Taylor House/Arizona Daily Wildcat Jeanine Zelik, a social studies senior, was crowned 2006 Fiesta Bowl queen last week, beating out other court members from across the state.

A UA student was crowned the 2006 Fiesta Bowl queen last week, a change from last year when an ASU student was chosen.

Jeanine Zelik, a social studies senior, said it is a “huge honor” to represent the UA as queen of the Fiesta Bowl.

“I feel very privileged and honored to be a part of this court,” Zelik said.

The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, one of the four games in the Bowl Championship Series, will be held in Tempe on Jan. 2.

Both Zelik and Kate Rook, a pre-education sophomore, knew two weeks ago that they would be one of the four students on the court, but they had to wait until last week to find out who had enough votes to be queen.

Zelik and the other princesses, whose families flew or drove into Tucson for the coronation, were crowned during the Homecoming ceremony Thursday night and rode in Saturday’s Homecoming parade, Zelik said.

Candidates were selected based on community service, grades and personality that were determined through interviews, an essay and letters of recommendation, Zelik said.

Gina Chappin, the Fiesta Bowl director of public relations, was unavailable for comment over the weekend.

All four court members, which include two students from ASU, will not only represent Arizona at the Fiesta and Insight bowls, but will also promote and participate in more than 50 charity events throughout the year as Fiesta Bowl ambassadors, Rook said.

Rook and her family were at the Homecoming ceremony on Thursday, she said, but missed the Homecoming parade and game Saturday for a friend’s wedding.

“I was really bummed that I missed Homecoming,” Rook said.

Now that she knows she will be queen, Zelick said she is preparing herself to juggle her responsibilities with her schoolwork.

Zelik has been involved in many organizations on campus, including the Chi Omega sorority and Arizona Ambassadors. She is also a Women’s Health student coordinator and advocate, she said.

“I’m not nervous, but excited and anxious now that the ball’s rolling,” Zelik said.

Zelik said she is going to miss some of her classes for some events, but she is making arrangements with her professors beforehand.

“I’m not worried at all, it just means a little less sleep,” Zelik said. “It’s something you have to be dedicated to, and I’m going to give it my all.”