual that I am today would be an orientation leader and just going through that training and doing that for the past two summers has really helped me grow so much,” Blount said. 

Blount is from the nearby town of Independence, Mississippi and has always held a special place in his heart for the University of Mississippi. 

“I always knew about Ole Miss. I’d come to different events and everything but you really don’t understand the community that comes with it until you get here. Just being able to make those connections and have that community is really just what makes Ole Miss special,” Blount said. 

After completing his campaign for homecoming king, Blount is hoping to create lifetime memories during his senior year both on and off campus. 

“I’m trying to get more into going on like little spontaneous road trips and stuff like that. I just got back from a trip to Chattanooga so that was fun,” Blount said. “But really just kind of just like getting more out there like traveling and stuff like that.”

Blount credits the university as helping the development of his campaign platform and his slogan “be authentically you.”

“When I came in my freshman year, I was really just kind of struggling with my identity, and who I was, and everything and just mentors and peer leaders and people in the community here at the university, really just embraced who I am,” Blount said. “It’s like having a better understanding of who I am. So really, that’s just kind of where the idea kind of stemmed from was really just kind of trying to be that person.” 

After an extended campus absence and restrictions from COVID-19, election results are once again being announced outside of the Lyceum. 

“Honestly, when I first started thinking about running and stuff that was kind of like one of the first thoughts that I had because with COVID-19 in the past and not being able to have those announcements out there at the Lyceum, I thought it was a really big bummer. But being able to do that, again, just the thought of it was just kind of exhilarating, but then actually being able to be there,” Blount said.

Photo by HG Biggs.

Blount said that being able to be present at the announcement of election results made the hard work of the campaign worth it. 

“Hearing like all the names, the announcements, stuff like that, it just really just broadened the perspective. Like wow, this has been what my time here the university’s kind of been leading up to, and just really, it was just really just a good time. And it’s an exciting moment, honestly,” Blount said.

Blount had strong feelings about the best restaurant in Oxford and answered with no hesitation. 

“That’s an easy one, South Depot Taco Shop. I’ll say, there was a big debate over the summer between Chipotle or South Depot and anybody who said Chipotle, I gotta get out,” Blount said.

Junior exercise science major Addison Russell is one of Blount’s campaign managers and has known him since their first year at the university. 

“So Kenzee is my best friend in the whole world. I met him my freshman year, his sophomore year, and the impact that he had on my life, like he really did change who I am as a person,” Russell said.

Even though Russell was one of the campaign managers, she said she couldn’t have done the campaign without everyone involved.

“Really, everybody helped, like, I cannot express that enough. There were so many people behind the scenes doing things and helping,” Russell said. “It was a super fun experience. I wouldn’t change it for anything. The people made it so incredible. So anything that we might want to stress about there was always somebody there to help.”

Senior integrated marketing communications major Aggie Doddridge is the other campaign manager and she has had a relationship with Blount since high school. After hearing his decision to run, she was overjoyed to be a part of it. 

“I’ve known Kenzee since we were in high school, and, you know, ever since coming to the university and I think those, you know, friendships that you’ve had for a while can really benefit you and help you guide you through this academic whirlwind,” Doddridge said. “When he approached me about wanting to do it, I was just all gung ho and ready to support him and help him in any way possible. He is the type of person that you always want your corner and has truly made the University of Mississippi at home for me.”

Doddridge gave a piece of friendly advice for anyone on campus who considers running for homecoming court in the coming years. 

“The pros outweigh the cons. And I would encourage people to take that leap of faith to examine how your life has been at Ole Miss. And, you know, no matter what the outcome is, at the end of it, you’re gonna learn something from it, you’re gonna make a better student because of it, be more well rounded, and you’re going to take it into your professional career,” Doddridge said. 

Even though the campaign may be over, Blount and his team will continue to spread his message across campus and Oxford to encourage everyone to “be authentically you.” 

In Case You Missed It

Ole Miss students study abroad in Taiwan, leave as China begins regular military drills

Ole Miss students study abroad in Taiwan, leave as China begins regular military drills

12 hours ago
A step into the sports industry

A step into the sports industry

12 hours ago
State argues Jay Lee was strangled to death by Timothy Herrington

State argues Jay Lee was strangled to death by Timothy Herrington

12 hours ago
Bond hearing postponed for man charged with student’s murder

Bond hearing postponed for man charged with student’s murder

2 weeks ago
Murder charge filed in connection with Jimmie “Jay” Lee case

Murder charge filed in connection with Jimmie “Jay” Lee case

3 weeks ago
“Hope for Jay”: LOU community gathers in support of missing student Jimmie “Jay” Lee

“Hope for Jay”: LOU community gathers in support of missing student Jimmie “Jay” Lee

3 weeks ago

Homecoming King Kenzee Blount is “authentically himself”

Jacob MeyersbyJacob Meyers
October 7, 2021
4 min read

“Throughout my three years here at the university, I’ve just been putting in effort into different organizations and trying to get to know people. So at the end of the day, it’s just a big accomplishment that I was able to pull off,” Kenzee Blount said. 

Homecoming king, senior Kenzee Blount, succeeded in being “authentically himself” and hopes to continue in sharing this message to others on campus. 

“So hopefully, throughout the rest of my time here at the university, I can really just encourage  people to truly just take advantage of all the resources in the community here at the university,” Blount said. “And to really just help them understand that they’re perfectly where they are, and that without them, our university wouldn’t be the same.” 

Photo by HG Biggs.

Throughout his time at the university Blount has been involved in organizations including co-director for special events for Active Minds, a learning and engagement ambassador, MPower peer leader, director of Rebel Run and an orientation leader.

“The one position that really helped me just growing leadership skills and the individual that I am today would be an orientation leader and just going through that training and doing that for the past two summers has really helped me grow so much,” Blount said. 

Blount is from the nearby town of Independence, Mississippi and has always held a special place in his heart for the University of Mississippi. 

“I always knew about Ole Miss. I’d come to different events and everything but you really don’t understand the community that comes with it until you get here. Just being able to make those connections and have that community is really just what makes Ole Miss special,” Blount said. 

After completing his campaign for homecoming king, Blount is hoping to create lifetime memories during his senior year both on and off campus. 

“I’m trying to get more into going on like little spontaneous road trips and stuff like that. I just got back from a trip to Chattanooga so that was fun,” Blount said. “But really just kind of just like getting more out there like traveling and stuff like that.”

Blount credits the university as helping the development of his campaign platform and his slogan “be authentically you.”

“When I came in my freshman year, I was really just kind of struggling with my identity, and who I was, and everything and just mentors and peer leaders and people in the community here at the university, really just embraced who I am,” Blount said. “It’s like having a better understanding of who I am. So really, that’s just kind of where the idea kind of stemmed from was really just kind of trying to be that person.” 

After an extended campus absence and restrictions from COVID-19, election results are once again being announced outside of the Lyceum. 

“Honestly, when I first started thinking about running and stuff that was kind of like one of the first thoughts that I had because with COVID-19 in the past and not being able to have those announcements out there at the Lyceum, I thought it was a really big bummer. But being able to do that, again, just the thought of it was just kind of exhilarating, but then actually being able to be there,” Blount said.

Photo by HG Biggs.

Blount said that being able to be present at the announcement of election results made the hard work of the campaign worth it. 

“Hearing like all the names, the announcements, stuff like that, it just really just broadened the perspective. Like wow, this has been what my time here the university’s kind of been leading up to, and just really, it was just really just a good time. And it’s an exciting moment, honestly,” Blount said.

Blount had strong feelings about the best restaurant in Oxford and answered with no hesitation. 

“That’s an easy one, South Depot Taco Shop. I’ll say, there was a big debate over the summer between Chipotle or South Depot and anybody who said Chipotle, I gotta get out,” Blount said.

Junior exercise science major Addison Russell is one of Blount’s campaign managers and has known him since their first year at the university. 

“So Kenzee is my best friend in the whole world. I met him my freshman year, his sophomore year, and the impact that he had on my life, like he really did change who I am as a person,” Russell said.

Even though Russell was one of the campaign managers, she said she couldn’t have done the campaign without everyone involved.

“Really, everybody helped, like, I cannot express that enough. There were so many people behind the scenes doing things and helping,” Russell said. “It was a super fun experience. I wouldn’t change it for anything. The people made it so incredible. So anything that we might want to stress about there was always somebody there to help.”

Senior integrated marketing communications major Aggie Doddridge is the other campaign manager and she has had a relationship with Blount since high school. After hearing his decision to run, she was overjoyed to be a part of it. 

“I’ve known Kenzee since we were in high school, and, you know, ever since coming to the university and I think those, you know, friendships that you’ve had for a while can really benefit you and help you guide you through this academic whirlwind,” Doddridge said. “When he approached me about wanting to do it, I was just all gung ho and ready to support him and help him in any way possible. He is the type of person that you always want your corner and has truly made the University of Mississippi at home for me.”

Doddridge gave a piece of friendly advice for anyone on campus who considers running for homecoming court in the coming years. 

“The pros outweigh the cons. And I would encourage people to take that leap of faith to examine how your life has been at Ole Miss. And, you know, no matter what the outcome is, at the end of it, you’re gonna learn something from it, you’re gonna make a better student because of it, be more well rounded, and you’re going to take it into your professional career,” Doddridge said. 

Even though the campaign may be over, Blount and his team will continue to spread his message across campus and Oxford to encourage everyone to “be authentically you.” 

In Case You Missed It

Ole Miss students study abroad in Taiwan, leave as China begins regular military drills

Ole Miss students study abroad in Taiwan, leave as China begins regular military drills

12 hours ago
A step into the sports industry

A step into the sports industry

12 hours ago
State argues Jay Lee was strangled to death by Timothy Herrington

State argues Jay Lee was strangled to death by Timothy Herrington

12 hours ago
Bond hearing postponed for man charged with student’s murder

Bond hearing postponed for man charged with student’s murder

2 weeks ago
Murder charge filed in connection with Jimmie “Jay” Lee case

Murder charge filed in connection with Jimmie “Jay” Lee case

3 weeks ago
“Hope for Jay”: LOU community gathers in support of missing student Jimmie “Jay” Lee

“Hope for Jay”: LOU community gathers in support of missing student Jimmie “Jay” Lee

3 weeks ago

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
Mississippi Press Association

Sign up for The Morning Briefing, our newsletter with the top news of the day.

SUBSCRIBE

  • News
  • Sports
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Print / e-Editions
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Policy
    • Classifieds
  • Contact

All Rights Reserved to S. Gale Denley Student Media Center 2019

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Sports
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Print / e-Editions
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Policy
    • Classifieds
  • Contact

All Rights Reserved to S. Gale Denley Student Media Center 2019

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In