Oct. 21, 2011
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By Andrea Bejarano
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Practicing for skit night, building a float for the parade, waiting to see who will perform at this year's concert night, jumping in the reflection pond for Spirit Splash and gathering some friends for movie night are some of the things students are planning on enjoying.
That's right. Homecoming is just around the corner.
As students at UCF prepare for a week of unforgettable fun and traditions, some alumni prepare to come in from out of town, catch up with old friends and remember the good times they had during Homecoming when they were in school.
"The best part about Homecoming, especially if you were Greek, was the fact that pretty much the world stopped and everything focused on all of the activities that were going on within the Greek organizations at Homecoming," Mark Moore, class of 1999 and Lambda Chi Alpha alumni said.
Moore remembers Homecoming week as his favorite time of the school year.
"[For our float] we would rent these semi-truck beds and we would spend the entire week, from the fraternity meeting on Sunday night until Friday night finishing it before the parade on Saturday," Moore said. "We had mechanical pieces to it and people were probably asking themselves `how can a bunch of college kids have the budget to build these things?' But we found a way."
Moore's fondest memories were practicing for skits and spending time with brothers hanging out on those truck beds.
As of today, Moore owns his own business called Kavaliro, which interestingly enough, means Knights.
"[My fraternity brothers] are some of my closest friends I have to this day," Moore said. "We see each other often and some of them are my business partners."
Although Moore, now a father of two younger daughters, struggles to stay involved. He explains that even though life has changed, he will always have this immense love for UCF.
"My wife and I have missed one home game since we met, which is when my second daughter was born," Moore added.
Without question, Moore and his family will be at the Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 29, against Memphis.
As a message for current students, Moore says to have fun and to get involved. "My success in business and a lot of my success in life came because I decided from my freshman year that I was going to be involved in the college experience."
Bill Herb, class of 2005, would agree with that statement. He too, emphasizes the importance of being involved in college activities.
"You have to make time for it, no matter how busy you are," Herb said.
As a Kappa Sigma pledge, Herb remembers staying up for 24-hours at the Citrus Bowl building their Homecoming float. Their float won that year.
Herb continues to be involved with the school by working with the Student Government Association, the Golden Knights Club and attending events like the PATCH parties.
Herb also owns his own company, Mist & More and its branch Mosquitoes & More. It seems like building floats for the Homecoming parade was one, if not the primary focus for many alumni.
John Wright, class of 1986 and Lambda Phi Alpha alumni, describes one of the best experiences in college during Homecoming.
"One year, we had this old car that one of my roommates had, a Javelin, it was a piece of junk that barely ran," Wright said. "So we totally repainted it and made it to go with the HC theme and the Javelin was part of the parade."
For a few years in a row, Lambda Phi Alpha had a streak of Homecoming kings. Tom Messina, current associate vice president and executive director of the UCF Alumni Association, and Roderick Durman were among these.
Wright became treasurer of Lambda Phi Alpha, which went hand-in-hand with his accounting major at that time. Aside from his fraternity, he was later involved through SGA where he was a senator from the College of Education.
Wright advises students to enjoy these times because they make for life-long memories. "You can develop leadership skills and life skills through being involved," Wright said. "It goes with the fun that goes with being that age, being in college and being part of activities like Homecoming."
Scott Rose, class of 1995, has not missed a game since the stadium was built. Along with his wife Susan, also a UCF alum, they have two daughters who are already thinking about attending the university.
"My youngest daughter is a huge fan of the basketball team," Rose said. As Sigma Chi alumni, Rose was part of all the activities during Homecoming. "My favorite part about Homecoming was just hanging out with friends working on the float and being part of the parade. Being part of a fraternity, Homecoming is always huge."
Coming back to UCF during Homecoming, it is especially nice when he spends it with his daughters.
"Take the time to enjoy college because these are the memories that will be with you forever."
Homecoming week, Oct. 22-30, has been a tradition at UCF since its earliest years. Traditionally, Homecoming is a great opportunity for alumni to revisit and reconnect with their alma mater. However, at UCF it is equally important to current students. It is a time for students to show their pride and love for UCF, putting aside other affiliations. Without a doubt, former and current students are looking forward to this year's Homecoming week kicking off. For all of the details and a schedule of events, check out UCF Homecoming.