Hundreds gathered around the downtown square on Saturday, Oct. 9, for Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s annual Homecoming parade, then headed to Ranger Field to watch the massed bands perform, learn who the Ranger Royalty and homecoming button winners would be, and to watch a Ranger football game, all to celebrate Northwestern’s homecoming. The theme was “Game On: Ranger 2021 Edition.” People came from all over to be in Alva for this event.
Leading the parade on Saturday was parade marshal Linda Tutwiler, former student and retired staff member of Northwestern (1986-2009).
After the conclusion of the parade, the winners of the floats and bands were announced.
First place for on-campus floats was the Student Government Association.
In the off-campus, non-profit float category first place went to the Cherokee Strip Museum, and second place went to the Alva High School Reunion 89-93.
For the off-campus, commercial business float category, first place went to Alva State Bank & Trust Company and second place to Community Bank.
The President’s Award for the best overall float went to the Cherokee Strip Museum. The Northwestern Alumni Association Ranger Spirit Award for the float depicting exceptional Ranger spirit went to Alva State Bank & Trust Company.
Eight bands participated in the parade. Bands that placed include the following:
Middle School – Outstanding Drum Line, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Junior High; first place in the marching competition, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale; second, Chisholm; third, Blackwell.
High School – Outstanding Drum Line, Chisholm; Outstanding Color Guard, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale
Class 2A High School Marching Competition – first place, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale; second, Laverne.
Class 3A High School Marching Competition – first place, Chisholm; second, Blackwell.
Four bands in addition to the Northwestern band participated in the massed band performance bringing the size of the performance to about 300 students.
Northwestern played host to several other activities including the alumni band and the crowning of the Ranger King and Queen.
This year’s Ranger Royalty included Ranger King Stephen McCluskey, a graduate student studying in the adult education management and administration program from Motherwell, Scotland, United Kingdom, who was sponsored by the Ranger football team. He is the son of Eddie and Margret McCluskey.
Ranger Queen is Erika Hernandez, a senior elementary education major from Laverne, who was sponsored by the Spanish club. She is the daughter of Rebeca and Enrique Hernandez.
Sagelyn Budy of Waynoka was crowned Freshman Queen during the Ranger Royalty Finalist banquet. The undeclared major is the daughter of Chad and Danielle Budy.
There was no winner of the Northwestern homecoming button drawing for the $500 Alva Chamber Bucks after several numbers were drawn during the game. The $500 Alva Chamber Bucks will be added to the amount to be won at the drawing next year making the 2022 homecoming button drawing worth $1,000 in Alva Chamber Bucks.
Northwestern’s on-campus activities had a great turnout of decorations that showed Ranger spirit.
Best in Show for the on-campus Spirit Sheets Competition was the NWOSU Art Society, with the SGA receiving the Creativity award and the Ranger Spirit award going to the Medical Sciences Club.
The winner of the residence hall decoration contest was South Hall. Fryer Hall placed second, and Coronado Hall placed third.
The winning window/door display went to head cross country coach Jill Lancaster. The Dean of Faculty placed second with the Housing office in third.
The winning office/department display went to the Business office, Athletics received second, and the J.W. Martin Library received third.
Northwestern’s Homecoming Committee had a drawing incentive for button salespersons where two winners could take home $50 in Chamber Bucks. The winner of the drawing for button salespersons for on-campus sales was Valarie Case, university relations specialist for Northwestern, and the winner for off-campus sales was Melody Theademan.
“On behalf of the Northwestern Homecoming Committee, thank you to everyone who sold and purchased Northwestern homecoming buttons and thank you merchants for sharing your generosity and enthusiasm with the incentives,” Karen Koehn, Homecoming button chair, said. “Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we were able to move into a new era of decorating Alva by purchasing new banners with more to come. Our committee strives to build homecoming every year and with the button sales, we’re able to enhance our homecoming activities. You all continue to inspire me and restate my favorite saying, ‘Lucky me…I live in Alva, OK!’”
Homecoming is a community effort, and the homecoming committee is grateful to everyone who made the week and official homecoming day a success.
“It was wonderful to see friends and alumni of Northwestern in Alva for all the Homecoming festivities,” said Dr. David Pecha, homecoming chairman and vice president for administration. “Thanks to everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this year’s event successful. The committee has already started work for Homecoming 2022!”
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 https://nwosuhomecoming.shutterfly.com/.
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CONTACT FOR RELEASE
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
eedavis@nwosu.edu; 580-327-8480