Last week, Hardin-Simmons celebrated homecoming with several events throughout the week. Some of them were painting tote bags, a pep rally with fireworks, and the crowning of the king and queen at the football game.
“Homecoming is always so much fun to participate in,” Sarah Harbison, a sophomore social work major from Lubbock, said. “There is so much to do and it is fun getting to support my friends on the court and the football team at the game.”
The week kicked off with painting tote bags. Students were able to use stencils or freehand their own designs. “One of my friends handpainted the six white horses,” Kara Cooper, a freshman communication sciences and disorders major from Fort Worth, said. “I really enjoyed getting to make something full of school spirit for the football game.”
Free coffee from ExpressOak and donuts were handed out before chapel last week. “I am always excited to get coffee and it was the perfect way to get ready for chapel,” Harbison said.
Remember the Titans played on the football field Oct. 12. Students were invited to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets to watch the movie in Shelton Stadium. “I didn’t think I would like “Remember the Titans” since it was a sports movie,” Emma Owens, a freshman biology major from Austin, said. “It was actually a really good movie and so much fun getting to see it with my friends on the football field.”
HSU Students also participated in Patty’s Pickleball Tournament last Thursday. “I had never seen pickleball played before,” Berlin Taylor, a sophomore exercise science major from Abilene, said. “It was a lot of fun and I might start playing too.”
Students competed against faculty and staff at a volleyball tournament. The first team of students won the tournament. Members of the audience were given raffle tickets for two giveaways and some competed in a three-point contest. “I am so proud of all of the different teams,” Baili Deaver, a freshman exercise science major from Tolar, said. “It was so much fun getting to compete.”
All-School SING allowed freshmen and social clubs to perform skits and songs for their friends and family. Kappa and ZOO won first for their Top Gun themed performance and AIO won runner up. “It was so much fun participating in SING,” Cooper said. “I made so many new friends and got to spend a lot of time messing around with them.”
Students performed at a pep rally that was followed by fireworks and purple pancakes and sausages.“The fireworks were so pretty,” Deaver said. “It got me really excited for the football game.”
The Spurs, cheerleaders, and the Cowboy Band showcased their talents at the tailgate before the game.“I always love getting to perform for everyone,” Kaylynn Reyna, a freshman math major from Abilene, said. “It’s a lot of fun being out there with the Spurs.”
The Hardin-Simmons’ Cowboys beat East Texas Baptist’s team 27-7. Karson Gopffarth, a senior biology pre-physical therapy major from Keller, won homecoming king. Jailyn Woods-Mcgarthy, a senior communications major from Dallas, won homecoming queen.
“Homecoming will be something that I cherish forever,” Woods-Mcgarthy said. “Not only did I win homecoming queen, HScrU won Best Interact in SING. I love being a Cowboy.”