By TRENTON JUDD
Student Reporter
Homecoming is almost here, which means it is time to get ready for the annual Homecoming Float Contest.
This year’s float theme is “The Ranger Games: Catching Fire.”
The float contest is a long Northwestern tradition that predates the 1960s and it continues to grow every year. According Float Committee Co-Chairman Eric Schmaltz, “The Homecoming Float Contest is an excellent way for students to represent Northwestern in a great way.”
Aaron Mason said, “The Homecoming Float Contest is a great way to highlight the group or organization that you are involved in and it gives your organization a great image if you choose to help out and participate in the contest.”
Floats need to be built on a trailer that is at least 12 feet long. The sponsoring organization must have a structure built onto the trailer and skirting on the trailer is required because wheels should not be visible. The full list of rules can be found on the Northwestern website; search for Homecoming Float Contest. For more information, contact Mason or Schmaltz at their offices in Jesse Dunn Hall.
Once the floats have been built they will be featured in the homecoming parade at 10 a.m. Oct. 18. The top three floats will receive cash prizes. First place will receive $200, second place $150 and third place $100.
Schmaltz said the competition maybe tough this year. “Every year there is a different theme so that keeps things interesting, but the thing that has surprised me the most is that with each passing year the floats have gotten more intricate and creative. It’s almost like everyone is just paying more attention to detail.”
Mason encourages all students to participate. “The amount of work you and your friends put into a float really reflects on Northwestern and that show of spirit is what really gets the town hyped up for the game. The amount of spirit you show ends up driving our football team and it helps boost their confidence for that big game.”
Schmaltz said he wants students to make an effort and “talk to your friends, talk to the upperclassmen and talk to the faculty to see how you can be involved with homecoming because it is a great Ranger tradition and we want you to be a part of that.”
Mason said, “At the end of the day my favorite part of the contest is just seeing all of the returning alumni coming back and supporting the current Rangers and showing that the Ranger family is so much bigger than current students realize”.