Black Hills State University crowned this year’s Swarm Days Royalty during the annual Coronation Ceremony held Thursday, September 25 as part of the university’s homecoming week. Senior Connor Hutcheson from Canistota was named Swarm Days King. The title of Swarm Days Queen resulted in a tie, with both Olivia Schaefers of Whitewood and Leyton Schnell of Alliance, Nebraska, receiving the honor.
Hutcheson is majoring in exercise science and plans to pursue physical therapy after graduation. He is involved with the Exercise Science Club and participates in campus recreation sports. Hutcheson currently works as a Senior Peer Mentor in the BHSU Career Development Office and is interning with the Athletic Training department.
Schaefers is an exercise science major with minors in health and business administration. She currently serves as president of both the Residence Hall Association and the Women in STEM Club. She is also actively involved in the Exercise Science, Art, and Veterans Clubs on campus.
Schnell is majoring in biology with minors in chemistry and business administration. After graduation, she plans to attend dental school. Schnell has served as a Senior Peer Mentor with Career Development for the past three years and works as a lab assistant in BHSU’s Organic Chemistry Lab. She has also been involved with the Swarm Days Committee, the Health Science Student Organization, Women in STEM, the Activity Grants Committee, and Rec Sports.
Joining them on the 2025 Swarm Days Royal Court are Brooklyn Andersen, Alyssa Diaz, Brighten Hitchcock, Hadley Marquardt, Aden Scott, Gaige Tarver, and Noah Westergaard.
The 2025 Swarm Days theme is “Stayin’ Alive in the Hive.”
