UAFS Homecoming 2011:
The Fiercest Show on Campus
By Leslie Hassel
A spark of school spirit eased the winter blues as Homecoming 2011 sprang to a start. The UA Fort Smith Student Activities Office and several participating student organizations saw weeks of work culminate with the Homecoming celebration.
The Student Activities Office hoped this year’s Homecoming festivities would encourage campus pride among the community and unite current and former students. The week began on Monday, February 7, and ended Saturday, February 12, with the men’s and women’s basketball games and the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen.
Lion spirit was visible across the campus as supporters hung banners, decorated offices, and volunteered their time for Homecoming 2011: The Fiercest Show on Campus.
This year, student organizations had the opportunity to participate in several homecoming competitions. Organizations earned points based on their performance in individual competitions, and accumulated points were tallied at the end of Homecoming week. Sigma won this year’s overall Homecoming competition title, and they received a first place trophy and a $300 cash prize for their work.
UA Fort Smith Lends a Helping Hand
The Homecoming competitions also gave UA Fort Smith an opportunity to contribute to several local charities, including the Community Services Clearinghouse Backpack program, the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House and the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund.
The competitions began with a student favorite: Pie-a-Professor. Students deposited change in order to vote for a professor, and Dr. Lindsy Lawrence raised enough money to earn a pie at the Homecoming tailgate on Saturday, February 12. All proceeds from the Pie-a-Professor competition were donated to the Community Services Clearinghouse Backpack Program.
Thursday, February 10, brought the Pink Zone to the UA Fort Smith campus. Pink Zone attendees were asked to attend Tuesday’s basketball games in pink attire in order to support breast cancer awareness. Pink Zone t-shirts were available for purchase at local business, UA Fort Smith home games, and the UA Fort Smith bookstore. All proceeds from the t-shirt sales were donated to the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House and the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund.
Student organizations participating in the Homecoming competitions were also encouraged to decorate megaphones for the Spirit Megaphone Competition. Decorated megaphones were purchased in a silent auction at Saturday’s tailgating event. All proceeds from the purchased megaphones were donated to the Community Services Clearinghouse Backpack Program.
The Mane Event
Saturday’s celebration began with a wagon float parade at 10 a.m. Student organizations built parade floats atop Red Ryder red wagons and led the wagons on a route across the campus green to the Lions Den and the tailgating event. Tailgate attendees gathered for carnival games, glitter tattoos, food, and other refreshments before the basketball games.
The basketball games began at 2:00 p.m., and the Lady Lions rolled to a 54-41 win over the St. Edward’s University Hilltoppers, while the men sank late free throws to secure a 70-64 win over the Hilltoppers.
Participating student organizations nominated their best and brightest for the 2011 Homecoming King and Queen. The student body selected Kaci Singer, an English major from Greenwood, AR, as the 2011 Homecoming Queen. Kaci is a resident assistant at the Lions Den and a member of Delta Gamma.
Patrick Sullivan was chosen as the 2011 Homecoming King. Patrick is a sophomore marketing major from Bentonville, Arkansas. He is the manager for the Lions basketball team and a member of Sigma Nu. Kaci and Patrick were crowned at halftime of the men’s basketball game.
All Homecoming King and Queen candidates must be nominated by an eligible organization or department and are required to have a 2.50 cumulative grade point average.
Students closed the week at the Semi-Formal Circus Masquerade Dance, where they enjoyed dancing, free face painting, and souvenir photos.
