SGA creates Homecoming door decorating contest

Homecoming is on the way, which means students will soon get to enjoy a slew of events across campus. Faculty and staff, however, don’t have as many opportunities as students to celebrate Homecoming, which prompted the Student Government Association (SGA) to create a new way for departments and offices to get excited and show their Trojan Pride.

“The idea really came from us looking at how we could expand Homecoming and make it feel like something for the entire Troy Family,” said SGA Vice President of Campus Affairs Jamarion Willie, a junior electronics engineering major from Hunstville, Alabama. “When we were brainstorming, we thought about the people who are on campus every day but may not always have a direct way to participate in some of the competitions and activities.

“A door decorating competition seemed like something that almost any department or office could participate in. It gives people a chance to work together, be creative, and represent their area of campus while still being a part of Homecoming.”

Willie said any faculty and staff departments and offices across campus from admissions and housing to athletics and student services are free to take part in the competition by dressing up their doors around this year’s Homecoming theme – Flight 1887.

“They can turn it into an airport, boarding gate, airplane, destination or really take the theme in whatever creative direction they want,” Willie said. “At the end of the day, we just want to see Troy spirit all across campus and get more of the Troy Family involved in Homecoming.”

Willie said he hopes the contest will become something that gets faculty and staff excited about Homecoming and gives them a chance to be involved beyond just attending events, while also creating an exciting Homecoming environment.

“A lot of Homecoming activities naturally focus on students and student organizations, so I wanted us to find another way to bring faculty and staff into that excitement,” Willie said. “I also hope people have fun with it.

“I want students to be walking around campus during Homecoming week and see all these different doors and offices decorated and feel like the entire campus is celebrating together. If it goes well, I would love for something like this to continue and become a Homecoming tradition.”

Departments and offices will participate as a team, and each department or office will submit one official entry. Departments and offices wanting to participate in the contest should fill out SGA’s registration form for entry before Oct. 22 at 5p.m.

Doors will need to be completed by Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. The judging is scheduled to take placethe following day.

“I think people should participate because Homecoming is one of those times when everybody gets to celebrate what it means to be a Trojan,” Willie said. “You don’t have to be a student or part of a student organization to have Troy spirit.

“It’s also just a fun opportunity for departments to come together and do something different. You get to be creative, have a little friendly competition with other offices and help completely change the atmosphere around campus for Homecoming.

“Even if you don’t win, you’re helping make Homecoming more exciting for everybody who walks through campus that week.”

Homecoming week will begin during the first week of November. The department or office with the best Homecoming door decoration will be recognized during the Homecoming football game on Nov. 7.