University of Idaho students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Moscow community members will fill the campus next week for one of the biggest events of the school year.
UI Homecoming Week will start out with kickoff 5 p.m. Sunday outside the Vandalstore. This year”s theme is “A Hero”s Homecoming.”
The kickoff event will include the photo scavenger hunt, a Yell like Hell event and the announcement of the eight homecoming royalty candidates.
Ayla Neumeyer, kickoff chair on the Homecoming Committee, said she believes this year”s kickoff will be one to remember.
“Kickoff should be extremely fun this year. We are hoping to bring everybody together, to have it be a more spirited, excited event, just a great launch to one of the biggest weeks on campus,” Neumeyer said.
Monday, Homecoming Committee members will hand out maps and bags to help groups distribute the list of needed supplies to be donated to the Moscow Food Bank starting at 2 p.m. Along with this, the homecoming competition groups will paint the windows of local storefronts downtown in accordance with the hero they have chosen to represent this week.
Alex Brizee | Argonaut
Homecoming Commitee Chair Emily Rasch looks foward to Vandal Jingles during Homecoming Week.
Emily Rasch, Homecoming Committee chair, encourages students to check out the scene.
“It”s so great to just walk around downtown and look at how the groups have represented their heroes on the businesses,” Rasch said.
Homecoming Week continues Tuesday with a blood drive in the Teaching and Learning Center and a promotional event outside of the Idaho Commons from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be an obstacle course set up, tables with music and a photo booth, Rasch said. Students can expect to get free items, including cozies, buttons and posters, she said.
The festivities will continue Wednesday with Vandal Jingles, which will begin at 6:30 in the Bruce Pitman Center International Ballroom.
Every group will get on stage and perform a song or skit that incorporates the homecoming theme, Rasch said.
“(Jingles) is one of my favorite events,” Rasch said. “It”s incredibly fun and energetic.”
On Friday, Serpentine will begin at 8 p.m. The Vandal Marching Band will start playing by the President”s Residence and will wind around campus all the way to the Kibbie Dome parking lot.
The Kibbie Dome parking lot will be home to the bonfire rally and the crowning of homecoming royalty.
Evan Barton, assistant Homecoming Committee chair, is especially excited for this event and said its one of the week”s biggest events.
“It”ll get people really excited for the football game that”ll be on the next day,” Barton said.
The Latah Federal Credit Union Fireworks Extravaganza and the Tower Lights show will follow the bonfire.
The morning after, UI students and community will take part in the Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. along Main Street. The Idaho Fan Zone will open at 11 a.m. followed by the homecoming game against the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
Whether it”s kickoff, Serpentine or the game, Neumeyer said students should be able to get involved in homecoming in some way.
“Its so amazing to see how all of these different people who are on different places on campus and around the country … come back to visit,” Neumeyer said. “”¦ There”s always something new for our students and alumni to enjoy.”
Diamond Koloski can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @diamond_uidaho