{"id":54055,"date":"2023-09-28T07:54:28","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T11:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=54055"},"modified":"2023-10-03T14:35:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T18:35:29","slug":"homecoming-2023-suits-up-for-utc-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2023\/09\/homecoming-2023-suits-up-for-utc-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Homecoming 2023 suits up for \u201cUTC and Beyond\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s fall 2023 Homecoming Week<\/a><\/strong> prepares to take students further than ever before as organizations gear up for space-themed events lasting from Sept. 30 through the Mocs\u2019 Oct. 7 football game.<\/p>\n

Organizing the “UTC and Beyond” adventure, the Office of Student and Family Engagement began working alongside other departments on Homecoming Week in February, tirelessly preparing to give students an intergalactic experience from the comfort of campus.<\/p>\n

As coordinator for the Office of Student and Family Engagement, Kidron Bullock took the lead on planning homecoming this year. Even though preparations kept him busy, he is excited to pull off the coming week\u2019s space-themed festivities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m personally very excited for this theme,\u201d Bullock said with a smile. \u201cIt was the easiest concept we could create a vision for and I think it\u2019s really come together nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kicking off with promo day, the homecoming planning committee arranged for tables to be set up around campus from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, to promote the coming week\u2019s busy schedule.<\/p>\n

Memphis native Carmin Chambers, co-director of the Student Programs steering committee, worked on planning homecoming the last two years. The senior marketing major now gears up for her last homecoming ready to revel in the long-awaited events.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole thing is just exciting to me because I know how much work and creating and ideas have been put behind the whole week,\u201d Chambers said.<\/p>\n

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Homecoming Week Pep Rally 2022.<\/p><\/div>\n

Homecoming Week officially kicks off with UTC\u2019s annual Day of Service, which will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Lupton Hall. Students will be able to serve the community on campus by writing letters to cancer patients\u2014or off campus by helping at either the Chattanooga Community Kitchen or delivering donation bags to the Chattanooga Room at the Inn.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig partners in Chattanooga we\u2019re working with,\u201d Bullock said. \u201cA lot of different vendors with a lot of different connections that have a big tie to UTC\u2026it\u2019s really cool to see the vendors that we see also have a buy-in to this University.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gathering in the University Center Tennessee Room from 3-7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1, students can partake in the organization banner painting tradition. Carrying out creative individual ideas to showcase to the campus community, students will compete with other organizations in an out-of-this-world battle of school spirit.<\/p>\n

Three events take place on Monday, Oct. 2. Various organizations will set up tables around campus from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., giving out goodies from space-themed T-shirts to Cupcake Kitchen\u2019s specially made space-themed cake balls. At 5 p.m. on Chamberlain Field, the annual homecoming kickoff pep rally will ensue and the homecoming court will be announced\u2014quickly followed by the Space Jam Block Party.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis week will be different and stand out more just because of all the different hands involved in creating this week,\u201d Bullock said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone related to UTC can get something out of this week.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a day of celebration, the Space Lounge, held from noon-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, on the first floor of Lupton Hall, will give students the chance to kick back and recharge before going to their next class or attending the next homecoming activity on Wednesday, Oct. 4\u2014a day that includes tables promoting the iconic battle of UTC\u2019s lip sync-ers from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and the annual Lip Sync battle at 8 p.m. in McKenzie Arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cLip sync will probably be our most \u2018wow\u2019 factor,\u2019\u201d Bullock said. \u201cIf you put any event on your calendar, I hope it\u2019s that one.\u201d<\/p>\n

In true space fashion, students will be able to grab space-themed snow cones while playing a quick video game between classes from noon-3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, during Cosmic Cones at Heritage Plaza. Hours later, students can travel to the University Center Tennessee Room to show off their dance moves in the near-dark ballroom for the Night in the Galaxy Dance.<\/p>\n

Chambers\u2019 eyes lit up as she discussed the dance, which takes place from 7-10 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been looking forward to this. I\u2019ve been trying to get this event ever since I started (working) homecoming,\u201d she said. \u201cAs a 2020 (high school) graduate, I didn\u2019t have a prom, so I needed something to resemble prom as close as possible\u2014and this year we were finally able to put together a ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

After more goodie giveaways on Friday, Oct. 6, the National Pan-Hellenic Council will host a Homecoming Yard Show showcasing the cultures of their organizations at 6 p.m. on Chamberlain Field.<\/p>\n

Capping off Homecoming Week is the Mocs football game against Western Carolina University at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Finley Stadium. Tailgating begins at 1:30 p.m. and the homecoming king and queen announcement takes place during halftime.<\/p>\n

Homecoming Week Information<\/h4>\n