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Author Makena Warfield '24 is a Media & Communications Studies major and works as a student assistant at Â鶹¹ÙÍø, contributing to Â鶹¹ÙÍø News.

Â鶹¹ÙÍø Charlotte welcomed students, staff, faculty, and alumni to Homecoming Week 2024 from February 5-10. The week-long celebration was filled with a variety of events to bring the community together and celebrate Wildcat pride. There was so much to love about this year’s Homecoming, but we narrowed it down to the top five things. 

1. There’s a new Homecoming theme every year 

This year’s Homecoming theme was “Live,” paying tribute to television game shows, cooking/baking shows, and adventure shows. Many events incorporated elements from popular television shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Iron Chef, The Great British Bake Off, and The Amazing Race.  

2. Students enjoy a modern take on Homecoming Court 

Â鶹¹ÙÍø continued the tradition of crowning one student from each class with titles of Royal and Gold rather than having a king and queen. Eleven students were nominated for Homecoming Court: Three seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, and three first-year students. Throughout the week, these students campaigned at events to meet their peers and earn votes. “I’ve always wanted to be involved in some way, “shared Baking & Pastry major Ciara Epperson ’27, a Gold Candidate. “I figured why not? It is also about creating memories and creating bonds.” 

And the winners were... 

Â鶹¹ÙÍø Royal: Ayanna Blackmon ’24, Psychology 

Â鶹¹ÙÍø Gold: Alana Scott ’25, Culinary Science 

Â鶹¹ÙÍø Gold: Landon Stanback ’26, Fashion Merchandising & Retailing 

Â鶹¹ÙÍø Gold: Annabelle Sankey ’27, Hospitality Management 

3. Athletic teams and clubs competed for the Homecoming Cup 

A brand-new tradition starting this year was the Homecoming Cup. Student athletic teams and clubs competed throughout Homecoming Week to earn (or lose) points at five different Homecoming events: Trivia night, the Cook-Off & Bake-Off, The Great Org Challenge, the Homecoming Banner Contest and winning Homecoming Royal or Gold. 

And the winner of the Homecoming Cup was... 

Black Student Union with a total of 5 points! They received recognition with a trophy and a student organization account transfer of $250.    

4. The Homecoming Game featured the powerhouse Women’s Basketball team 

Saturday’s tailgate party and the Women’s Basketball game against Toccoa Falls was the highlight of Homecoming Weekend. They dominated from the start, handily beating the Screaming Eagles 88-44 and extending their record to 17 wins for the season. Wildcats cheered from the stands, showing off school spirit. During halftime, the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Sapphire cheer team entertained the community. Whether you are a fan of basketball or love to get into campus life, these games are a great way to feel connected and make new friends.  

5. The Cook Off & Bake Off offered tasty new treats  

Twelve students competed in the cooking and baking competition. This was one of the Homecoming Cup events, so there were many student-run clubs and organizations represented including Zeta Phi Beta, Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Anime Society, Gamers Guild and Respect the Hustle.  

Students were divided into six teams of two, with half of the pairs focusing on cooking and the other on baking. All groups were presented with a cart of ingredients, including a mystery ingredient that offered an exciting but playful twist to the competition. The cooking teams had the mystery ingredient of candied ginger while the baking team had to incorporate bell peppers into their dessert. They had two hours to create their dishes for a panel of judges, who determined the winner based on sanitation, production, final items, display, and effective teamwork.  

Although the competition was held privately, students from the clubs and organizations cheered on the teams from afar by watching through the lab windows as their peers competed for points towards the $250 Homecoming Cup prize.  

And the winner was... 

Anime Society’s Baking & Pastry team  
Amari Jeffery ’25 and Diego Aloy ’23

(They used the mystery ingredient by topping their custard with candied bell peppers!) 

This year’s Homecoming attendance was at an all-time high, so we can’t wait to see what happens next year. From game nights to athletic games to competitions, Homecoming is an important tradition that brings us together as one Â鶹¹ÙÍø. 

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