Great-grandmother has shot at homecoming crown

A great-grandmother in Pueblo is showing there isn’t an age limit to be a homecoming queen.

Rita Wilhelm, 72, is getting her master’s degree in art education at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

She has five kids, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Wilhelm has never won the crown for homecoming queen, but she hopes to change that by being the oldest person to win it at the university.

“I decided this time in my life, I only have so much time left , I might as well use it as well as I possibly can and to encourage other women to do things when they think they are too old and not able to do things anymore, but hey if you want it go for it,” Wilhelm said.

She also said age is just a number.

“Queens can come in at any age,” Wilhelm said.

As for the process of applying for homecoming royalty, Wilhelm said her and other students were sitting around one day and she thought what if a person her age were to run for homecoming queen?

“It just turned into a snowball and here I am, a finalist to be the queen,” she said.

But it’s also been hard to hit the books since she was elected.

“It’s been a challenge trying to keep up with my classes and keeping up with what I am supposed to be doing,” Wilhelm said.

As for the rest of the candidates on the homecoming court, they have been supportive of Wilhelm.

“It’s inspiring, it’s not often you see a non-traditional students who are on the homecoming court,” homecoming king candidate Enrique Rodriguez said.

“It really takes a lot of courage to put ourselves out there and Rita inspires me,” homecoming queen candidate Alisa Proffer said.

Wilhelm will find out Saturday afternoon during halftime at CSU-Pueblo’s homecoming game if she will win the crown.