Troy students, community prepare for downtown parade

Homecoming season is here yet again, and students across Troy’s campus are preparing for a special annual Homecoming tradition: the Homecoming parade. 

The Homecoming parade, sponsored by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, is a tradition that students, faculty, alumni and the surrounding community of Troy look forward to each year. 

“It's been going on forever,” said Abby Gilliland, vice president of campus affairs. “It’s really just such a great way to involve the community in all these events.” 

Gilliland, a part of the team who makes the parade possible each year, shared her experience in helping make the parade a success this year. 

“It's been so much fun to plan,” Gilliland said. “So many things go into it that people don’t realize, but it pays off in the end, and it’s so much fun the day of. 

“I know I've been stressing about it for so long, but I honestly think after it’s over with, I'm going to be really sad.”  

This year’s theme for Homecoming floats is, “There’s no place like Troy,” stemming from the famous quote in “The Wizard of Oz,” “There’s no place like home.”  

“This year is a little more whimsical and very on brand with the year we’ve had, especially with ‘Wicked’ and everything,” Gilliland said. “What I think is really cool is the little ideas that you have turn into something big.” 

Along with the parade, throughout the week, students have been involved in Skit Night, Dance Night, Chalk the Quad, Quarter Wars and so much more in honor of Homecoming.  

“I think it really makes the college experience,” Gilliland said. “You're here for four years and once you’re out of college, you’re never really going to experience this type of stuff again, like college kids dancing in a basketball arena.”  

Gilliland encouraged students to get involved in the Homecoming festivities this week, especially the parade.  

“The school spirit is unmatched, and you never realize how dedicated people are to Troy until you see how they act during the pep rallies and stuff,” Gilliland said. 

“How the theme is ‘there’s no place like Troy,’ there really isn’t. It really shows how great Troy is.”  

Jenna Newell, a junior nursing major from Birmingham, Alabama, is looking forward to the fun-filled week Homecoming never fails to bring. 

“It's a great break from academics and something eventful to look forward to,” Newell said. “It’s energetic, school spirit-filled and just community-driven.  

“It's just part of the festivities and a nice way to have people who graduated come down, view the school and see what changed or what stayed the same, so it’s exciting.”  

Newell shared how she appreciates the way Homecoming and the parade bring the community of Troy together.  

“There's the tradition aspect of it,” Newell said. “If you do something long enough it becomes special.  

“It's building a community around the school, just like the alumni are coming down. They all went to games together and studied together, so it's like building a family within the school.”  

Carlee Fuller, a junior elementary and special education major from Alexander City, Alabama, said she is excited for the fun-filled chaos Homecoming brings.  

Fuller, a Kappa Delta sister, said Homecoming week is a hectic time for her and her sisters, but it is worth the memories made during the week.  

“I love all the chaos,” Fuller said. “Homecoming week is very big and important for our organization.  

“We start planning months in advance, so it’s a very big deal and everyone's really excited about it.”  

Fuller expressed how much the Homecoming season and getting to work on her sorority’s float means to her.  

“We really get to bond,” Fuller said. “Not everyone gets to come together because we all have different, busy schedules,  

but that time together at the float site – we can come together, do the float, eat dinner and just catch up on what we’ve missed when we haven’t been together. 

“It's like a family. It kind of reminds me of Thanksgiving, whenever you haven't seen people in a while, and you come together like a family reunion.”  

The Homecoming parade is scheduled to take place in the Downtown Troy square on Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. Lineup for the parade begins at 8 a.m.