WITCC holds first-ever homecoming activities
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
School spirit and community spirit will be combined this week at the first-ever homecoming for Western Iowa Tech Community College.
The idea for the event came from students, explained Juline Albert, WITCC dean of students.
"Every month for the past year, we've had lunch with a group of students, to get ideas for things to do at the college," she said. "One student said that his sister, who attended a state school, could invite people to a friends-and-family weekend, something we didn't have."
The student went on to express his frustration that his friends didn't know about WIT and his family didn't know about WIT either, Albert continued.
"It was like a light bulb went off in our heads," she said. "We realized we needed an activity like that, and homecoming was the obvious choice."
Members of the Student Senate, staff, and faculty began the process of forming committees to organize the typical events associated with homecoming -- a dance, a royal court, a pep rally and numerous student activities.
"We thought we'd start small and then jump in," Albert said. "The response was so tremendous, we just decided to do it all and do it right the first time."
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the homecoming presentation was lack of a game to accompany the activities. WITCC does not sponsor organized, competitive sports.
"Football kept coming up repeatedly as we looked at activities," Albert acknowledged. "When individuals came forward to organize a flag football team, we contacted Northwest Iowa Community College (in Sheldon, Iowa), and they said they were very eager to play us."
Director of Student Activities Mike Brown was even more direct about the importance of a game.
"Homecoming without a sporting event is almost unheard of," he insisted. "It's something the students can latch onto."
Chonka Wilch of Vermillion, S.D., a former high school football player who is taking general education classes at WIT, will be the quarterback for the squad of 30.
"We have a heckuva team with nine starters on defense and offense," the 19-year-old said. "They're able to catch my passes and run well with the ball."
Much of the reasoning behind homecoming has been a direct result of other changes at the community college. Although long known for its vocational programs, this semester, just 48 percent of the student body is in the technical programs, while 52 percent is involved in the humanities discipline, Albert said.
The addition of music and drama this school year, new dorms under construction, a meal plan for the cafeteria and the changing demographic of a younger student population all have lead to a change in the way WITCC presents itself, Albert pointed out.
"We want to provide more of a traditional college experience for our students," said Albert, "and homecoming provides that sense of belonging that the students want."
WITCC Student Senate President Christopher Vann of Sioux City echoed Albert's insights.
"I was interested in the homecoming activities because I'm 26 and I want to do something like this," the graphic design student explained. "I think I feel pretty young at heart, and I hear from other students they want to be involved in the college experience."
That interest has been evident in the response to voting for the royal court, Albert said. More than 600 students voted from among those who are up for royal court: Christopher Vann, Ashley Marron, Erik Sidelinker, Chantelle Prins, Kyle Ferris, Debra Gassaway, Levi Davis, Diana Eckstrom, Mark McAllister, Jamie Hoffman, Tony Anthony, Kayla Heilman, Kokoe Aboussa, Marcy Wall, Melissa Anderson, Rebecca Schmitt, Rebekah Fiechtner.
The homecoming events will feature the college's new mascot, The Comet, the suggestion of WITCC student Linda Zahnley and chosen from among 25 student entries.
"I think the mascot was pivotal in taking a step toward more growth at the college," said Vann. "It makes the homecoming experience more meaningful, and I think it really got the ball rolling for homecoming."
"When I was at Iowa State, I was a Cyclone," added Brown. "WIT didn't have anything like that. Now we do, and it does something for us."
The community is invited to "catch comet fever" with a two-day slate of free activities, Albert said.
"The tagline for our homecoming activities is, 'Your Community's College,'" she said. "This isn't just for our students, staff and faculty. We want the entire Siouxland community to feel welcomed in attending the events."
WITCC homecoming activities
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., NASCAR simulation game, a bungee run, a Cash Cube and others in parking lot 2.
Noon: pep rally and the inauguration of the royal court. In the event of rain, these events will be held in the gymnasium of the Corporate College Building.
Friday: 3 p.m., flag football game between WITCC and Northwest Iowa Community College of Sheldon, Iowa, in the campus field south of parking lot 6, including a half-time presentation by the new Dance Squad.
5 to 7 p.m., outdoor picnic; the alternative location in the event of rain is Overlook Cafeteria. Indoors, there will be activities for children and their families, campus tours and entertainers.
6 p.m. to midnight, dance in the gymnasium.
The idea for the event came from students, explained Juline Albert, WITCC dean of students.
"Every month for the past year, we've had lunch with a group of students, to get ideas for things to do at the college," she said. "One student said that his sister, who attended a state school, could invite people to a friends-and-family weekend, something we didn't have."
The student went on to express his frustration that his friends didn't know about WIT and his family didn't know about WIT either, Albert continued.
"It was like a light bulb went off in our heads," she said. "We realized we needed an activity like that, and homecoming was the obvious choice."
Members of the Student Senate, staff, and faculty began the process of forming committees to organize the typical events associated with homecoming -- a dance, a royal court, a pep rally and numerous student activities.
"We thought we'd start small and then jump in," Albert said. "The response was so tremendous, we just decided to do it all and do it right the first time."
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the homecoming presentation was lack of a game to accompany the activities. WITCC does not sponsor organized, competitive sports.
"Football kept coming up repeatedly as we looked at activities," Albert acknowledged. "When individuals came forward to organize a flag football team, we contacted Northwest Iowa Community College (in Sheldon, Iowa), and they said they were very eager to play us."
Director of Student Activities Mike Brown was even more direct about the importance of a game.
"Homecoming without a sporting event is almost unheard of," he insisted. "It's something the students can latch onto."
Chonka Wilch of Vermillion, S.D., a former high school football player who is taking general education classes at WIT, will be the quarterback for the squad of 30.
"We have a heckuva team with nine starters on defense and offense," the 19-year-old said. "They're able to catch my passes and run well with the ball."
Much of the reasoning behind homecoming has been a direct result of other changes at the community college. Although long known for its vocational programs, this semester, just 48 percent of the student body is in the technical programs, while 52 percent is involved in the humanities discipline, Albert said.
The addition of music and drama this school year, new dorms under construction, a meal plan for the cafeteria and the changing demographic of a younger student population all have lead to a change in the way WITCC presents itself, Albert pointed out.
"We want to provide more of a traditional college experience for our students," said Albert, "and homecoming provides that sense of belonging that the students want."
WITCC Student Senate President Christopher Vann of Sioux City echoed Albert's insights.
"I was interested in the homecoming activities because I'm 26 and I want to do something like this," the graphic design student explained. "I think I feel pretty young at heart, and I hear from other students they want to be involved in the college experience."
That interest has been evident in the response to voting for the royal court, Albert said. More than 600 students voted from among those who are up for royal court: Christopher Vann, Ashley Marron, Erik Sidelinker, Chantelle Prins, Kyle Ferris, Debra Gassaway, Levi Davis, Diana Eckstrom, Mark McAllister, Jamie Hoffman, Tony Anthony, Kayla Heilman, Kokoe Aboussa, Marcy Wall, Melissa Anderson, Rebecca Schmitt, Rebekah Fiechtner.
The homecoming events will feature the college's new mascot, The Comet, the suggestion of WITCC student Linda Zahnley and chosen from among 25 student entries.
"I think the mascot was pivotal in taking a step toward more growth at the college," said Vann. "It makes the homecoming experience more meaningful, and I think it really got the ball rolling for homecoming."
"When I was at Iowa State, I was a Cyclone," added Brown. "WIT didn't have anything like that. Now we do, and it does something for us."
The community is invited to "catch comet fever" with a two-day slate of free activities, Albert said.
"The tagline for our homecoming activities is, 'Your Community's College,'" she said. "This isn't just for our students, staff and faculty. We want the entire Siouxland community to feel welcomed in attending the events."
WITCC homecoming activities
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., NASCAR simulation game, a bungee run, a Cash Cube and others in parking lot 2.
Noon: pep rally and the inauguration of the royal court. In the event of rain, these events will be held in the gymnasium of the Corporate College Building.
Friday: 3 p.m., flag football game between WITCC and Northwest Iowa Community College of Sheldon, Iowa, in the campus field south of parking lot 6, including a half-time presentation by the new Dance Squad.
5 to 7 p.m., outdoor picnic; the alternative location in the event of rain is Overlook Cafeteria. Indoors, there will be activities for children and their families, campus tours and entertainers.
6 p.m. to midnight, dance in the gymnasium.
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chonka wilch wrote on Sep 19, 2008 12:48 AM:
Raymond wrote on Nov 20, 2007 2:13 PM:
Bill wrote on Oct 24, 2007 11:15 PM:
rural_living wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:38 PM:
billy wrote on Oct 24, 2007 11:26 AM: