Category: Alumni Spotlight

Come to Heritage Hall from 1-6 PM to celebrate the seniors that are leaving their legacy and the future/current students members of the community beginning to leave their legacy here!

Hailee is a 4th year from Nazareth, Pennsylvania. She is majoring in Biology with a Neuroscience Option and Pre-PA track with a minor in Women Studies. Last year, Hailee served as the Court Relations Director on the Homecoming Executive Committee. Outside of Homecoming, she is the THON Chair for the Biological Honor Society, a THON Special Events Committee Member, and the Treasurer for Best Buddies. Hailee is involved in Homecoming because of the opportunity it creates to bring together all students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and anyone in the Penn State family to honor the community and family we have established here.

Viraj is a third-year from Chadds Ford Pennsylvania. He is majoring in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations with an additional focus in Application Development in the College of IST. Last year, Viraj served as the Donation Development Captain for the Financial Management Committee. Outside of Homecoming, he serves as a Technology Captain for Penn State THON and a LA for the college of IST. Viraj is involved in Homecoming because he enjoys celebrating what makes our Penn State community great and spreading Penn State Pride!

Sara is a third year from Virginia Beach, Virginia majoring in Professional Photography. She worked on the PR committee for Homecoming 2022 as a photographer. While outside of Homecoming she has worked as a THON photographer CM for THON 2022 and 2023, a VALLEY magazine Photographer since Spring 2022, and serves as the Media and Promotions Chair for Volè Dance Company. She grew up learning about the traditions and stories of Penn State from her family and help spark her love for Penn State while creating her own as she continues her years in college. She cannot wait to help bring Homecoming’s story alive and showcase to a wide community how special Homecoming is.

Jess is a 2nd year student from New York City majoring in Forensic Science. Her Homecoming experience began in her freshman year when she was on the First Year Committee and she then served as the Best of Penn State Carnival Captain on Pride Events. Outside of Homecoming, Jess is a THON Hospitality Captain, Vice President of the Forensic Science Club, a Program Assistant for the First Years in Science and Engineering, a backpacking leader for the Penn State AURORA program, and a member of the Presidential Leadership Academy. Jess is so excited to bring some new ideas to Pride Events and see the way that Homecoming brings people together for another year!

Grace is a third-year from West Chester, PA majoring in finance. Last year, she served as a Logistics and Merge Point captain on the Parade committee. Outside of Homecoming, she is the chair for Women in Business’ Power of Us Gala. Grace loves Homecoming because of its ability to bring together the diverse Penn State community to celebrate Penn State’s values and traditions. She looks forward to the year ahead and can not wait to lead the Parade Committee in putting on the largest student run parade in the nation!

Alex is a third-year student from South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She is currently studying Biological Sciences & Health Professions. While her Homecoming journey started just last year as the OPP Purchasing Captain for Homecoming 2022, her love for Penn State has always been present. Outside of Homecoming, Alex is also involved in THON, where she is a Pass Outreach Captain on the Rules & Regulations Event Safety Committee. She is excited to work with the rest of the Executive Committee and the Penn State community as a whole to see Penn State’s pride come to life!

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Inter-Committee Liaison (1)

The ICL will be responsible for the organizational aspect of the Public Relations Committee throughout the year. As an ICL, this Captain will know the inner workings of their committee, work closely with their Director to be knowledgeable about all operational aspects of their committee, and be able to readily relay information regarding their committee to other ICLs and all Homecoming Captains. The ICL will oversee recording meeting minutes, sending reminder emails, acting as an intra-committee liaison, and ordering merchandise. They will attend weekly meetings lead by the Internal Development Director. The ICL will serve as the primary Sustainability Ambassador for their committee and will be responsible for educating their Committee on Homecoming’s Sustainability efforts and mission each week. This captain will also act as the liaison between Public Relations and Financial Management. They will be expected to work with Financial Management’s Fiscal Tracking Captains to track the committee’s expenses throughout the year. They will also be expected to attend Fiscal Tracking Focus Groups. The ICL should be very organized, comfortable with appropriate technologies, and confident in their writing abilities. In addition, the Inter Committee Liaison is responsible for writing and managing the Penn State Homecoming Blog along with writing and sending out the monthly newsletter. Applicants should be organized, have strong writing and communication skills, and be team-oriented.

Social Media Captain (2)

The Social Media Captains will be in charge of maintaining the Homecoming Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. These captains should be interested in ways to broaden the Homecoming appearance in alternative media and should be prepared to work closely with other committees to promote events and share Homecoming news and updates. The Social Media Captains will also be in charge of maintaining the brand image and voice of Penn State Homecoming. Applicants should have a strong background in social media, possess creativity, excellent writing and communication skills, and a strong voice.

Media Relations Captains (2)

The Media Relations Captains’ responsibilities include writing press releases, media advisories, PSAs, and feature articles to be sent to local and state newspapers. These Captains will also work closely with TV/radio stations and should be prepared to assist media and print networks during all Homecoming events. The Media Relations Captains will also be in charge of creating the 2020 Homecoming Press Kit, Press FAQ Sheet, and Crisis Communication Plan. Applicants should have excellent writing, communication, and time management skills. Applicants are encouraged to have a strong background in public relations.

Photography Captains (2)

The Photography Captains will be in charge of documenting all Homecoming events throughout the year by taking photos. In addition, they will be responsible for editing and uploading these pictures in a timely manner. These captains will also be responsible for overseeing a the photography and production committee with their fellow production captain. These captains will work closely with the Social Media Captains, Graphic Design Captains, and the Technology Committee. Applicants should have prior photography experience, possess creativity, have a strong understanding of Homecoming’s image, and have strong leadership skills. Applicants should present a portfolio.

Graphic Design Captains (2)

The Graphic Design Captains are responsible for designing and creating advertisements that will appear in various publications and places across campus using Homecoming’s brand guidelines. These captains will also create designs for balloons, flyers, and posters used to promote Homecoming. Applicants should have prior experience using Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and have knowledge of graphic design. Majors in graphic design and advertising are encouraged to apply. Applicants should present a portfolio.

Marketing Captain (2)

The Marketing Captains will be responsible for developing marketing campiagns for various Homecoming events and a larger campiagn dedicated toward this year’s theme. These Captains will work closely with the Public Relations Director and many other positions to create big picture plans. The Marketing Captains will be the main point of contact between the Public Relations committee and the rest of the Homecoming committees to ensure everyone has the information needed to promote all Homecoming events. Applicants should be organized, dedicated, driven, and have marketing experience. Marketing majors are encouraged to apply.

Production Captain (2)

The Production Captains are responsible for filming, producing, and editing all Homecoming videos such as: the Emcee Announcement, Logo Reveal, Grand Marshal Reveal as well as many others. These captains will also be responsible for overseeing a committee while working closely with Social Media to produce content. Applicants should be knowledgeable in or eager to learn about DSLR cameras, Adobe Premiere or other video editing software. Applicants should be creative, self-motivated, and collaborative. Applicants should present a portfolio.

Jenna is a third-year student from Rock Hill, NY majoring in accounting. Last year, she served as an Fiscal Tracking captain on the Financial Management commitee. Outside of Homecoming, she is a member of Women in Business as well a committee member for THON merchandise. Jenna loves Homecoming because it brings together so many people from different backgrounds to celebrate Penn State and she is so excited for this year!

OPPerations Development:

Equipment Logistics: (1)

The Equipment Logistics Captain is responsible for sourcing all materials and equipment, including tables, chairs, and vehicles needed for Homecoming Week. They will work closely with Penn State OPP and will be in constant contact with outside vendors and with other Homecoming Committees fulfilling their needs for events. This Captain will be working constantly with the Set Up/Teardown and PDFG Captains to plan each event. They will be a leader during event Set Up and Teardown to ensure all equipment is handled properly. This Captain must be organized and reliable.

Inventory Liaison/Special Projects: (3)

The Special Projects/Inventory Liaison Captains will be responsible for any projects that fall outside the normal responsibilities of the OPP committee. They will design and construct all structures requested from other committees. These individuals should be creative and comfortable using basic tools necessary for construction. They will need to work with the rest of the OPP committee, and with all other committees throughout Homecoming. They will process requests from these individuals, and work directly with the Inventory Development Captain to understand what inventory we currently have, and what to allocate. These 3 captains will need to have an in-depth understanding of our inventory, be very organized, and can work well with others.

Training Development: (1)

The Training & Development Captain will spearhead internal development of their fellow Captains and Committee Members. They will manage professional development and team building in order to promote a cohesive, collected, and professional OPP unit prior to Homecoming Week. This role will work closely with all Captains. This Captain should be collaborative, self-assured, and willing to help others be the most professional version of themselves.

Inventory Development: (1)

The Inventory Development Captain will be responsible for developing and optimizing an Inventory Management system for internal Homecoming and OPP use. This Captain will be expected to work with the Special Projects/Inventory Liaison and Purchasing Captains to understand current inventory and update the inventory management system throughout the year. Their main project will be Inventory Day in which they lead the organization of the off campus storage closet. This Captain needs to be organized and data-oriented and have a sound knowledge of Excel or other data management software.

Procurement-Purchasing: (1)

Purchasing Captains will be responsible for acquiring all supplies for Homecoming. The Purchasing Captain will be responsible for ordering all materials needed to create Homecoming floats and meet other requested supplies such as rental agreements. They will also research quotes from various vendors and will work to find sustainable alternatives to common supplies. They will also be expected to attend Fiscal Tracking Focus Groups. This Captain will work alongside the Inventory Development and Special Projects/Inventory Liaison Captains. This Captain should be organized and have good communication skills. Overall this captain will focus on purchasing items to allocate and fuel all of Homecoming!

OPPerations Planning:

Parade Logistics: (2)

The Parade Logistics Captains are responsible for roping and staking the Parade Route. These Captains will develop a Parade Security layout that displays the exact placement of all stakes and ropes on Parade Day. These Captains will also act as OPP Liaisons at the Parade Day Focus Group Meetings. In addition, these two will serve as the Captains for the OPP Committee Members. They will be required to hold committee meetings and organize committee bonding events. These Captains must be organized, detail-oriented, and strong leaders.

PDFG Liaison: (2)

These Captains will lead the PDFG (Parade Day Focus Group) Meetings involving the Parade, and Distribution Management committees. They will be responsible for creating the master timeline for Parade Day. They will work closely with the Set Up/Teardown and Logistics Captains to plan the OPP timeline for Parade Day, specifically focusing on Set Up and Teardown of the Parade Route. These Captain will be a leader throughout Parade Day and will be the point of contact for other Committees. They should be effective communicators in groups.

Police & Security Liaison: (1)

This Captain serves as the liaison between Homecoming and various Police Departments. This Captain will attend meetings with the Police to ensure that Homecoming is following all protocols and fulfilling all security obligations necessary to run a successful Homecoming. This Captain will also act as an OPP Liaison at the Parade Day Focus Group Meetings. Additionally, they will also be in charge of handling all driving records required for vehicle usage. This Captain is also responsible for coordinating and communicating with all Parade Day Volunteers. This Captain should be an effective communicator.

Set Up/Teardown: (1)

This Captain is responsible for creating the OPP timelines for every Homecoming event. They will work throughout the year to logistically prepare for OPP’s biggest responsibility, the Set Up and Teardown of each event, and will work closely with the Logistics and PDFG Captains to effectively coordinate Parade Day. This Captain should not only be an effective leader but possess good problem solving skills and have sufficient knowledge of all Homecoming events.

Waste Management: (1)

This Captain’s focus will be on the environmental impact of Homecoming and will spread Homecoming’s sustainability efforts and mission. Throughout the year, this Captain will help lead Inter-Committee Liaisons in their Sustainability efforts. This person will be responsible for ensuring proper waste management at all Homecoming Events as well as leading Homecoming’s effort to become a zero-waste organization. This Captain will be in charge of planning Recycle Your Float Event and Homecoming OPPerations Protecting the Environment (HOPE), a campus-wide Recycling Effort. This Captain should be creative, have good organization and communication skills, and have a desire to make an impact.

Te’a is a Second-year student from Cheshire, Connecticut majoring in Recreational, Park, and Tourism Management with a minor in Sports Studies. Last year Te’a served as the Past to Present Captain for the Pride events Committee. The previous year she was a member of the First Year Involvement Committee. Outside of Homecoming, she is a Penn State Baseball On-Field Manager, while also an active member and officer of the sorority Alpha Delta Pi. She can also be seen working at Pegula Ice Arena. Te’a is excited to honor the Penn State Community and continue spreading Penn State Pride!

Alexandra is a third-year from Vernon, NJ majoring in Secondary Education with minors in English, Journalism, and Jewish Studies. Last year, Alexandra was the Allen Street Jam Captain on the Pride Events Committee. Outside of Homecoming, Alexandra is involved with Sigma Kappa Sorority. Alexandra is so excited to take on the role of Merchandise Director and sell many, many shirts!

Paige Myers is a second-year student from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! She is majoring in Health Policy Administration with minors in Kinesiology, Sports Studies, and Diversity and Inclusion. Last year, she served as a Student Court Captain on the Court Relations Committee. Paige loves Homecoming because it brings so many people together to celebrate the tradition and love surrounding Penn State. She is so excited to further explore her passion for Homecoming and the Court Relations Committee this year and is honored to work alongside her amazing co-directors!

Liz Wesdock is a third-year student from Bel Air, MD. She is studying Education & Public Policy. This is her second year involved with Homecoming, and she was a Competition Captain last year. Outside of Homecoming, Liz is involved with PLL Dance Company and Vole Dance Club. She also participates in THON as a member of the special interest organization, Trilogy. She is very excited to work with the amazing Executive Committee for Homecoming 2023!

Kerry Quinn is the new Alumni Relations Director for Homecoming 2023! She is a third-year student from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and is currently studying Corporate Innovations and Entrepreneurship at the Smeal College of Business. She is also acquiring a minor in Management Information Systems. Outside of Homecoming, she is involved with Lion Ambassadors and an OPPerations THON committee. Kerry is very excited to be a part of the Homecoming 2023 Executive Committee, For the Glory!

Shannon is a fourth-year student from Prospect Park, PA! She is majoring in Kinesiology with a minor in Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Development. She is beyond excited to take on the role of Outreach Officer for Homecoming 2023! This will be her fifth year in Homecoming, starting off her journey on the First-Year Involvement Committee, and moving on to Merchandise as a CM, Captain, and Director last year. Outside of Homecoming, Shannon is a THON Entertainment Captain–you’ll be able to catch her DJing THON events! Shannon is so excited for this upcoming year in Homecoming and to share her love for the organization with the Penn State community!

Faculty Outreach and Administrative Assistant Captain: (1)

The Faculty Outreach and Administrative Assistant Captain captain will be responsible for the organizational aspect of the University Relations Committee throughout the year. This Captain will know the inner workings of their committee, work closely with their Director to be knowledgeable about all operational aspects of their committee, and be able to readily relay information regarding their committee to other Homecoming Captains. The Faculty Outreach and Administrative Assistant captain will oversee recording meeting minutes, sending reminder emails, and ordering merchandise. This Captain will work with the Involvement Captains to help to coordinate and promote the Involvement Committee. This Captain will also act as the liaison between University Relations and Financial Management. They will be expected to work with Financial Management’s Fiscal Tracking Captains to track the committee’s expenses throughout the year. They will also be expected to attend Fiscal Tracking Focus Groups. The Faculty Outreach and Administrative Assistant captain should be very organized, comfortable with appropriate technologies, and confident in their writing abilities.

Involvement: (2)

These Captains will work towards increasing Homecoming involvement with the incoming freshmen. This will primarily be done by overseeing the First Year Involvement Committee (FYIC). These Captains will promote applications for the committee, review the applications, hold meetings and plan events for them. These Captains will work with other committees to engage FYIC in Homecoming week events and find new and innovative tasks that FYIC can undertake. These Captains should dedicate time after Homecoming week to encourage FYIC members to stay involved with Homecoming next season. In addition to the work done with FYIC, these Captains will work to produce new material to get organizations and students involved with Homecoming on campus and present this material at involvement fairs and recruiting activities. The Involvement Captains will also work with the ICL to help coordinate and promote the Involvement Committee. These Captains should be outgoing, creative and passionate about spreading the mission of Homecoming.

Athletic Engagement: (1)

This Captain will help to coordinate and plan Homecoming athletic events. This Captain will be expected to be in contact with the Penn State Athletics Marketing Department to help coordinate existing and future participation in athletic events, including but not limited to, the Homecoming Basketball, Field Hockey/Lacrosse, Soccer, Hockey, Wrestling, and Golf events. This Captain will also be responsible for coming up with new and innovative ways of getting student, faculty and alumni involved at athletic events. This Captain should also develop creative opportunities for all Penn State athletes to be involved in Homecoming Events. This Captain should be able to communicate creative ideas to Public Relations for promoting events and be innovative when producing programming and activities in limited space at athletic venues. This Captain should be prepared to work on multiple projects at once, have strong communication skills and be excited about Penn State Athletics.

Tailgate Competition and Athletics Liaison: (1)

This Captain will organize the Homecoming Tailgate Competitions held at the Blue and White Game and on Homecoming Gameday. They will be responsible for preparing the competition’s rules, categories, and scoring rubric, contacting potential alumni contestants and student organizations, and creating a timeline for the day of judging. In addition, this Captain will oversee coordinating the Blue and White Tailgate Competition by creating a series of small, interactive games to help increase Penn State Tailgate involvement in school pride. This Captain will also work with the Sustainability Institute to coordinate Homecoming’s involvement in the Tailgate Ambassadors program. In addition to their tailgate focused responsibilities, this Captain will work with the Athletic Engagement Captain and Penn State Sports Marketing to coordinate Homecoming Baseball and Women’s Volleyball. This Captain should be able to communicate creative ideas to Public Relations for promoting events and be innovative when producing programming and activities in limited space at athletic venues. This Captain should have great organizational skills and be capable of communicating with many contacts at once.

Student Outreach: (1)

This Captain will be communicating with various student organizations throughout the year to incorporate more students in our Homecoming celebration. This Captain will also oversee contacting academic colleges to encourage the promotion of Homecoming to their students. The Student Outreach Captain will be responsible for assisting in the planning and promotion of the Homecoming Office Competitions and the Homecoming Nittany Pursuit. This Captain will also have creative freedom to produce any new programs with the aim to increase Homecoming’s inclusivity planning. In addition, this Captain will organize newsletters and releases to inform students of Homecoming events and spotlight different student organizations. The Student Outreach Captain will work closely with the Faculty and Commonwealth Outreach Captain when creating and disseminating promotional material. This Captain should have superb communication skills, be creative and organized.

Special Events: (2)

These Captains will work with closely with the University Relations Director, Penn State officials, and student organizations to plan events that promote the values of Homecoming such as the Blue and White Game 5k, the annual Day of Service, and the Past to Present Tour. Their primary responsibilities will include planning locations, bus routes, and activities for Day of Service as well as creating timelines, registration plans, and entertainment for the 5k. These Captains will also be responsible for other events leading up to and throughout Homecoming Week such as working with SPA for the Homecoming Concert, and coordinating food and blood drives across campus. These Captains should be prepared to assume immediate responsibilities, and should be very passionate about the Penn State community, event planning, and logistics.

Web Developer: (3)

These captains will be responsible for maintaining active development on the Homecoming website. These Captains must be technologically innovative and must think outside of the box when it comes to Homecoming’s use of technology. These Captains should be technically-minded, have strong communication skills, and a willingness to learn. While not required by any means, a knowledge of HTML and WordPress is useful for this position.

UX/UI Developer (2):

This captain will be responsible for all front-end develpment and improvement of the Homecoming website. This captain will ensure that the website is user-friendly by utilizing feedback mechanisms, navigational components, and researching user-centered design patterns to further improve website usability. Captains in this role must have strong communication skills and analyze and incorporate user feedback effectively. Previous expereince in UX/UI is encouraged but not required by any means. Additional experience with WordPress, HTML and CSS will be useful for this position.

Systems Administrator: (1)

This captain will be responsible for managing elements of the Homecoming website to ensure the reliability of the site. As the Systems Administrator Captain, you will be responsible for performing weekly backups of the website and database, testing and performing updates, and conducting security assessments. This captain should have a technical mindset, strong communication skills, and a willingness to learn. Experience with Linux or Unix-based systems and information security concepts is useful for this position.

Web Developer Lead Captain: (1)

This captain will help lead the web developers for Homecoming. This captain is required to have intermediate web development skills. This captain will also work with Homecoming and help come up with Technology tips and tricks to share with the rest of Homecoming. This captain should have excellent project management skills, and be able to effectively communicate their vision to the tech committee and the other web developers.

Talent Coordinator: (1)

The Talent Coordinators are responsible for forming relationships with various performance groups for Homecoming events, including but not limited to bands, artists, dance teams, poetry, and comedy acts. These Captains will be in constant communication with performance groups and ensure that they are prepared to perform at events during Homecoming week but also throughout the year. This Captain should be organized, confident communicating with others, and a good planner.

DJ Captains: (1)

Emcee Coordinator (1):

The Emcee Coordinator Captain will be responsible for acquiring Emcee talent as well as writing scripts throughout the year. This Captain will be conducting Emcee interviews and will work very closely with the Emcees to ensure they are prepared for events and comfortable with their scripts. The Emcee Coordinator will also act as the liaison to other committees throughout the year to assist with performance organization and development. This Captain should be confident in their script writing abilities and capable of working well with others.

Events (2):

Allen Street Jam Captain (1)

This captain is responsible for planning and executing the Allen Street Jam, a street fair held on the Monday of Homecoming Week to kick-off the week-long celebration. They will be in charge of all aspects of the event, including, but not limited to, organizing the layout of the event, working on a timeline for the entertainment, gathering and reaching out to potential vendors and organizations for booths, along with set up and tear down of the event. They will also serve as the primary contact on the day of their event. This captain should have a strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, creativity and organizational skills.

Past to Present Captain (1)

This captain is responsible for planning and executing Past to Present, an event held on the Tuesday of Homecoming Week. Past to Present encompasses the history of Penn State and how it has developed into the Penn State that we see today. They will be in charge of all aspects of the event, including, but not limited to, organizing the layout of the event, creating a ‘living museum’ of Penn State History, reaching out to and collaborating with potential organizations to assist with the event, along with set up and tear down of the event. They will also serve as the primary contact on the day of their event. This captain should have a strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, creativity and organizational skills.

Best of Penn State Carnival Captain (1)

This captain is responsible for planning and executing the annual Best of Penn State Carnival (BOPS Carnival), held on the Wednesday of Homecoming Week. They will be in charge of all aspects of the event, including, but not limited to, organizing the layout of the event, reaching out to and communicating with potential vendors to find large attractions, working on the timeline for the event, along with set up and tear down of the event. They will also serve as the primary contact on the day of their event. This captain should have a strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, creativity and organizational skills.

Friends & Family Tent Captain (1)

This captain is responsible for planning and executing the Friends & Family Tent (FFT) on parade day, which is where distinguished alumni, guests of the Homecoming Executive Committee, Student Court, and Faculty Court sit during the parade. This captain will be in charge of all aspects of the event, including, but not limited to, arranging the guest list, sending out invitations and save the date reminders, creating and distributing VIP passes, coordinating food and refreshments, along with set up and tear down of the event. They will also serve as the primary contact on the day of their event. This captain should have a strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, creativity and organizational skills.

Alumni/Community Liaison: (2) 

Student Organization Liaison: (2) 

These Captain will communicate deadlines, policies, procedures, and information to all student organizations participating in the parade. They will manage the intake of final registration. They will communicate confirmation, check-in, and reminders throughout the year. They will be responsible for answering student organizations’ questions concerning their participation in the parade. They will work closely with the Competition Committee to communicate information to all student organizations competing in Homecoming. This position requires organization, responsibility, excellent communication skills, experience working with excel, and the ability to work professionally in stressful situations.

VIP/ Vehicle Grounds Coordinator: (1) 

This Captain will be responsible for coordinating the participation of student, alumni, and government VIPs in the parade. They will develop the list of potential invitees, send invitations, and track RSVPs. They will work closely with the Community/Donor Relations Liaison to secure vehicles for VIPs in the parade. This Captain will also be responsible for the Vehicle Grounds. They will secure staging ground reservations with the university. They will create diagrams of their staging grounds, assign participating organizations a check-in location and time on Parade Day, and manage a timely departure to the Parade Route. They will oversee the set up and tear down of the Vehicle Grounds. This Captain should be detail oriented, organized, and possess excellent professional communication skills.

Floats Grounds Coordinator: (1) 

This Captain will be responsible for the Float Grounds. They will secure staging ground reservations with the university. They will handle all grounds paperwork with the university. They will create diagrams of their staging grounds, assign participating organizations a check-in location and time on Parade Day, and manage a timely departure of the Float Grounds to the Parade Route. They will oversee the set up and tear down of the Float Grounds. Also, they will be in charge of planning and overseeing Recycle Your Float. This Captain should be detail oriented, organized, and possess excellent communication skills.

Student Safety Captain: (1) 

This Captain will serve as the primary liaison to the parade flatbed vendor. They will coordinate the delivery of all flatbeds and flatbed supplies to participants. They will communicate flatbed safety regulations to student organizations. They will plan and organize the Parade Float Safety Inspections. Also, they will be in charge of handling all security paperwork for the parade. This Captain will also attend police meetings. They will attend weekly meetings for the Parade Day Focus Group. On Parade day, they will work with the VIP/Vehicle Grounds Coordinator to oversee the Vehicle Grounds.This Captain should have excellent communication skills, be detailed oriented, organized, and able to act professionally.

Logistics and Merge Point: (1)

Administrate Assistant: (1)

The Administrate Assistant will be responsible for the organizational and financial aspects of the Merchandise Committee throughout the year. This Captain will understand the inner workings of their Committee and work closely with their Director to be knowledgeable about all operational aspects of their Committee. The Administrative Assistant will oversee recording meeting minutes, sending recap and reminder emails, and designing committee merchandise. This Captain will also be responsible for planning all committee gatherings such as retreat, and committee bonding events. Additionally, this Captain will serve as a liaison between the Merchandise and the Financial Management Committees. The Administrative Assistant will be responsible for maintaining a financial tracking database and creating reports using that information for the Director. They must be able to create income statements, expense reports, and invoices in Excel to analyze merchandise sales. Keeping track of finances is crucial to ensuring our success as a committee, so this Captain will also assist in keeping track of Committee-specific merchandise ordered throughout the year. They will work to assist in cost analysis for inventory and for promotions. This Captain will also work with the Merchandise Director and Financial Management Committee to create a standard system for tracking merchandise financials from year to year. Additionally, they will be expected to work with Financial Management’s Fiscal Tracking Captains to track the committee’s expenses throughout the year and to attend Fiscal Tracking Focus Groups. A background in finance and accounting, or proficiency in Excel or other spreadsheet programs is preferred for this position. The Administrative Assistant should be very organized, prompt with emails, adaptable and eager to learn.

Graphic Design: (1)

The Graphic Design Captain will be in charge of all the graphic design needs that the Merchandise committee may have. They will work to share ideas and develop new items and logos for Homecoming gear. This Captain may also be assigned to individual tasks such as designing specific-committee merchandise, or graphics. The Graphic Design Captain will act as a liaison to the Public Relations Committee to ensure Homecoming’s brand pervasiveness and consistency across the Penn State community. This Captain will also be asked to design the posters for merch sales as well as promotional materials to be posted on Homecoming’s social media platforms. Lastly, the Graphic Designer will also be aiding the Director with reviewing all Homecoming competitors’ merchandise before participating in Homecoming events to make sure all attire is Homecoming appropriate. The ideal candidate should be extremely creative and dedicated and have an interest in fashion and design. This Captain must be proficient in using Photoshop or other graphic design programs and must provide a portfolio with at least three pieces of work with the application.

Inventory (Logistics): (1)

The major responsibility of the Logistical Inventory Captain is to ensure all sales locations are supplied with merchandise. Merchandise needs to be inventoried after every sale; therefore, they will be asked to keep accurate records of inventory, spot any trends in selling to communicate with the Ordering Captain, and work together with the Financial Management Liaison Captain to produce reports on all items sold. This includes working with the Ordering Captain to establish a logical system to determine how much inventory to order. This Captain must also have a way to record the quantity of each item sold at each sale. The Inventory Captains will also assist in the organization and maintenance of the merchandise storage room. Additionally, the Inventory Captains will work with the Head of Sales Captains to ensure all sales and display bins are accurately stocked before and after each sale. This Captain must be very organized, proficient with Excel (or other spreadsheet software), strong communication skills, and flexible.

Inventory (Outreach): (1)

The major responsibility of the Outreach Inventory Captain is to ensure all sales locations are supplied with merchandise. Merchandise needs to be inventoried after every sale; therefore, they will be asked to keep accurate records of inventory with the other Inventory Captain. This position will also involve managing the merchandise online store. Online store responsibilities include packing and shipping all online orders and responding to customer service questions via e-mail. The Inventory Captains will also assist in the organization and maintenance of the merchandise storage room. This Captain will be responsible for distributing all internal Homecoming merchandise (e.g., on-shift shirts and Forever shirts). Additionally, the Inventory Captains will work with the Head of Sales Captains to ensure all sales and display bins are accurately stocked before and after each sale. This Captain must be very organized, be able to respond to e-mails adequately, proficient with Excel (or other spreadsheet software), strong communication skills, and adaptable.

Ordering: (1)

The Ordering Captain will be responsible for placing all orders for Homecoming specific merchandise. This Captain will work closely with the Merchandise Director and our vendors to ensure that all merchandise orders are correct. This position will also involve preparing the order sheets to be sent out to the vendors in a neat Excel Spreadsheet. This Captain will work with the Inventory Outreach Captain to establish a logical system to determine how much inventory to order. Lastly, this Captain will work closely with the Merchandise Director to ensure the accurately of the orders and to ensure timely delivery/pickup. This Captain must be organized, be able to respond to e-mails promptly, have a strong attention to detail, and be very patient.

Head of Sales: (2)

The Head of Sales Captains will be responsible for selecting the members of the Merchandise Committee, who will help work sales in the HUB and at Homecoming events. They will help build unity within the Merchandise Committee and work with the Inter-Committee Liaison to plan activities with the Captains and Committee Members. These Captains must be creative in finding ways to keep committee members involved in Homecoming throughout the year. The Head of Sales Captains will not only attend weekly meetings with the Merchandise Director and Captains, but they will also be expected to hold weekly meetings with their Merchandise Committee. They will also be responsible for creating a schedule for Committee Members and Captains to ensure that sales are manned at all times and lead set-up and tear-down procedures. These Captains will make sure all Captains and Committee Members are aware of the sale procedures by working with the Merchandise Director to teach the skills necessary to best sell our products. Additionally, these Captains will work with the Inventory Captains to ensure all sales and display bins are accurately stocked before and after each sale. The Head of Sales Captains must be strong leaders and great role models for their Committee.

Fiscal Tracking (2)

These captains are responsible for tracking all internal expenses and profits of Homecoming. They will also work closely with the Financial Management Director to manage various committee budgets and fiscal reports for the year. Responsibilities include merchandise profit analysis, profit/expense report tracking, and committee budget management. This position will entail educating all Inter-Committee Liaisons and Financial Management Liaisons on proper financial recording methods and fiscal tracking. These Captains will be responsible for tracking the budgets for fiscal focused committees which includes the Distribution Management, Internal Development, OPPerations, Parade, Pride Events, Public Relations, Talent Relations, and University Relations committees. These captains will help the Financial Management Director lead the Fiscal Tracking Group in meetings. There will be extra meetings for this position. Detail orientation and Excel experience are preferred skills.

Corporate Fundraising (1)

This Captain will be responsible for establishing and developing fundraising events with businesses in State College for Homecoming. They will be required to organize and manage fundraisers, contact various businesses and corporations, and make trips to businesses to strengthen Homecoming’s relationship with them. This Captain will also act as a liaison between Homecoming and the Bryce Jordan Center in coordinating concession stand fundraising events. This Captain will work closely with the Internal Development Director in communicating all of Homecoming’s fundraising efforts to all committees. Strong creativity, communication, and organizational skills are preferred.

Donation Development (1)

The Donation Development Captain is responsible for spreading awareness of Homecoming sponsorship opportunities. This includes keeping track of all donations to Homecoming by improving and maintaining the donation tracker. They are in charge of planning and implementing new strategies to better suit both our current donors and potential future donors. This captain will also work closely with Public Relations committee and the Benefitting Captain in order to develop a new benefitting packet. Communication skills, creativity, and the ability to express the importance of Homecoming are the most pertinent skills necessary to succeed as the Donation Development Captain.

Benefitting (1)

The Benefitting Captain will develop a new Benefitting Packet for Homecoming 2021. This project will be the vast majority of this Captain’s role in the Spring semester. This captain will work closely with Public Relations. The Benefitting Captain is responsible for thanking donors and sponsors of Homecoming which mainly takes place in the Spring. They will need to be conscious of donation follow-up protocol. They will put together sponsor packets and work with other committees to coordinate necessary donations. This captain will also be responsible for coordinating parade day donations and managing the Donor Tent with the Donation Development Captain. Some aspects of this may include supervising tent set up, ordering catering, decorating the tent, developing the invitation list, inviting donors, networking during the parade, and supervising tent tear-down. They will work closely with Internal Development’s Friends and Family Tent Captain(s) and OPPerations captains to ensure that the parade day tent is run smoothly. Professionalism, promptness and good communication skills are needed in order to be successful in this position.

Alternative Fundraising (1)

This Captain will be responsible for creating and coordinating alternative fundraisers for Homecoming. The Alternative Fundraising Captains should be creative and driven to pursue projects of their own creation throughout the year. These captains will also be in charge of implementing the Gift Card Initiative across Homecoming. They will be in charge of drafting an email and sending it out to different stores in State College and across the state of Pennsylvania. They will try to get $20 gift cards from stores such as Walmart, Target, grocery stores, Home Depot, and more! These Captains should have innovative ideas and strong communication skills.

Alumni & University Liaison (1)

This Captain will work with the Alumni Relations Committee to spread awareness to alumni of sponsorship opportunities for Homecoming 2021. This captain will work closely with the Financial Management Director to develop more prevalent donation funds. They will work with the Benefitting Captain to improve on the Benefitting structure for Alumni donors. The Alumni & University Liaison will also work with the university to determine how they can help Homecoming. This Captain should be creative, have good communication skills, and have knowledge of the Alumni Association.

Event Captains (2): The Events Captains are responsible for planning events in celebration of the selection of the 2023 Homecoming Court. This includes the Court Reception, Court Workshop, and Court Crash. They also communicate with the Alumni Association and Staff at the Hintz Center to prepare for these events. One of theses captains will also act and the Court Relations Committee’s Head of DEI/Events Captain. This Captain will lead initiatives and conversations throughout the year to bring up common Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion issues. The other Events captain will double as the Court Relations Inter-Committee Liaison. The ICL/Events Captain is responsible for taking meeting minutes and fostering morale and bonding within the committee.

Student Court Captains (2):  These captains will work together to coordinate all efforts involving the Student Court. This includes communicating with the past court and involving them in Spring events for Homecoming. It also entails the nomination, application, voting, and selection of the Student Court for Homecoming 2022. This also involves assisting in the coordination of the Faculty Panel and ensuring the appearance of the Homecoming court at events throughout Homecoming Week.

University Court Captain (1): The University Court Captain is involved in the coordination of all things surrounding the University Court. This includes the nomination and selection of Court as well as the appearance of the court at events throughout Homecoming Week. This captain will also work with the Graduate Court Captain to select a Student Panel.

Graduate and Professional School Captain (1):  The Graduate Court captain is in charge of the coordination of all things surrounding the Graduate Court. This includes the nomination and selection of Court as well as the appearance of the court at events throughout Homecoming Week. This will include outreach efforts to different graduate organizations to make them aware of nominations. This captain will also work with the University Court Captain to select a Student Panel.

Point Master (1)

The Point Master Captain is required to attend all events at which Spirit and/or Competition Points are available and will oversee signing in organization members to receive points. They are required to create detailed spreadsheets that will be used by themselves as well as Competition Captains to keep track of all Competition and Spirit Points for each specific event. These captains should be organized, prompt, and have some experience in creating spreadsheets (Excel).

Events & Registration (1)

The Event Captain should be outgoing, organized, have good communication skills, and be willing to reach out to distinguished Penn State students, faculty,and alumni. The Events/Registration Captain is responsible for the organization of the Madhatter Competition, Banner Competition, and Competitor Registration. This captain is also responsible for being present to greet the judges and explain the scoring process of Banner Competition. This Captain will also oversee the execution of all areas of the Madhatter Competition. This Captain will also be working with the financial Management Director on Competitor Registration.

Organization Liaison (3)

The Organization Liaisons serve as the main point of communication for all Penn State Homecoming Competitors. The Liaisons will be working to further outreach to more organizations on campus. These Captains must have a vast knowledge ofeverything involved with Competition and Homecoming, including, events, rules, dates, and scoring and will need to be prepared to answer Competitor questions at any time. They will be responsible for the planning and execution of the Spring and Fall Homecoming Information Meetings. The Competing pairs will be split, and each Organization Liaison will be given a group of Competitors for which they will provide information and send reminders to. These Captains must be responsible, organized, have strong communication skills, and be prepared to work with many individuals.

Rules & Regulations (1)

The Rules & Regulations Captain will be responsible for administering deductions according to the rules set forth in the Rulebook and will be required to create Rulebook quizzes that will be given to Competition Captains as well as Homecoming Chairs of each organization. This captain is also responsible for overseeing the making of rubrics for the events as well as competitor inspections. This captain should be organized and will work with Parade on all requirements for the Float Competition.

Inter Committee Liaison/Student-Alumni Ice Cream Social (1)

This captain will act as the Administrative Assistant and plan the Student-Alumni Ice Cream Social. As the Administrative Assistant they will work closely with the Alumni Relations Director in organizing team building events and acting as the main connection between Alumni Relations and other committees. Their responsiblities will include taking meeting minutes, checking and collaborating with other captains, sending out reminders, and designing/ordering all Alumni Relations Committee merchandise. The ICS role requires they work closely with the Alumni Association to formulate the event layout, entertainment and activities, and the timeline. This captain will be responsible for reaching out to performing organizations, student organizations, and the student population in order to increase attendance and help advertise the event. This captain will also act as the liaison between Alumni Relations and Financial Management , working with the Financial Managmenet Fiscal Tracking Captains to track the committee’s expenses throughout the year. This individual must demonstrate creativity and an ability to work through event planning logistics while being organized and have strong communication skills.

Alumni Court (1)

This captain is in charge of all logistics pertaining to the Penn State Homecoming Alumni Court. This individual will oversee the publicizing of the court, as well as the application and interview process. This individual will be responsible for maintaining and promoting good relationships between any Alumni chapters and groups involved in the process. Once the Alumni Court is selected, this individual is tasked with acting as the liaison between Homecoming and the Alumni Court. During Homecoming Week, this captain will go to Court Reception (along with your GM/HGM Liaison) to introduce the court to the audience. They will also escort the court to Vehicle Grounds and meet them at the end of the route to escort them to F&FT on Parade Day.

Alumni Engagement: Social Media (1)

This captain will be in charge of working with the Alumni Association to promote alumni recognition beyond just Homecoming Week. They will be responsible for utilizing our social media platforms, especially LinkedIn, to connect with accomplished alumni and reach out to interview them for the Alumni Spotlight Initiative. They will work closely with PR for the Spotlights and with use of Homecoming Social Media. This captain should be ambitious in their efforts to stay engaged with and highlight the successes of alumni through online platforms and be comfortable demonstrating professionalism while interviewing these alumni. This captain should be enthusiastic in their interactions and creative in finding new ways to highlight Penn State alumni. This captain will work closely with the other Alumni Engagement: Events Captain to highlight additional events.

Alumni Engagement: Events (1)

This captain will be in charge of working with the Alumni Association to promote student engagement with alumni beyond just Homecoming Week, including guest speakers, luncheons and networking events. They will work closely with the Administrative Assistant, as well as the Alumni Association, to create new events and initiatives that will further engage students and alumni. They will also work with their director to continue to grow AlumniTalks. They should be ambitious in their efforts to stay engaged with and highlight the successes of alumni, and will be in charge of creating new ways to showcase our alumni throughout the year Homecoming season. This captain should demonstrate professionalism and have strong communication skills to other Homecoming volunteers and incoming Alumni.

Grand Marshal/Honorary Grand Marshal Captain (1)

This captain will be in charge of maintaining contact with Homecoming’s Grand Marshal and Honorary Grand Marshal prior to and throughout Homecoming Week, ensuring that they are aware of the timeline and other important information. They are in charge of promoting the Grand Marshal and Honorary Grand Marshal to the Penn State population, including planning how they will be revealed and sharing how these individuals have contributed to the Penn State community. This individual must be organized, demonstrate professionalism, and have strong communication skills. During Homecoming Week, this captain will go to Court Reception (along with your Alumni Court Captain) to introduce the GM and HGM. Additionally, this captain will escort the GM and HGM to Vehicle Grounds and F&FT on Parade Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where can I find out the date or time of a meeting or specific event?

• • All of the dates and times of the required meetings for orgs and all other Homecoming events, including merchandise sales and fundraisers are on the Homecoming Online Calendar, The Homecoming Newsletter, and will be relayed by the Organization Liaison Captains. Also look for updates on the Homecoming list-serv, or in e-mails from the Competition Committee!

• I am interested in learning more about Homecoming and being informed about the events that are going on. How can I stay updated?

• • If you are a Competing Organization, you can contact the Competition Director at competitionhomecoming@psu.edu to be added to the Homecoming Chair contact list.
  • If you are interested in being more involved in Homecoming 2021, please contact the Parade Director at paradehomecoming@psu.edu.
  • For the most recent event updates, you can visit the Homecoming Website located at homecoming.psu.edu. All general inquiries can be directed to the Executive Director at homecoming@psu.edu.

• Can anyone participate in the Homecoming Week events?

• • Absolutely! For more information about how to get involved with Homecoming events, please contact the University Relations director at universityhomecoming@psu.edu.

• How do I nominate someone for Student, University, Alumni or Graduate Court?

• • Nominations for Courts can be made by Penn State students digitally on the Homecoming Website or in person on select dates. Nominations can be made for Student and University Courts. Alumni and Graduate Courts require an individual to apply. Look out for dates on Nomination and Application periods on Homecoming social media and the Homecoming website.

• My organization already has a flatbed, are we required to rent one for the Parade?

• • No, if your organization already has a flatbed, they may use it as long as it does not exceed the maximum size allowed by Homecoming and the Borough.

Any further questions should be directed to the Competition Director, April Komal, at competitionhomecoming@psu.edu

Training Development: (1)

The Training & Development Captain will spearhead internal development of their fellow Captains and Committee Members. They will manage professional development and team building in order to promote a cohesive, collected, and professional OPP unit prior to Homecoming Week. This role will work closely with all Captains. This Captain should be collaborative, self-assured, and willing to help others be the most professional version of themselves.

Inventory Liaison / Special Projects: (3)

The Special Projects/Inventory Liaison Captains will be responsible for any projects that fall outside the normal responsibilities of the OPP committee. They will design and construct all structures requested from other committees. These individuals should be creative and comfortable using basic tools necessary for construction. They will need to work with the rest of the OPP committee, and with all other committees throughout Homecoming. They will process requests from these individuals, and work directly with the Inventory Development Captain to understand what inventory we currently have, and what to allocate. These 3 captains will need to have an in-depth understanding of our inventory, be very organized, and can work well with others.

Inventory Development: (1)

The Inventory Development Captain will be responsible for developing and optimizing an Inventory Management system for internal Homecoming and OPP use. This Captain will be expected to work with the Special Projects/Inventory Liaison and Purchasing Captains to understand current inventory and update the inventory management system throughout the year. Their main project will be Inventory Day in which they lead the organization of the off campus storage closet. This Captain needs to be organized and data-oriented and have a sound knowledge of Excel or other data management software.

Equipment Logistics: (1)

The Equipment Logistics Captain is responsible for sourcing all materials and equipment, including tables, chairs, and vehicles needed for Homecoming Week. They will work closely with Penn State OPP and will be in constant contact with outside vendors and with other Homecoming Committees fulfilling their needs for events. This Captain will be working constantly with the Setup/Teardown and PDFG Captains to plan each event. They will be a leader during event Set Up and Teardown to ensure all equipment is handled properly. This Captain must be organized and reliable, since they need to have a holistic idea of everything happening with the larger inventory items.

Procurement-Purchasing (1)

Purchasing Captains will be responsible for acquiring all supplies for Homecoming. The Purchasing Captain will be responsible for ordering all materials needed to create Homecoming floats and meet other requested supplies such as rental agreements. They will also research quotes from various vendors and will work to find sustainable alternatives to common supplies. They will also be expected to attend Fiscal Tracking Focus Groups. This Captain will work alongside the Inventory Development and Special Projects/Inventory Liaison Captains. This Captain should be organized and have good communication skills. Overall this captain will focus on purchasing items to allocate and fuel all of Homecoming!

Involvement: (2)

These Captains will work towards increasing Homecoming involvement with the incoming freshmen. This will primarily be done by overseeing the First Year Involvement Committee (FYIC). These Captains will promote applications for the committee, review the applications, hold meetings and plan events for them. These Captains will work with other committees to engage FYIC in Homecoming week events and find new and innovative tasks that FYIC can undertake. These Captains should dedicate time after Homecoming week to encourage FYIC members to stay involved with Homecoming next season. In addition to the work done with FYIC, these Captains will work to produce new material to get organizations and students involved with Homecoming on campus and present this material at involvement fairs and recruiting activities. The Involvement Captains will also work with the ICL to help coordinate and promote the Involvement Committee. These Captains should be outgoing, creative and passionate about spreading the mission of Homecoming.

Athletic Engagement: (1)

This Captain will help to coordinate and plan Homecoming athletic events. This Captain will be expected to be in contact with the Penn State Athletics Marketing Department to help coordinate existing and future participation in athletic events, including but not limited to, the Homecoming Basketball, Field Hockey/Lacrosse, Soccer, Hockey, Wrestling, and Golf events. This Captain will also be responsible for coming up with new and innovative ways of getting student, faculty and alumni involved at athletic events. This Captain should also develop creative opportunities for all Penn State athletes to be involved in Homecoming Events. This Captain should be able to communicate creative ideas to Public Relations for promoting events and be innovative when producing programming and activities in limited space at athletic venues. This Captain should be prepared to work on multiple projects at once, have strong communication skills and be excited about Penn State Athletics.

Tailgate Competition and Athletics Liaison: (1)

This Captain will organize the Homecoming Tailgate Competitions held at the Blue and White Game and on Homecoming Gameday. They will be responsible for preparing the competition’s rules, categories, and scoring rubric, contacting potential alumni contestants and student organizations, and creating a timeline for the day of judging. In addition, this Captain will oversee coordinating the Blue and White Tailgate Competition by creating a series of small, interactive games to help increase Penn State Tailgate involvement in school pride. This Captain will also work with the Sustainability Institute to coordinate Homecoming’s involvement in the Tailgate Ambassadors program. In addition to their tailgate focused responsibilities, this Captain will work with the Athletic Engagement Captain and Penn State Sports Marketing to coordinate Homecoming Baseball and Women’s Volleyball. This Captain should be able to communicate creative ideas to Public Relations for promoting events and be innovative when producing programming and activities in limited space at athletic venues. This Captain should have great organizational skills and be capable of communicating with many contacts at once.

Faculty Outreach and Administrative Assistant Captain: (1)

The Faculty Outreach and Admin Assistant Captain captain will be responsible for the organizational aspect of the University Relations Committee throughout the year. This captain will oversee recording meeting minutes, sending reminder emails, and ordering merchandise. The Faculty Outreach and Admin Assistant Captain will work closely with the Student Outreach Captain when creating and disseminating promotional material. This Captain will be communicating with various university contacts throughout the year to encourage involvement of Penn State faculty in our Homecoming celebration. This Captain will contact academic colleges to engage with faculty, present educational material about Homecoming, and provide unique opportunities to participate in our Homecoming celebration. The Faculty Outreach and Admin Assistant Captain will be responsible for assisting in the planning and promotion of the Homecoming Office Competitions and faculty events. This Captain will be expected to work with Financial Management’s Fiscal Tracking Captains to track the committee’s expenses throughout the year. This Captain will have creative freedom to produce any new programs or initiatives, with the aim to increase the involvement of faculty. The Faculty Outreach and Admin Assistant captain should be very creative, organized, and have excellent communication skills.

Student Outreach: (1)

This Captain will be communicating with various student organizations throughout the year to incorporate more students in our Homecoming celebration. This Captain will also oversee contacting academic colleges to encourage the promotion of Homecoming to their students. The Student Outreach Captain will be responsible for assisting in the planning and promotion of the Homecoming Office Competitions. This Captain will also have creative freedom to produce any new programs with the aim to increase Homecoming’s inclusivity planning. In addition, this Captain will organize newsletters and releases to inform students of Homecoming events and spotlight different student organizations. The Student Outreach Captain will work closely with the Faculty Outreach Captain when creating and disseminating promotional material. This Captain should have superb communication skills, be creative and organized.

Special Events (2)

These Captains will work with closely with the University Relations Director, Penn State officials, and student organizations to plan events that promote the values of Homecoming such as the annual Day of Service and the Past to Present Tour. Their primary responsibilities will include planning locations, bus routes, and activities for Day of Service as well as helping the Athletic Engagement captain brainstorm ideas for Homecoming’s different athletic events. These Captains will also be responsible for other events leading up to and throughout Homecoming Week such as working with SPA for the Homecoming Concert, and coordinating food and blood drives across campus. These Captains should be prepared to assume immediate responsibilities, and should be very passionate about the Penn State community, event planning, and logistics.

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Administrative Assistant (1)

The Administrative Assistant is responsible for taking meeting minutes, communicating with various Directors to determine what donations are needed, and for organizing committee merchandise. They will serve as the effectual assistant to the Donor Relations Director for the entirety of Homecoming. Time management and organization are the most pertinent skills necessary to succeed as the Administrative Assistant.

Donation Development (1)

The Donation Development Captain is responsible for spreading awareness of Homecoming sponsorship opportunities. This includes keeping track of all donations to Homecoming by developing and maintaining the donation tracker. They are in charge of planning and implementing new strategies to better suit both our current donors and potential future donors. Communication skills, creativity, and the ability to express the importance of Homecoming are the most pertinent skills necessary to succeed as the Donation Development Captain.

Benefiting (1)

The Benefiting Captain is responsible for thanking donors and sponsors of Homecoming. They will work closely with the Donation Development Captain to manage donations to Homecoming and maintain donation follow-up protocol. They will put together sponsor packets and work with other committees to coordinate necessary donations. They will work closely with the Donor Relations Director and Corporate Sponsor Captain to develop new benefit structures for Homecoming. Promptness and adherence to deadlines are the most pertinent skills necessary to succeed as the Benefitting captain.

Liaison (1)

The Liaison Captain is responsible for working with the Distribution Management, Finance, and OPPerations committees. They will work to create donation pick-up and drop-off timelines for all Homecoming events. They will also be responsible for developing and communicating Homecoming event expectations to the Donor Relations committee.  Communication skills and the ability to work in teams are the most pertinent skills necessary to succeed as the Liaison Captain.

Corporate Sponsor (1)

The Corporate Sponsor Captain is responsible for communicating with major local and national donors involved with Penn State Homecoming.  They will work closely with the Donor Relations Director to apply for corporate donations and help to develop new benefit structures for Homecoming.  They will work closely with the Donation Development Captain to recruit new sponsors and maintain positive relationships with current donors.  Communication skills, professionalism and the ability to express the importance of Homecoming are the most pertinent skills necessary to succeed as the Corporate Sponsorship Captain.

Tent Captain (1)

The Tent Captain is responsible for coordinating parade day donations and managing the Media and Sponsorship Tent.  Some aspects of the tent may include: supervising tent set up, ordering catering, decorating the tent, developing the invitation list, inviting donors, networking during the parade, and supervising tent tear-down. They will work with Internal Development’s Friends and Family Tent Captain(s) and OPPerations captains to ensure that the parade day tent is run smoothly.  Professionalism, promptness, and the ability to communicate effectively are the most pertinent skills necessary to succeed as the Tent Captain.

Administrative Assistant Captain (1)

The Administrative Assistant is responsible for keeping detailed weekly meeting minutes, sending out committee reminders through email, ordering committee-specific merchandise, and planning bonding events. This Captain works closely with the Production Director and helps with communication between the Homecoming Parade Webcast, the Public Relations Committee, and the Technology Committee. In addition to his or her weekly committee meeting, this person is responsible for attending bi-weekly admin meetings. This Captain should be reliable, self-motivated, and organized.

Video Coordinator Captain (1)

The Video Coordinator Captain is responsible for collaborating with the Video Media Captains to produce content that promotes the mission and refines the brand of Homecoming, such as: the Emcee Announcement, Logo Reveal, Grand Marshal Reveal as well as others. This person has the opportunity to film at Homecoming events on the Beaver Stadium Field and throughout the year. This Captain is in charge of archiving and managing video content created by Homecoming. Applicants should be knowledgeable in Canon cameras, Adobe Premiere, After Effects, or other video editing software. This Captain should be organized, creative, and able to motivate others. Videos created may be used for a personal reel. This person oversees Production committee members.
*A submission of a digital portfolio is required. Please include a site link or labeled flash drive of your work when submitting your application.

Video Media Captains (4)

The Video Media Captains are responsible for filming, producing, and editing all Homecoming videos, such as: the Emcee Announcement, Logo Reveal, Grand Marshal Reveal as well as others. These Captains have the opportunity to film at Homecoming events on the Beaver Stadium Field and through the year. They also have access to archives of previous Homecoming footage. Applicants should be knowledgeable in or eager to learn about Canon cameras, Adobe Premiere or other video editing software. They should be creative, self-motivated, and collaborative. Videos created may be used for a personal reel.
*A submission of a digital portfolio is recommended. Please include a site link or labeled flash drive of your work when submitting your application.

The Emcee Relations Captains are responsible for auditioning and reviewing applications to find the two Homecoming Emcees for the year. These Captains work closely with the Talent Captain to check in performers for Homecoming. For events with Emcees, these Captains are responsible for writing and proofreading scripts to be read by the Emcees. They should have excellent writing skills, a keen attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines.
*A submission of a writing sample is suggested.  Please attach a copy of your work when submitting your application.

Administrative Assistant (1)

This captain will work closely with the Alumni Relations Director in a variety of organization and team-building roles. They are responsible for taking meeting minutes, sending out reminder emails, and creating timelines for week-of events. The Administrative Assistant will also order all Alumni Relations committee merchandise, work closely with fellow captains, especially the Alumni Engagement captain, in creating new ways to increase student-alumni engagement, and organize team-building activities. It is important for this captain to be organized and have strong communication skills.

Grand Marshal/Honorary Grand Marshal Liaison (1)

This captain will be in charge of maintaining contact with Homecoming’s Grand Marshal and Honorary Grand Marshal prior to and throughout Homecoming Week, ensuring that they are aware of the timeline and other important information. They are in charge of promoting the Grand Marshal and Honorary Grand Marshal to the Penn State population, including planning how they will be revealed and sharing how these individuals have contributed to the Penn State community. This individual must be organized, demonstrate professionalism, and have strong communication skills.

Student-Alumni Ice Cream Social Captains (1)

This captain will plan the Student-Alumni Ice Cream Social. They will work closely with the Alumni Association to formulate the event layout, entertainment and activities, and the timeline. This captain will be responsible for reaching out to performing organizations, student organizations, and the student population in order to increase attendance and help advertise the event. This individual must demonstrate creativity and an ability to work through event planning logistics.

Tailgate Competition Captain (1)

This captain will organize the Tailgate Competition held on Homecoming Gameday, as well as advertise it to recruit more participants. They will be responsible for preparing the competition’s rules, categories, and scoring rubric, contacting potential alumni contestants and student organizations, and creating a timeline for the day of judging. The Tailgate Competition Captain will solidify prizes and promotional material, oversee registration, and help judge tailgates on the day of. This captain should be able to communicate creative ideas to PR for promoting the event and be willing to brainstorm ways to encourage the registration of new participants.

Alumni Engagement (1)

This captain will be in charge of working with the Alumni Association to promote student engagement with alumni beyond just Homecoming Week, including guest speakers, luncheons and networking events. They will also work with PR to feature alumni through the Alumni Spotlight Initiative on social media. This captain will work closely with the Administrative Assistant, as well as the Alumni Association, to create new events and initiatives that will further engage students and alumni. They should be ambitious in their efforts to stay engaged with and highlight the successes of alumni, and will be in charge of creating new ways to showcase our alumni throughout the Homecoming season.