By: Victoria Hansen

hansenv@findlay.edu

Every Homecoming, University of Findlay goes out of its way to make campus look as inviting as it can.

Black and orange ribbons adorn the trees, a fresh coat of paint is put on the mural in front of Henderson, and the Spirit Rock is painted over to prepare for the weekend. These festive touches are not the work of Facilities Services, but the University Advancement Ambassadors (UAA).

“Our job, basically, is to help behind the scenes with Homecoming,” said Bellarae Taylor, president of UAA.

UAA is a student club that works with the Office of University Advancement to prepare UF for large, public-facing events.

“I’m trying to look into having other stuff, like working closely with the advancement office and helping them out at other events that they host throughout the school year,” Taylor said. “Before we were just solely homecoming, because that’s when they really need the most help.”

While UAA members are helping with set up and tear down for all aspects of homecoming, they are most visible at the Pop by the Rock event and the new movie night.

To prepare for Pop by the Rock, UAA members painted the Spirit Rock black with a design of the Griffith Memorial Arch on Wednesday. On Thursday, UAA members were stationed by the rock from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., inviting students and visitors to sign it and distributing candy.

The movie night is a new addition to this year’s homecoming. On Saturday, Oct. 11, UF will host a movie night at DeHaven Field where they will be playing High School Musical. UAA volunteers will be in charge of getting popcorn to guests.

Last year, UAA only had one member, and she was about to graduate.

“Basically, I got voluntold and she told me to be president,” Taylor said. “I made all my friends join and started going to club sign-up days and getting other people on.”

Taylor’s work paid off. This year, the club has 48 members on its Outlook mailing list. An Outlook mailing list does not list how many people regularly attend meetings, but it does show how much interest a club or group has.

“This year, we definitely have a lot more members, which is good, because I couldn’t do this all on my own, for sure,” Taylor said.

This year’s homecoming theme is “Come Home.” Activities include stargazing at the planetarium, the Oiler Palooza celebration, and the annual tailgate bash and homecoming football game. Along with Pop by the Rock and the movie night, students help hand out T-shirts at the bonfire, manage Oiler Palooza, and set up and tear down the homecoming tailgate.

*Check out this week’s Thoughts with Profs as Prof. Amy Rogan, Pulse Adviser previews some of the upcoming events and remembers her time as a student at UF.

*Homecoming Court for 2025.