With one-third of the fall semester over, and the leaves changing color, it is no surprise that Homecoming is just around the corner.
Homecoming serves as a chance for current students, alumni, faculty, staff, and their families to participate in a range of activities and events to reaffirm their polar pride. These events are mainly planned through the Alumni Office. This year the theme is “A Celebration of ONU Stars.”
One of the main highlights of the weekend would have to be the Freed Center’s “Dancing with the Ada Stars” performance, which will incorporate routines from Ada community members into one fun-filled night. The event is scheduled for Oct. 4 at 8:30 p.m.
Scheduled activities also include an induction ceremony and banquet for former athletes into the ONU Athletic Hall of Fame, an ONU Choral Collage performance, a health fair held by ONU’s National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), a breakfast and alumni ceremony at the Dicke College, college tours for alumni, a Homecoming parade, and a tailgate party before the big Homecoming game on Saturday. There will even be a balloon glow and fireworks to cap off Sunday night.
These are just a few of the many activities planned for the weekend, with many clubs, sororities, and fraternities also contributing to the festivities.
Not only will this be a time for current and previous students to partake in ONU tradition, but also for foreign students to have a glimpse into what ONU culture actually is.
Luciano Cruz, a civil engineering exchange student from Brazil, says that he is greatly looking forward to having this personal, up-close glimpse at a part of American college culture.
“All this stuff about king and queen, Homecoming and dancing are so American…we don’t have things like that in Brazil so I feel very [excited] to attend.”
With Homecoming court being narrowed down to its top five for both king and queen, the final vote will no doubt be soon. Currently, the picks for Queen are: Amy Tabar (Habitat for Humanity), Gina Grandillo (Kappa Alpha Theta), Hannah Gustafson (Student Planning Committee), Kyla Hemphill (Orientation Leaders) and Taylor Manahan (Residence Life).
For King, the candidates are: Connor Kleman (Student Planning Committee), Jacob Soppe (Residence Life), Jonathan Stechschulte (Habitat for Humanity), Tom Gerberich (Northern Christian Fellowship) and Zachary Woods (Orientation Leaders).
The prospect of attending a dance afterwards also has Luciano very excited.
“It sounds really fun and I hope I can see the ‘American way’ to do parties as I’ve seen in movies.”