Northwestern completes ‘Ranger Expedition 2024’ Homecoming Journey

October 9, 2024

2024 Parade Marshals Kenneth and Sue Fellers (right) lead the Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 5.

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University “Ranger Expedition: 2024” homecoming activities concluded on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Festivities on Saturday began with the annual Ranger Run. Participation doubled from last year, with 84 total runners.

Leading the parade on Saturday were parade marshals Kenneth and Sue Fellers.

The Ranger Band performs during halftime of the Homecoming football game Oct. 5.

After the conclusion of the parade, the winners of the marching band contests were announced from among the nine bands that participated:

High School Marching Competition – 4A: first Place, Woodward High School;

3A: first place, Hennessey High School; second place Chisholm High School;

2A: first place, Laverne High School; second place, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale High School

Junior High Marching Competition – first place, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale; second place, Alva Middle School

Laverne High School also took home the marching, music and general effect caption awards. Alva Middle School earned the Esprit de Corp Award.

Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) members pose for a picture in between tossing candy to parade attendees. HALO members and their “Dora the Explorer” float won the President’s Award for best overall float.

In the float competition, first place for on-campus floats was the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO), second place went to the Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors (NSA), and third place went to the Northwestern Castle Players.

In the off-campus, non-profit float category first place went to the Cherokee Strip Museum, second place went to the Church of Christ, and third went to Speak Life Fellowship.

In the off-campus, commercial business float category first place went to Beadles Nursing Home, second place went to Alva State Bank, and third went to Community Bank.

The President’s Award for the best overall float went to HALO. The Northwestern Alumni Association Ranger Spirit Award for the float depicting exceptional Ranger spirit resulted in a tie between NSA and the Cherokee Strip Musuem.

The massed band performance, which included the Northwestern band and parade band participants, totaled more than 300 members.

More than 300 band members played in the massed band performance on Ranger Field before the Ranger Football Homecoming game.

Northwestern played host to several other activities including the alumni band, which was led by guest director Raye Lyn (Nutter) Bird, and the crowning of the Ranger King and Queen.

This year’s Ranger Royalty included Ranger King Marshal Howard, a senior business adminisration major from Follet, Texas, who was sponsored by the Ranger Business Club.

Ranger Queen is Diamond Hilton, a senior psychology major from Sapulpa, who was sponsored by the Northwestern Women’s Track and Field Team.

Brenda Lezama of Turpin was crowned Freshman Queen during the Ranger Royalty Finalist banquet. She is majoring in business.

Marshal Howard and Diamond Hilton were crowned Ranger King and Queen during Northwestern’s Homecoming halftime event. Ranger Royalty court included (front left to right) flower girl Justice Jones and crown bearer Braxton Lauderdale; (back left to right) Queen finalists Mary Kate Foster and Tara Owen, Freshman Queen Brenda Lezama, Ranger Queen Diamond Hilton, Ranger King Marshal Howard and King finalist Jalen Ghee. Not pictured: Ranger King finalist Chris Perez, who was performing with the Ranger band.

For the second year in a row, the winner of the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association medallion hunt was the Ben and Regina Garvie Family. The Garvies won the medallion along with $100 in Alva Chamber Bucks.

Northwestern’s on-campus activities had a great turnout of decorations that showed Ranger spirit.

First place for the on-campus Spirit Sheet Competition was the Chemistry Club, second place went to The Wesley House, and third place to the Ranger Business Club.

First place for the on-campus Spirit Board Competition went to the Spanish Club, second place went to the Castle Players Theatre Club, and third place to the Psychology Club.

The winning office/window display was awarded to the Business Office, second place went to the Human Resources and Payroll office, and the J.R. Holder Wellness Center received third.

The winning door/wall display went to the TRIO Student Support Services office, second place went to the Housing office, and third to Graduate Studies.

The winning dorm was Cunningham Hall, and Coronado Hall received second place.

The Ranger Cheer squad is all smiles at the Homecoming parade on Alva’s downtown square Saturday.

“Even though the weather was a bit warm on Saturday, everyone attending one or more of the homecoming activities seemed to have a great time,” said Dr. David Pecha, homecoming chairman and university executive vice president. “I always enjoy visiting with alumni and friends of Northwestern that return back for the celebration.”

The Homecoming committee will start work soon on next year’s Homecoming set for Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

Be watching for a contest to open during the spring semester to enter ideas for next year’s homecoming theme and parade marshal. Until then, people may enter the competition at www.nwosu.edu/homecoming. The homecoming committee will consider all entries and make an announcement of the new theme and parade marshal during the spring semester.

Photos from the homecoming events can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/nwosu-rangers/collections/72157721568384563/.

-NW-

CONTACT FOR RELEASE:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
sjdoherty@nwosu.edu | 580-327-8480