Homecoming Overview 2024

Homecoming

  HOMECOMING Oct. 3-5, 2024

At the heart of Northwestern traditions is the fall homecoming event. The Alva community, Northwestern alumni, current students, faculty and staff, as well as prospective students and bands from surrounding areas join in celebrating the Ranger family. Homecoming events such as the Miss Cinderella Pageant for high school senior females, the homecoming parade, band and parade float competitions, Ranger Royalty, and more are all funded strictly through the purchase of Northwestern’s annual themed homecoming button.    

Schedule of Events
(This schedule of events reflects the 2023 event.)

Thursday, Oct. 5

  • Miss Cinderella Talent Show

7: 30 p.m. Herod Hall Auditorium


Friday, Oct. 6

  • Ranger Rally

          Noon Percefull Fieldhouse

  • Miss Cinderella Pageant

          8 p.m. Herod Hall Auditorium


Saturday, Oct. 7

  • Ranger Run (5K & 1-Mile Fun Run)

8 a.m. Downtown Alva Square in front of Rialto

  • Alumni Tent (Free Donuts/Coffee)

9 a.m. North side of Downtown Alva Square

  • Homecoming Parade

10 a.m. Downtown Alva Square

  • Ranger Lunch on the Square ($6/person)

Present your alumni membership card for FREE lunch!
Directly after Parade Across from Rialto 

  • Alumni Band Rehearsal

​2 p.m. Third Floor Ryerson Hall

  • Massed Band Performance

3:30 p.m. Ranger Field

  • Northwestern VS Harding University Football Game

           4 p.m. Ranger Field

Homecoming Buttons

Funds from the sale of Northwestern’s Homecoming Buttons are the main source of income for Homecoming. 

2023 Homecoming Button

The button is only $10 and provides entrance to the Miss Cinderella Pageant competition and Talent Night, the football game, as well as discounts and other incentives from a list of Alva merchants during the week of homecoming; it’s more than a $35 value! Each homecoming button is numbered and has a chance to win $500 in Alva Chamber Bucks. The winning button will be drawn during the homecoming football game, and the drawn number must be present to win. 

Alva Homecoming Button Sales Locations

Alva Chamber of Commerce 502 Okla. Blvd. (580) 327-1647; Alva Vision Clinic 504 College (580) 327-2393; Bate's Bows Co. & More 505 College Ave. (580) 596-6101; Holder Drug 513 Barnes St. (580) 327-3332; La Dee Da's 428 Flynn (580) 327-0382; NWOSU Campus 709 Okla. Blvd. (580) 327-8536; Shepherd Oil Convenience Store 1512 E. Okla. Blvd. (580) 327-8055; Sights and Sounds/Radio Shack 609 College (580) 327-0409; Rialto Cinema 516 Flynn (580) 327-0535


MERCHANT INCENTIVES 

All patrons MUST be wearing a Homecoming button during the week of Homecoming to receive the discounts! For Homecoming, merchants from the area will offer the following discounts: 


2023 Homecoming Merchant Incentives

Homecoming Theme

Current Theme:        Rock Rangers Rock
                                  Homecoming Tour 2023

Have an idea for next year's homecoming theme? Submit it to our committee with the online form: Homecoming Theme Entries

Past Homecoming Themes

Parade Marshal

Current Parade Marshal:

Darrell and Grace Wessels

Darrell and Grace Wessels -- Click for story 

Would you like to nominate someone for next year's homecoming parade marshal? Submit your nomination to the homecoming committee using our: Online Homecoming Theme and Parade Marshal form.

Parade Marshals through the years  

Miss Cinderella Pageant

Since its inception, the Miss Cinderella Pageant has provided a means by which outstanding high school seniors can compete in a worthwhile pageant for both honors and awards of scholarship. This scholarship pageant takes place on Thursday and Friday of Homecoming week, followed by the parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Alva’s downtown square. The pageant has grown in size and significance in northwest Oklahoma and towns along the Kansas and Texas borders. 

The winner of the Miss Cinderella title receives eight semesters of tuition and a one-year room waiver at Northwestern's Alva campus. The first and second runners-up receive six and four semesters of tuition, respectively. The winners of the talent and congeniality titles each receive a one-year room waiver in addition to the one-year tuition scholarship that each contestant receives. Miss Cinderella Scholarship Information

Recent winners, pageant history, and former Miss Cinderella 

A contestant must be a true high school senior female, single, and at least 16 years of age by September 1, 2022. She must never have previously entered the Miss Cinderella Pageant. For a full list of requirements download the entry forms, rules and guidelines below.  

MISS CINDERELLA ENTRY FORMS

  1. Initial School Letter 
  2. Information and Data Sheet 
  3. Miss C Talent Guidelines 
  4. Miss C Wardrobe Guidelines
  5. Miss C Pageant Rules 
  6. Miss C Certification of Local Winner 

MISS CINDERELLA CONTESTANT INFORMATION SHEET FORM

What is Miss Cinderella? 

Campus map for parking

Miss Cinderella Evening Gown Walk Pattern Video

Miss Cinderella Poster 2023

Float Entry Forms & Rules

Every year the Alva community and merchants, as well as many of Northwestern’s alumni, academic departments and student clubs create theme-centered floats to be featured in the Homecoming parade. If you are interested in participating with a float please fill out an entry form, download and read the float rules for your category and the float building workshop.

Float Categories:

  • Category 1 - Campus Organizations or Groups
  • Category 2 - Off Campus, Non-profit
  • Category 3 - Commercial Business

Float Prizes:  

  • 1st place - $200
  • 2nd place -$150
  • 3rd place - $100
  • President's Award - $100 plus an engraved plaque for best overall float
  • Alumni Award - $75 for exceptional display of "Ranger Spirit"

*All groups participating in the float competition will receive a $200 incentive per float entry. Must participate in the float competition (judging). No "walking" groups (groups with a vehicle with signs and/or walkers). 

*Groups may request reimbursement for expenses up to $200. Must submit itemized receipt.

Deadline for float entry forms is Wednesday, Oct. 4, by noon

Below you will find the online float entry form OR a fillable PDF document that can be emailed or printed and sent to Mrs. Shannon Leaper. You are required to download float rules below which disclose information on where floats can be built, float specs and more.  

Float Rules per category are found below:   

5K Ranger Run & 1-Mile Fun Run

Online Registration Form for 5K Ranger Run and 1 Mile Fun Run

The Northwestern Alumni Association sponsors the annual Ranger Run, which is held on Saturday morning of Homecoming. The 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run begin promptly at 8 a.m. in front of the Rialto Theater on the downtown square in Alva. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m., and official Homecoming T-shirts are given to each paid entry.

All participants will receive a medal. First place in the men’s and women’s division for both the 5K and the 1 Mile Fun Run will also be awarded Chamber Bucks. 

Participants also may choose to register and pay entry fee by going to the J.R. Holder Wellness Center and speaking with the assistant director, Shaughn Kelly (580) 327-8105. 

5K Route

1 Mile Fun Run Route

2023 Ranger Run

Student Activities

The annual Homecoming Celebration for Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva brings alumni and visitors to town each fall during football season. Personnel from Northwestern and leaders in the community join forces to plan the celebration months in advance. 

Each year's homecoming seeks to honor the traditions of the past and the heritage of northwest Oklahoma, offering entertainment features that are continued from year to year, but seeking to make each year's schedule unique. Many of those working on homecoming have been involved in its production for several years; others are newcomers to the project this year. All work together to make it a success and a source of pride to everyone in this part of the state. 

A scholarship pageant for high school seniors to represent their communities takes place on Thursday and Friday of the week, university students take part in special events on campus all week, and marching bands, floats and other attractions liven up Alva’s downtown square for the annual parade on Saturday. The traditional Ranger football game and queen coronation takes place in the afternoon.   

Every year there are on-campus contests and competitions. Entry information for contests can be found below: 

For more information on the homecoming contests, sponsored by Student Government Association, contact Olivia Yandel at oayandel@nwosu.edu or 580-327-8105.     

Homecoming 2023 Events

Marching Bands

Northwestern Oklahoma State University plays host to the Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday of Homecoming weekend. The NWOSU Homecoming Association invites bands to participate in this parade. There are first and second place awards in six classes of competition, as well as offering an open class for bands not interested in competing.

First place winners in each class will receive a $150 award and second place will receive a $100 award. $50 rewards will be given to the overall winner in each category, such as outstanding drumline. In addition, each band participating in the parade will receive a donation of $75 to help defray expenses. Classifications are as follows:   

  • Class 6A

  • Class 5A

  • Class 4A 

  • Class 3A 

  • Class 2A

  • Junior High/Middle School bands

  • Open - Any band participating on a non-competition basis.

At the end of the parade, the NWOSU 2nd Line Brass Band will lead a traditional 2nd line procession to the courthouse band stand, where the Ranger Marching Band will perform a mini concert prior to the handing out of rewards.  

Following the parade, all bands are invited to participate in the massed band during the pregame festivities of the football game. Bands that choose to participate will receive an additional $50, as well as free lunch and t-shirts. The massed band rehearsal will begin around 12:15 p.m. Lunch will be provided at 1:00 p.m. The massed band performance will take place during the Ranger Marching Band pregame performance, which will begin at approximately 3:40 p.m.

REGISTER YOUR BAND REGISTRATION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 27

For more information contact Eric Burger, instructor of instrumental music and director of bands, at (580) 327-8191 or ehburger@nwosu.edu.

Alumni Band

If it’s time for Homecoming, it’s time for alumni to dust off their instruments and join the alumni band. We’re ready to welcome you back on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023!

This year's homecoming alumni band director will be Patrick Wilson!

Rehearsal will start at 2 p.m. in the band room on the third floor of Ryerson Hall, Alva campus. Game time is set for 4 p.m. Alumni Band Letter 

Want to be involved in the Alumni Band? Fill out the form below! Please complete the information and submit by Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in order to reserve a T-shirt in the correct size. More information will follow. 

Alumni Band Registration Form

Alumni Baseball

Friday, Oct. 6 | 6:30 p.m.
Dunning Performance Facility

Everyone is welcome!

 

Dinner Provided

 

Questions, concerns or suggestions?  

Contact:  

Homecoming T-Shirt

2023 NWOSU Homecoming

Adult sizes S-XL are $12 each (buy two or more, $11 per tee); XXL and up are $15 each. 

Youth sizes S-L are $12 each.

Preorder Here

Preorder deadline is Sept. 27! 

Alumni Tent & Medallion Hunt

Following the parade at noon in the Alumni Association tent on the downtown square, a $6 barbeque lunch will be provided by the Northwestern Alumni Association and prepared by the Rowdy Rangers. All members of the President’s Association will eat for free. A reception for the parade marshal takes place at the Alumni Tent. 

2023 Alumni Tent Info
 

You will be able to register at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 at www.https://ournorthwestern.org/medallion-hunt

Please note the webpage will not be accessible until 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6

23 Medallion Hunt

Homecoming Photos

Photos from various Homecoming events have been archived on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nwosu-rangers/collections/72157721568384563/

Homecoming Committee

Have questions or concerns? Contact the appropriate homecoming committee member below:

HOMECOMING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

General Chairman: Dr. David Pecha

Button Sales Chair: Karen Koehn

Secretary & Chamber Coordinator: Jodie Bradford-Stevison

Treasurer: Tara Hannaford

Special Events Coordinator: Bryan Miller 

Marketing Coordinator: Kelsey Martin

Alumni Coordinator: John Allen

Alumni Marketing Coordinator: Jana Lindley

Miss Cinderella Pageant Co-directors: Lisa Cline and Dr. Sheila Brintnall

Ranger Run Chair: Shaughn Kelly

Campus/Student Events: Olivia Yandel

Student Government Association Vice President: Austin Rankin

Parade Chairs: Patrick Hawley and Ben Orcutt

Band Director: Eric Burger

Antique Car Chair: Gary Brown

Float Chair: Shannon Leaper

Theatre Director: Kimberly Weast

Maintenance Secretary:  Markangela Kinnett

To contact an individual from the committee, please click on his or her name to send an email. 

Suggestions for Homecoming?  Please submit them to Kelsey Martin.

If you have a comment or suggestions you would like the homecoming committee to address please use the online form below:  

Homecoming Suggestions

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709 Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, OK 73717
Phone: (580) 327-1700

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