Last week, California State University, Stanislaus, (Stan State), celebrated homecoming week. At the homecoming game on Feb. 16, Juan Carrillo from Kappa Sigma and Kimberly Medrano from Phi Mu became this year’s Mr. and Ms. Warrior, respectively.
Homecoming royalty candidates were nominated out of eight organizations: Delta Phi Gamma, Phi Sigma Sigma, Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Mu, Upsilon Kappa Delta, Theta Chi, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Kappa Sigma.
Although all of the competing organizations were Greek, being a sorority or fraternity is not a requirement to participate in the competition to become Mr. or Mrs. Warrior.
“All you needed was a group and then a name, and then you could have ran. Any club, anything,” Jonecia Smith (freshman, Pre-Nursing) said.
Smith, who represented Phi Kappa Delta, said that this was her first year and that she would do a few things differently if she participated in the competition again.
Each competitor must tackle specific challenges such as making a music video, collecting recycling, and competing in human foosball. These events were run by Jocelyn Castellanos, the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Special Events Coordinator.
Every day of homecoming week seemed like Warrior Wednesday in the quad. Packs of students crowded around to watch the events.
“It’s a lot of excitement. It is really competitive,” Smith said.
Some onlookers were not cheering for anyone in particular.
“Free food and watching a game,” Marcus Azevedo (junior, Criminal Justice) said when asked what his motive was for attending the human foosball tournament. Azevedo and his friends were watching “for laughs.”
Meanwhile, another student, who was watching someone try out the mechanical bull, stated a different reason for participating in this week’s events and campus events in general.
“I think it’s great to be involved when you’re a student. You bring a positive vibe to college,” Meeso Lo (senior, Sociology) said.
Meeso stressed the importance of having school spirit and staying engaged with campus activities.
“When I first started Stanislaus State, I didn’t know a lot of people until I started getting involved with like wearing red on every Wednesday. I know that a lot of my friends that go to different colleges, they never get to experience what I get to experience. It’s not as involved as Stanislaus State.”