This past week Grand Valley State University prepared for its homecoming game against Northern Michigan University (NMU). There were a variety of events to help increase school spirit for the game at the conclusion of the week led by the Campus Activities Board (CAB). 

“Some of the events are traditional events like the pep rally, but we also tried to come up with some additional activities to introduce the whole Homecoming court,” said Katie Garrett, the programming coordinator for CAB.

Homecoming week kicked off with a lip sync battle in the Fieldhouse Arena. The five different teams that competed were from various sorority and fraternity organizations along with some others, like the hockey team. Every year this battle has a theme announced a week in advance that the teams must follow. This year, it was “Y2K” or “Year 2000.”

Each team choreographed a dance and lip-synced to a song that came out in the 2000s. In between performances, the host of the event, Bridie Tolley, had the Homecoming court come to the stage so she could ask the crowd silly questions.

“If you were a kitchen utensil, what would it be and why?” Tolley said. 

Each member of the court gave entertaining answers that had the crowd laughing. 

“I would be a fork, because everyone needs a fork,” said senior court member Nieya Thompson. 

In addition to each organization, both the Laker Dance Team and the Move to the Beat hip-hop dance club got the opportunity to perform at the event. After the performances, winners were given awards which were given to all teams ranking from first to fourth place. 

In fourth place were Sigma Kappa and Sigma Pi, Tri Sigma Pi Kap took third, Delta Zeta took second and the reigning champs of the lip sync battle Phi Mu and the hockey team pulled off another win. 

The Homecoming week continued into Monday with pumpkin painting. With 100 pumpkins available to students in attendance on a first come first serve basis. This event had a large turnout, filling multiple rooms in the Kirkhof Center. 

“I wanted to attend because it’s something creative and I figured since our room doesn’t have many decorations that this was the perfect opportunity to get a fall decoration,” said GVSU student Cameron Layson.

CAB went through supplies quickly as many students turned up to paint their own pumpkins. 

Tuesday started off with the car decorating to help students show their school spirit. Students could pick up supplies from the office of student life to get started. Unfortunately, there were not many students who participated due to inclement weather. 

Of those that did participate, the whole Homecoming court painted cars and students got to vote for their favorite on the CAB Instagram page. 

Tuesday evening concluded with the annual GVSU Homecoming pep rally in the Kirkhof center lobby. The first 100 attendees of the event got the chance to receive a limited edition GVSU Homecoming t-shirt. Apple cider and donuts were available while supplies lasted. 

As students entered the Kirkhof lobby, the GVSU cheerleaders and Laker Dance Team lined the building from door to door, performing with the band. Multiple songs were played, including the GVSU fight song. When the band was done performing, each Homecoming court member got an opportunity to say what they loved most about Homecoming week. 

“I love the unity; being able to make connections with old and new people,” said senior court member Sierra Gulli. 

Head coach of the GVSU football team Matt Mitchell then went on stage to thank the band, cheerleaders and the crowd.

“We have one of the best crowds in the country,” Mitchell said, on the crowd support at football games this season. 

It was highlighted at the event that the football team has had a good season thus far, including beating Ferris State University for the first time in eight years. Going into Homecoming undefeated made GVSU a likely candidate for the playoffs.

“We hope that you stick with us, we have a long season ahead of us,” said quarterback Cade Peterson. 

Starting off early Wednesday morning CAB set up a campus-wide scavenger hunt across the Allendale campus. Students could look for small cardboard boxes placed at random spots around campus. In the box was a number that students could take back to the office of student life in order to claim a prize. All day students poured into the office one by one to claim their prizes which ranged from mini fans to small fall decorations. 

The football team capped off a successful Homecoming week with their victory over NMU, 56 to 3 on Saturday.