Homecoming ended as the ladies of Gamma Phi Beta swarmed the basketball court to accept their Sweepstakes trophy.
The sorority won the overall Homecoming championship Nov. 7. The Sweepstakes award ceremony was after the men’s basketball game in Abe Lemons Area in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.
The Stars won the game against Southwestern Oklahoma State, 73-70.
Eight campus organizations competed in the festivities. Six of those groups entered submissions in all four categories: banner, window, spirit structure, and Lip Sync.
The organizations that competed in all parts of the competition were:
– Alpha Chi Omega,
– Gamma Phi Beta,
– Phi Mu,
– Kappa Sigma,
– FIJI, and,
– Kappa Phi/Delta Alpha Chi.
Earning honorable mentions as small organizations, Ris4Thurday participated in banner and window, and United States Institute for Theatre Technology entered a structure.
Gamma Phi Beta placed first in all four categories, awarding them the Sweepstakes prize. Alpha Chi Omega won the People’s Choice award for Lip Sync and the Spirit Award. They took second place in Sweepstakes, and Phi Mu took third.
“It was an amazing win for Gamma Phi,” said Chandler Hardy, biology sophomore and Gamma Phi Beta member. “But the real win was growing as a sisterhood.”
Leslie Marie Coffman, acting senior and Gamma Phi Beta member, said winning was great, but the most incredible part was working with people she loves.
“As a senior, I could not think of any other way I would rather spend my last moments,” Coffman said.
Other students said they felt the same way, loving the Homecoming process, regardless of the results.
“You prepare for a long time and go through periods of stress, but, once it’s all over, you’re just on cloud nine,” said Isa Ramirez, dance performance sophomore and Phi Mu Homecoming chairwoman. “It’s an amazing experience.”
The Homecoming committee kicked off the announcements during halftime of the basketball game, when they crowned this year’s Homecoming royalty. Each competing organization submitted a nominee for the crown.
Valentino Valentin, acting junior, and Amanda Wright, acting senior, won the titles of Homecoming King and Queen. Valentin represented Kappa Sigma, and Wright represented Gamma Phi Beta.
“I am so proud of my sisterhood and all organizations involved for their hard work and unity during Homecoming,” Wright said. “It was an honor receiving Homecoming Queen on behalf of Gamma Phi Beta because I love my sisters and my OCU family more than they know.”
Students voted on OrgSync to choose the Homecoming King and Queen. The other events were scored by a panel of judges unaffiliated with any participating Greek organization.
MaryAnn Grover, Student Government Association vice president of student activities, said she thought Homecoming was a success.
“Our goal was to unite the campus, hence our theme,” Grover said. “I am proud to say that the organizations competing and the wider campus community embraced that goal.”
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