A total of 1,057 students participated in homecoming events from Sept. 22-28 that commemorated UCCS’ 60th anniversary. Events included the tailgate, bonfire, culture fest and casino night which replaced last year’s game night.
This is the exact number of students who participated last year, according to Director of Student Engagement Noelle San Souci.
About 130 students attended the tailgate, a significant decrease from the 246 students who attended last year. The cost is determined by the number of students who used food vouchers for catering, however, the total is still undetermined.
According to San Souci, the tailgate was part of the 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings program, a program started last May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, to address social isolation and loneliness.
The homecoming bonfire had 720 students in attendance, an increase of 50 students from last year, according to San Souci. Free T-shirts were given to the first 220 students who arrived. The T-shirts cost UCCS $6.25 each for a total of about $1,375.
Excluding the shirts, the bonfire cost approximately $6,000, including $2,145 for catering, $500 for public safety, $1,700 for the stage and barricades, $900 for the mechanical bull, $500 for the DJ and $250 for the S’mores. Costs were split between SGA and Student Life.
Exactly 71 students attended Culture Fest, which cost a total of $1,900. This cost included $700 for the DJ, $500 for the Ballet Folklórico de México performers and $700 for catering according to San Souci. These costs were split between Student Life and MOSAIC.
A total of 136 students attended Casino Night, which is more than double the number of students who attended game night last year. The casino rental cost $3,575, according to San Souci.
UCCS celebrates their 60th homecoming. Photo by Josiah Dolan.