The Homecoming Coalition Hosts Homecoming 2014: “The Great Catsby”

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2014) — The Homecoming Coalition, the UK Alumni Association and the Big Blue Nation will celebrate Homecoming 2014 Saturday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 26, with a wide range of events, including many new ones, to showcase the campuswide school spirit at UK. The theme this year is “The Great Catsby: Roaring Traditions Since 1915."

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Among the new events is Royalty Showcase hosted by the Student Activities Board at 8 p.m. tonight, Monday, Oct. 20, in Memorial Coliseum where the top five king and top five queen candidates will have the opportunity to show the student body why they deserve to be UK’s next Homecoming King and Queen. There will be a question and answer portion about relevant issues on campus and a talent portion. Students must be present to vote for their next Homecoming King and Queen. Showcase is a free event.

"I am very excited about the new events that we have decided to pursue this year for Homecoming 2014,” Zoe Pittman, SAB's director of traditions, said. “Homecoming 2014 is definitely pushing the bar, but we are all excited to see the results and to celebrate the tradition of Homecoming.”

Another new event is the Street Fair Celebration from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at Wildcat Alumni Plaza. SAB, Student Government and STAT and TEAM WILDCAT are teaming up and bringing additional fun to Homecoming by closing down Avenue of Champions for a street party with food trucks, free T-shirts, dancing and entertainment. Everyone is welcome to this free event.

“Working with the Homecoming Coalition has been amazing with trying to think of new and exciting things for students to do the week of Homecoming,” Chanel Friday, co-traditions chair for STAT and TEAM WILDCAT, said. “STAT and TEAM WILDCAT are very excited for the Street Fair, in particular. It’s a new and improved pep rally packed with great entertainment.”

Homecoming 2014 will also include many traditional events; many are listed below — for a complete list of homecoming events visit www.ukhomecoming.com.

Mr. and Miss Black UK Pageant

Sunday,Oct. 19

7 p.m., Memorial Hall

Paint the Town Blue

Monday, Oct. 20 through Wednesday, Oct. 22

Various locations across campus

Kitty Karnival

Tuesday, Oct. 21

5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Administration Lawn

Who’s Got Game? basketball tournament between students and alumni

Tuesday, Oct. 21

7 p.m., Seaton Center

"see blue." Day at Keeneland

Friday, Oct. 24

11 a.m., campus shuttle to Keeneland begins departing from Wildcat Alumni Plaza

Noon, Tailgate on "The Hill" at Keeneland

Racing begins at 1:05 p.m.

Students, faculty and staff - free general admission to Keeneland with UK ID

National Pan-Hellenic Step Show

Friday, Oct. 24

7 p.m., Memorial Coliseum

Tickets available at the Student Involvement Ticket Office and at www.ticketmaster.com

Homecoming Game and Royalty Crowning

UK vs. Mississippi State

Saturday, Oct. 25

3:30 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium

Naming of the King and Queen and Wildcat Cup winners will be at halftime of the game

DanceBlue 5K

Sunday, Oct. 26

3 p.m., Coldstream Research Park, Newtown Pike

Homecoming events are designed for all Wildcats — students, faculty, staff and community members.

"I love Homecoming because it is a time for tradition and school spirit, which happens to be centered around one America’s most beloved sports,” Micaelah McAlpine, president of the Black Student Union, said. “It's at this time of year that excitement fills the air and students can rally together as a Wildcat family and truly project what it means to 'bleed blue'."

The University of Kentucky’s Homecoming Coalition exists to unify the UK community through programmatic efforts, bringing forward a celebration of tradition, spirit and university values. The Homecoming Coalition was formed in February 2010 and has since worked to better coordinate many organization’s individual programming into one cohesive homecoming schedule.

Connect with the Homecoming Coalition at www.ukhomecoming.com, follow them on Twitter at @UKHomecoming and like them on Facebook at “University of Kentucky Homecoming."

MEDIA CONTACT: Katy Bennett, katy.bennett@uky.edu, 859-257-1909

Homecoming Coalition PR Contact: Hagen Brown, hagen.brown@uky.edu, 859-608-7538