Student organizations big and small took center stage Tuesday evening at the annual Homecoming event , Airbands.  The event, which took place in a packed Eisenhower Auditorium, ran from 7-9pm.  The crowd loved the event’s surprise guest host, Bronne from the Real World: Cancun.  He entertained the crowd between the acts and also created some excitement by throwing Homecoming t-shirts into the crowd. 

Performances kept the audience entertained the whole with song choices ranging from childhood movies such as Toy Story and Beauty and the Beast, to TV show classics like Sesame Street and Fresh Prince of Bel Aire.  Performers added to their performances with elaborate costumes and props to go along with their chosen theme. 

The event ran smoothly with the exception of one small hiccup; during ATLAS  Thon’s performance featuring boy bands and pop stars the sound system failed and the music cut out.  There was some confusion at first, but then in true Penn State fashion, the crowd picked up where the music left off and ATLAS finished their dance to the audience singing their songs. 

There were ten stars of the evening that shone especially bright, the members of the 2009 Homecoming Court.  They dazzled the crowd throughout the evening with humorous skits in-between organizations performances, and in a Homecoming first, the court also performed their own dance as part of Airbands.

Although, everyone put on an entertaining performance, only two groups could go home with the title of the 2009 Airbands Champions.  Lion Ambassadors won for Best Independent Organization as they traveled through time, giving the audience a glimpse of Penn State history through song and dance.  As for the Best Greek performance, that went to Theta Chi Omega and Phi Sigma Rho with their own musical rendition of the “Toy Story.” 

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On Tuesday, the HUB was decorated with a “Past to Present” theme honoring Penn State’s Homecoming tradition, dating back to when the school’s colors were pink and black.  On the first level of the HUB, where Homecoming merchandise and Homecoming Court tables were set up, the floor traveled back in time and was decorated with pink and black streamers, paw prints, and pictures showing what Penn State student life was like at the time.  As you traveled down the stairs to the ground level, a huge balloon display hung above student’s head reading “Past to Present”.  As students reached the bottom of the steps, they were greeted with free popcorn, music, and pictures of recent Penn State events and pop culture figures, some of which who have visited campus over the past few years. The theme for the floor was everything blue and white, with streamers and balloons decorating the walls.  Throughout the event, which took place from 10AM TO 4PM, various clubs performed on stage and the Homecoming Court made appearances, even putting on a fashion show to show off the Homecoming merchandise that was being sold upstairs.  Whether students were eating lunch at the tables or passing through the HUB on their way to class, they couldn’t ignore the Penn State pride being displayed for Homecoming Week 2009!

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On Monday, at East Halls a celebration was held from 4-8 p.m. for all freshmen.  It was an event that was attempting to acquaint all new students to the Penn State Homecoming tradition.  The Homecoming court made an appearance and got introduced to all students.  Entertaining bios were read off describing the involvement of each candidate while students considered who is vote worthy.  A lot of them also talked with the freshmen to give them a better idea of who they were as a person and why they should be chosen for the Homecoming court. 

The dynamic brothers of Alpha Kappa Psi stepped danced at the event, along with a performance by the Orchesis dance company.  Smooth moves put on by these parties helped to catch the eye of passerby, and make students stop and pay attention to the event.  Voting booths were open during the entire time so someone could vote at any given moment.  Along with easy access to voting, there was free food given out as an incentive for students to stop by.  A wide variety of Insomnia cookies were served and this helped put a smile on the faces of many voters.

 This event helped to spark interest in Homecoming for a lot of students, and increased the voter turnout because of easy access to voting booths.  The East Halls commons was decorated with glittering posters of the themes of various Homecoming floats.  This was good because it allowed the students to see the ideas behind each float, and understand all the work certain organizations put into all of this.  Overall, the celebration turned out to be a great success!  Many students left with a better understanding of Homecoming tradition and what it really means to a Penn Stater.

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Homecoming Week 2009 kicked off yesterday with the first annual 5k.  Students, alumni and members of the community all came out for a run to celebrate the start of Homecoming Week. The race began at 12 PM at the IM building, but the event started around 11 AM with an entertainment hour and free food.  The Nittany Lion, Penn State cheerleaders, members of the Blue Band, RAM squad and Kappa Alpha Psi were all there to perform and cheer on the runners. There was a great turn out for the 5k and it was a lot of fun for everyone involved.  At night, the dance competition for  ”Penn State’s Best Dance Crew” and the Jack’s Mannequin concert took over Rec Hall in honor of the first night of Homecoming 2009. So many students came early to watch fellow Penn State students rock the stage for the dance competition. There were many unique performances and jaw dropping moves from various dance clubs.  Following the dance performances, the audience voted for their favorite by cheering.  The Urban Dance Team won and will be performing at the pep rally in Rec Hall on Friday night.  After the dance competition wrapped up, the Jack’s Mannequin concert sponsored by SPA and Penn State Homecoming began. Students went crazy for the band and leader singer Andrew McMahon put on a great show for Penn State. The band entertained the crowd with a set that lasted about an hour and half.  Jack’s Mannequin closed with a cover of Tom Petty’s song “American Girl”. There was such a positive response and good turnout. Homecoming week has officially begun! Be sure to come out to the rest of the events throughout this week!

 

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Want to spend a Sunday clearing trails, giving food to the hungry, painting buildings, or playing with animals?  You can do all this and more at the Homecoming Day of Service, which will be held on Sunday, September 21 from 10am-3pm.  It’s a great way to get involved in Homecoming without being a member of an organization.  (If you are affiliated with a registered organization, it’s still great to volunteer– 150 spirit points per organization/pair will be given out at 10 points a person.)  Volunteers can choose to work at places like Shaver’s Creek, The Village at Penn State, and Centre County Paws.  Spots are already filling up, so click here to register!  Registration is first come, first serve and will officially close on September 14.  Help make Penn State an even better place to live and come home to!

36 days till Homecoming!

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Are you in a band?  Are you up for the challenge of getting thousands of Penn Staters pumped up for Homecoming?  If you think your band has what it takes, consider applying for a showcase in the Raise the Song Band Bash!  As long as at least one member of your band is a Penn State student, you are eligible to register here.  The top 3 bands selected will be invited to play to an 18 and over crowd during Homecoming weekend.  Need more motivation?  The winning band will get to play on stage during THON 2009!  It’s an excellent way to get your band’s name out while having a great time, so don’t forget to register by September 26 at 5pm.

Students, check back for the time and location of the Band Bash.  Student organizations will be awarded spirit points for every member that comes out!

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Registration has opened for the Homecoming Parade and the Alumni Tailgate Competition!

One of the best ways to get involved in Homecoming, the Parade showcases floats designed by student organizations, chapters of the Alumni Association, and unofficial alumni groups. Whether you are eager to “pomp” a float or just want to take in the spectacle from the sidelines, the parade is a great way to feel the spirit of Penn State Homecoming. The Parade will be held on Friday, October 17 at 6pm. Register here before September 26 at 5 pm and get ready to show the community how you’ve been ‘Inspired By Tradition’!

If pomping doesn’t strike your fancy (or even if it does!), consider showing how you’re inspired at the Alumni Tailgate Competition. As any Penn Stater knows, we take tailgating seriously in Happy Valley. In 2005, Sports Illustrated’s Tailgate Nation named Penn State the “Ultimate Tailgating Venue.” If you know your tailgates have helped Penn State earn this rating, register here for a shot at being one of 10 tailgate competitors on Homecoming game day. Tailgates will be judged in “Best Spirit,” “Best Food” and “Best Decoration” categories.

Stay tuned for more pre-Homecoming coverage as the school year starts. We’re less than two months away from one of the best celebrations at Penn State!

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Did you know that Penn State boasts the largest alumni network in the country, capping at over 460,000 living graduates? As a Penn Stater, you’re a member of the biggest collegiate family in the US, and Homecoming is a great time to celebrate your pride with hundreds of thousands of your family members! The Alumni Relations (AR) Committee is working hard to ensure that graduates have a great weekend. “We want [alumni] to be just as excited about Homecoming as they were when they were first year students,” Alumni Relations Overall Samantha Kulp said. Along with the Alumni Association, the AR Committee is working to make two past Homecoming favorites even better this year: the Student/Alumni Ice Cream Social and the Alumni Tailgate Contest.

What could be better than eating free Creamery ice cream with the Nittany Lion and Penn State cheerleaders? Come out to the Hintz Family Alumni Center for the Student/Alumni Ice Cream Social on October 17 from 1:30 to 4:30 to meet past and present students, try your luck at winning prizes, and indulge in the famous PSU tradition of eating from The Creamery. After all, eating Peachy Paterno ice cream was ranked #50 on Sports Illustrated’s list of 100 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate, so come out and check that off your list!

Any proud alums that know their tailgates are something to brag about should consider entering the Alumni Tailgate Competition! Held on Saturday, October 18 before the Homecoming game, tailgates will be judged and prizes will be rewarded! Participants can register on the Homecoming Website starting Monday, August 18th.

Alums, what’s your favorite part about Homecoming? Let us know and we’ll be sure to feature it on the blog in the fall!

Save the date:

Student/Alumni Ice Cream Social- Friday, October 17 1:30-4:30 pm

Alumni Tailgate Competition- Saturday, October 18 before the Homecoming game

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Marching through the streets of State College you see them.
Walkie talkies in hand.

They are the officials.
They are the enforcers.
They are…
The 2008 Homecoming Security Committee.

Stopping the cities of State College and University Park is no small task. Working with the Police Departments, the State College Borough, CATA and various University officials, the Security committee must work hard to ensure that Homecoming 2008 runs smoothly by rising above the tough standards required by all parties involved. Permits and approvals, signatures and stamps - everything must be authorized, confirmed, and approved before any float rolls down College Avenue.

They are there to protect not only students, but also faculty, returning alumni, families, and members of the State College community. Almost 400 committee members will be in attendance on parade day for the protection of these parties. They are also in full force for all of the Homecoming sponsored events to ensure a safe week for everyone.

This year Security was also in charge of the Captain Olympics in the spring, and will be planning new captain events in the fall. These events allow the 100+ Homecoming Captains a chance to relax and unwind during the weeks before Homecoming.

If you are interested in being one of the protectors, the elite, the red shirts - stay tuned for updates about when you can sign up!

Kyle Thomas - Homecoming 2008 Security Overall Chair

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Did you know that Homecoming is more than just a weekend event? While the Parade and football game culminate the Homecoming experience, there is so much more to see!

Throughout Homecoming Week, Penn Staters young and old are treated to a variety of events put on by the Special Events committee, including Airbands, Nittany Pursuit, Raise the Song Band Bash, and the Pep Rally. This year, Special Events has been working hard to make the events bigger and better, so come out and make sure you don’t miss some of the best events of Homecoming Week!

Airbands is one of the most popular and anticipated events each year, and this year it is going to be even better! During Airbands, student groups compete for points by choreographing and lip syncing to their favorite songs.  Special Events is cooking up some fun surprises and lots of laughs, so it is important to come early and get a good seat!

 

Nittany Pursuit (a campus-wide scavenger hunt) is another fun event. This year’s activities will be challenging and action-packed, so get excited!

The Band Bash is a competition between student bands. The winning band will get the amazing opportunity to perform on stage at THON 2009.

The Pep Rally closes Homecoming week’s festivities before the big game, and is sure to excite people of all ages! The cheerleaders, Blue Band, and sports teams will be there to pump everyone up for Saturday’s game against Michigan! At the conclusion of the Pep Rally, we will crown the 2008 Homecoming King and Queen!

Special Events has been working really hard to ensure that you will enjoy all that Homecoming week has to over. So come early, be loud, and get excited for the best Homecoming week you’ve ever had!

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