After nearly two years of interrupted activities due to COVID-19, Stanislaus State was finally able to hold a traditional Homecoming week. Stan State students came out in force to show their Warrior Pride, by participating in a week-long roster of activities that culminated in crowning Homecoming royalty and a home court win by the men’s basketball team.
Festivities began on Monday, February 21 with the Meet Your Match event and Elimination Games events. The Meet Your Match event was a fun way for nominees to get in the spirit of Homecoming week by painting flags while Elimination Games allowed nominees to compete against each other for their organizations by participating in games like Red Light Green Light, Name a Song Challenge, and a version of Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?
On Tuesday, February 22, the Warriors Give Back Blood Drive and Warrior Wisdom events were held. Students donated blood during the blood drive to help ease the current national blood shortage.
The Warrior Wisdom event brought four alumni back to campus to give advice to current students about life after graduation and to remind students that they will always be Warriors after they leave Stan State.
On Wednesday, February 23 was the Shields Up event, which was paired with Warrior Wednesday activities. Nominees set up booths for students to win prizes and enjoy some fun before the Homecoming basketball games at the end of the week.
The women’s Homecoming basketball game was scheduled for Thursday, February 24, but was cancelled due to COVID-19. The men’s game went on as scheduled on Friday, February 25 where spectators witnessed a Homecoming Royalty reveal and the Warriors claim a 68-66 win over Cal State East Bay.
The winners of the Royal Court, Shaylynn Wynn (senior, Business Administration) and Trinity Morataya (senior, Communication Studies), were excited about their Homecoming Royalty titles.
Representing Phi Mu, Morataya said that her favorite event of the week was the Elimination Games because she is a competitive person and she was excited to see the other nominees being cheered on by their organizations.
“Becoming Homecoming Royalty is a new experience for me,” Morataya said. “[The] past me would never have done something like this due to my self-doubt, but my support system really got me through the week.”
Morataya also praised her sorority sisters for seeing the potential in her to win the crown for Phi Mu.
Wynn was the nominee and Homecoming Queen for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She shared that she was happy to attend the events for the week in person and was also grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and to have fun with her experience as a nominee.
Wynn said the SAAC and her organization made her feel like she could win the crown all along.
“It’s exciting because I never was given this opportunity in high school and loved the experience,” she said. “I feel special and recognized.”