GCSU hosted its annual fun-filled Homecoming Week from Feb. 17 to Feb. 21. Campus organizations hosted a variety of unique and engaging events for students to show their school spirit. 

Many different departments were involved in the Homecoming planning and worked hard to organize the events. Each department used its own diverse set of skills to help plan, set up, run and promote Homecoming Week. 

Student Engagement Program Coordinator, Sara Goodelman, played a big role in the planning that went into creating the festivities, with the preparations beginning in the months that lead up to Homecoming Week. 

The Homecoming 2025 theme was Thunder’s Safari Adventure and included many events and decorations related to the wild, animals and Thunder keeping up school spirit. 

“When the theme was presented to the office of student engagement I was over the moon excited,” Goodelman said. “Immediately the ideas came flowing.”

Every year, the new Homecoming theme gives creative freedom to the planners.

“This year, my favorite part about Homecoming will be having the events that go along with the theme,” Goodelman said. “Another favorite about planning Homecoming is seeing all different campus departments come together to plan and execute a successful campus-wide event.

The planning departments hosted many unique events that featured a taste of safari adventure. This year, the planning committee introduced an exciting new way to encourage students to attend all of the events. 

“Another cool thing we are doing this year is passing out really cute buttons and stickers that have seven different Thunder graphics on them,” Goodelman said, “We encourage all students to try and collect them all.”

The Homecoming Week festivities began on Monday, Feb. 17, with a petting zoo on the library green space where visitors were able to see a wide variety of animals. 

The petting zoo had animals donkeys, rabbits, ducks, piglets, a range of reptiles and more. Visitors could touch all of the animals and hold many of the small creatures. 

Chloe Lyerly, a sophomore English major, expressed her excitement in seeing animal-focused events like petting zoos, on campus. Out of all the animals at the event, Lyerly’s favorite was the baby goats. 

“I made sure to go to every one since I was a freshman,” Lyerly said, “I really enjoy them.”

GCSU held its “Happy Hump Day” event on front campus, on Tuesday, Feb. 18 that showcased two large camels and an accompaniment of music, snacks and drinks and free GCSU Homecoming t-shirts.

“It’s something exciting to look forward to after class,” said Ellen Gunji, a sophomore art major.  “The animals take away my negative emotions.”

Students were invited to Magnolia Ballroom for the silent disco on Tuesday, Feb. 18, where attendees used wireless headphones to listen to one of three music stations. The silent disco had a live DJ and participants enjoyed their own personal stations in a completely silent room. 

The event allowed students to experience a unique twist on a normal dance. 

During the week, the ballots for the Homecoming Court opened, and participating organizations worked hard preparing and tabling to win over students and promote their candidates. Voting closed at the end of the week and crowned Jackson Lowe as King, Adrienne Davis as Queen, Jason Eliqwe as Duke and Ava Davis as Duchess during the men’s basketball game on Saturday Feb. 22. 

GCSU Campus Activities Board hosted the Battle of the Bobcats on Thursday Feb. 19, an event where five musicians and bands performed against each other in the Russell Auditorium. The winner of the battle, Subatomic, will get the chance to open for the 2025 spring concert later in the semester. 

One of the big events leading up to the Homecoming game is the Homecoming Parade, which was held on Friday Feb. 20. Different student organizations on campus rode down the main campus in cars, trucks and decorated trailers. 

The Annual Tent City Tailgate was held in the Centennial Center parking lot on Saturday, Feb. 21. Students, alumni, businesses and other visitors gathered outside of the center as well as music, games and food trucks to accompany the tailgate.

The week’s festivities ended with the basketball games played by both the women’s and men’s basketball teams in the Centennial Center. 

Every year, Homecoming Week raises school spirit and helps bring the GCSU community together. The week allows students to take the opportunity to get involved with events that support the school and their fellow students. 

“College isn’t just about getting an education but it is also about the experience,” Goodelman said. “Academics can be hard and stressful so when there are events and different programs across campus I encourage each student to get out of their comfort zone and attend as many events as possible.”