The floor of the Idaho Fan Zone shook as the Vandal Marching Band, University of Idaho cheerleaders and Joe Vandal led the packed room in the Fight Song Sunday evening for the 2015 Homecoming Kickoff Celebration.
“I really love our Vandal Marching Band,” said Ayla Neumeyer, kickoff chair for the UI Homecoming Committee. “So when they circled everyone, and everyone”s standing up and singing the Fight Song, and this place just roared. So that was definitely my favorite part.”
The kickoff began with a photo scavenger hunt starting outside the VandalStore. Scavenger hunt teams used GooseChase, a scavenger hunt app, to take photos, complete tasks and find clues across campus to earn points.
Most of the teams registered for the event were from Greek houses.
“I feel like I need to get more involved with the school,” said Nathan Kofmehl, a sophomore from Phi Gamma Delta. “Homecoming is when all the houses come together and “¦ we want to win and be the top house. We want to show that we are really involved.”
Irish Martos | Argonaut
University of Idaho students participate in the Yell like Hell event during Homecoming Kickoff Sunday in the Idaho Fan Zone.
Teams had an hour to go across campus and use the app to complete as many of the objectives as possible. Possible locations for photos included the Idaho Seal, a building that used to be a residence hall and a pay phone.
Participants could also take photos of actions to complete objectives, including saying hello to someone on the Hello Walk, forming a human pyramid and forming the word Idaho with people.
Neumeyer, who was in charge of planning the scavenger hunt, said stops chosen for the event varied in difficulty and focused on campus traditions and notable buildings.
The teams who earned the most points won the scavenger hunt for their perspective category. Delta Delta Delta took first for sororities, Alpha Gamma Rho took first for fraternities and the UI Track and Field Team took first for student organizations.
“It”s really fun – I think it gets teams into the homecoming spirit.,” said Homecoming Committee Chair Emily Rasch of the scavenger hunt.
Teams ended the scavenger hunt at the Idaho Fan Zone, where they were greeted by refreshments and a rousing welcome from the marching band. After the scavenger hunt ended, the teams competed in the Yell like Hell event and a Most Vandalized fan competition.
“My favorite part of the scavenger hunt was just getting to walk around see some new sights on campus I haven”t gotten to explore,” said Nate Bush, a sophomore from Beta Theta Pi.
Yell like Hell challenged teams to have the loudest UI-related chant. Yell like Hell participants had to have at least seven team members, a cheer that was 10-15 seconds long and included the words “hero” or “Vandals.” A decibel reader determined the winners.
The winners of Yell like Hell included Alpha Phi in the sorority category and Phi Theta Delta in the fraternity category.
A bearded banana, various armed vikings, Vandal-colored tutus, a Valkyrie and multiple contestants covered in Vandal-colored body paint took the stage to determine which outfit was most deserving of the title of the Most Vandalized Fan. Contestants were eliminated on a round-by-round basis, with the final round coming down to Fight Song enthusiasm.
After a heated battle from the Vandalized contestants resulted in the top part of a mace and pom-pom hair flying through the air, a winner emerged.
Danica Davis” Vandal spirit, sparkly tu-tu and Vandal jersey secured the win for Kappa Alpha Theta.
“Being a Vandal comes from the heart and I think that showed tonight,” Davis said, who is a freshman at UI.
The kickoff also saw the announcement of Homecoming Royalty candidates and finalists. The finalists for 2015 Homecoming queen are Faith Shier, Heidi Jamison, Neumeyer, Anna Pratt, Chelsea Averna, Hailey Lewis, Rasch and Caitlin McDevitt. The finalist”s for 2015 Homecoming king are Nate Fisher, Brandon Bledsoe, Jacob Stevens, William Rigby, Brandon Wade, Matthew Harlow and Kenneth Hughes.
“I”m really excited,” Neumeyer said. “It”s such a big honor to be able to share in such a big tradition.”
Voting for Homecoming Court closes at 10 p.m. Wednesday. The next homecoming event is the celebration in the Commons Plaza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Aleya Ericson can be reached at [email protected]