It’s Friday night. The sun has just disappeared behind the horizon where you can just make out the Walmart in Windsor Heights. Suddenly, shooting up from Drake’s campus are fireworks, lighting the sky on fire. This is the second year that the Homecoming celebration has started with a display of lights, a tradition that Student Activities Board would like to continue.
Bringing back old traditions and starting some new, Drake’s Homecoming events are carefully planned in order to attract as many students as possible.
Under a tent in Helmick Commons a live band karaoke tuned its instruments, getting ready to start the entertainment. This is another Homecoming event that Amanda Kramer, co-chair of the homecoming committee, hopes will become a new tradition for many more years to come.
“It’s been a fun year to be on the homecoming committee. We’ve been trying to add events that had big turnouts from last year and eliminate some of the ones that aren’t as successful,” explained Kramer. “We’re no longer doing the powder-puff football game because only seven groups signed up last year, and not many students were in attendance.”
Last year, the live band karaoke and fireworks were a huge success, so that’s why Kramer hopes they continue on with those traditions.
“It’s been really exciting trying new things and seeing if it works,” she said
It’s hard to refute success when the tent was filled with students lining up to sing and enjoying the free food and amazing atmosphere.
Throughout the night a variety of people were brave enough to take the stage. Some students formed singing groups and really put on a show. A group calling themselves the “Phoenix” sang a rendition of “Bad Romance.” A few of them rocked out the microphone while the others danced the choreography from Lady Gaga’s video. Another group called “The Warrior Women” also sang. Eventually, even SAB took the stage.
Homecoming wouldn’t be Homecoming without a king and a queen. Halfway through the evening, Kramer brought all the candidates onto the stage.
Each candidate was given a wrapped present. In order to find out who is king and queen, they had to unwrap the present to see if their box contained a crown.
The crowd watched in hushed anticipation while the candidates opened their presents. Wrapping paper flied through the air as they sifted through their boxes. A roar ripped through the tent when Matt Smith raised his crown in the air in victory.
A few moments later another round of cheers went when Erin Hogan found hers.
“I don’t know what to say. It has been such a fun week. I would like to thank everyone for their supportive comments…Thank you,” Hogan said.
After the homecoming court left the stage, Smith made his way through the crowd that was waiting to shake his hand and congratulate him with pats on the back and hugs.
“Thanks everyone who voted for me. Drake means a lot to me and this means a lot more,” he said.
Partaking in the time-honored tradition of Homecoming king Smith, respects the power of tradition.
“Drake has the best, rich history and it is nice to be a part of that,” Smith said.
