Hoopcoming praises charity, crowns king

Amanda Delgado Freshman Forum’s annual Hoopcoming encouraged donations to charity by raising money for a “Hoopcoming King,” crowned at the homecoming basketball game on Feb. 28. Students voted for Hoopcoming King by donating money to certain candidates, and the winner would decide a philanthropy to donate the money to. This year’s Hoopcoming King is Omari Vaughans, a junior information systems major from Montgomery, part of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and under the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). “It was really nice to meet a lot of people, new faces and people I probably wouldn’t have talked to normally,” Vaughans said. “I think it was good for students to get involved, even if they’re not related to Hoopcoming, to just come to the basketball game and just spend time in the student section,” said Josh Marvin, a sophomore risk management insurance major from Alabaster and the Hoopcoming director. “Hoopcoming is basically a big fundraiser,” said Nicole Jayjohn, a sophomore marine biology major from Daphne and the Freshman Forum director. “We try to get as many organizations on campus involved (as possible).” Marvin said Hoopcoming not only allows clubs “a chance to work toward something really good and impactful,” but also provides them a way to reach out to students. “I think (Hoopcoming) is a really good way for a lot of organizations to spread awareness about some of their own meetings,” Marvin said. Students from 16 organizations raised $1,160, which will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club.