The Making of Homecoming By: Abbey Pardue

Hardin-Simmons University Homecoming on Oct.14, was a major success. After all the planning and preparation, all of the efforts across the university campus really paid off.

Working in the University Events Office with Cassie Mattern, we begin homecoming prep essentially at the beginning of the school year. We start brainstorming ideas for decorations, photo booths and centerpieces at the beginning of September. Once we get supplies together for these tasks, we start considering execution of the project.

The work will usually start sometime in the three weeks before homecoming weekend. This year, we created a fringe photo booth backdrop where we cut up table clothes and tied them onto a grid. We worked on this project for about two weeks and the result was phenomenal.Sometimes, these projects can get tedious, but they always have an amazing end result.

During homecoming week, we began setting up decorations in the Johnson Building, Moody Center and the Don Bridges Courtyard. Whether it be a sparkle curtain, neon sign or balloon arch, all of these cute creative decorations were the work of our University Events staff. On homecoming day, we handed out pom poms and glowsticks, as well as set up photo booths and centerpieces for the luncheons and dinners scheduled across campus.

I was also assigned to direct Freshman SING! this year. My days were full of creating purple and gold decorations, while my nights were full of rehearsals and performances. My wonderful co-director, Zorian Burley, wrote a fantastic show that Freshman SING! Got to perform in front of a wonderful crowd. Rehearsals for this show started in early September while working Mondays-Thursdays for approximately two hours a day. Luckily, all of our hard work was rewarded as Freshman SING! Won outstanding vocal performance in the competition while having a blast. The six long weeks of rehearsing, writing, choreographing, and coaching was worth it for all parties involved.

Now that homecoming is over for another year, we are beginning preparations for Christmas and all that entails. Have you ever wondered who sets up all of these creative decorations across campus? Now, you know.