WKU News

Photo caption: From left, first runner-up Chloe Ralston, Homecoming queen Sophie Stirling and second runner-up Amelia Tucker. WKU photo by Katie Corbin.

Sophie Stirling of Troy, Illinois, was crowned WKU’s 2026 Homecoming Queen on Saturday (November 14).

Stirling, daughter of Ched and Heather Stirling, is a Political Science and Legal Studies major and was sponsored by Phi Mu and Sigma Phi Epsilon.

First runner-up was Chloe Ralston of Stanford, Kentucky, daughter of Steve and Haley Ralston. Ralston is a Nursing and Healthcare Administration major and was sponsored by Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Alpha.

Second runner-up was Amelia Tucker of Calhoun, Kentucky, daughter of Aaron and Jennifer Tucker. Tucker is an Agriculture major with a concentration in Agriculture Education and was sponsored by the Student Government Association.

The 31 Homecoming queen candidates were recognized at halftime of Saturday’s WKU Football game at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Awards were presented by 2025 Homecoming Queen Rayna Taylor, President of the WKU Alumni Association Board of Directors Cierra Waller and President Timothy C. Caboni.

More: Homecoming queen candidates

Contact: Lilly Pottlitzer and Lauren Berg, (270) 745-5809

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.