The Show Must Go On: Northwestern Homecoming Stays ‘Rowdy Under the Big Top’ Despite Rain
October 27, 2025
2025 Parade Marshal Dr. Ken Brown led the Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 25.
ALVA, Okla. — Rain showers didn’t stop the Rangers from getting “Rowdy Under the Big Top” as Northwestern Oklahoma State University homecoming activities concluded on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Festivities on Saturday began with the annual Ranger Run sponsored by the J.R. Holder Wellness Center. Twenty-three participated in the 5k race, and 21 ran in the 1-mile fun run.
Leading the parade on Saturday was parade marshal Dr. Ken Brown, retired Northwestern professor of chemistry and longstanding Northwestern supporter.
After the conclusion of the parade, the winners of the marching band contests were announced from among the six bands that participated:
High School Marching Competition – 4A: first Place, Woodward High School; 3A: first place, Alva High School, second place Chisholm High School; 2A: first place, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale High School.
Junior High Marching Competition – first place, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale; second place, Chisholm Middle School.
The Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors (NSA) won the President’s Award for best overall float.
In the float competition, first place for on-campus floats was the Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors (NSA), who also earned the President’s Award for best overall float. Second place went to the Northwestern Aggie Club, and third place went to the Northwestern Student Government Association (SGA).
In the off-campus, commercial business float category, first place went to Beadles Nursing Home, who also earned the Northwestern Alumni Association Ranger Spirit Award for the float depicting exceptional Ranger spirit. Second place went to Alva State Bank.
In the off-campus, non-profit float category, first place went to the Alva Pumpkin Patch, and second place went to the Cherokee Strip Museum.
Members of Alva High School and Woodward Junior High and High School bands joined the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Ranger Marching Band for a performance on Ranger Field before the Ranger Football Homecoming game.
Members of the Alva and Woodward High School bands joined the Northwestern Ranger Marching Band for a massed band performance during pregame of the Northwestern football game. Alva High School drum major Emry Williams conducted alongside Northwestern drum major Levi Crumpton, a senior vocal music education major from Cushing, during the band’s halftime performance.
Northwestern played host to several other activities including the alumni band, which was led by guest director Shawna Gilbert, Northwestern access services librarian and assistant professor of library science, and the crowning of the Ranger King and Queen.
TJ Johns and Jaxy Cloud were crowned Ranger King and Queen during Northwestern’s Homecoming halftime event. Ranger Royalty court included (front left to right) flower girl Emma Franz and crown bearer Luke Martin; (back left to right) 2024 Ranger Queen Diamond Hilton; Queen finalists Janie Rempel and Brenda Lezama; Freshman Queen Abbey Elam; Ranger Queen Jaxy Cloud and Ranger King TJ Johns; King finalists Jeremy Smith and Nathan Vaughn; and 2024 Ranger King Marshal Howard.
This year’s Ranger Royalty included Ranger King Tra’von “TJ” Johns, a senior health and sports science education major from Phoenix, Arizona, who was sponsored by the Northwestern Men’s Track and Field Team.
Ranger Queen is Jaxyn “Jaxy” Cloud, a senior media and communication major from Seiling, who was sponsored by the NWTV-7.
Abbey Elam of Shattuck was crowned Freshman Queen during the Ranger Royalty Finalist banquet. She is majoring in media and communication.
Dee Mason, spouse of Northwestern professor of political science Dr. Aaron Mason, won the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association medallion hunt. Mason won the medallion along with $100 in Alva Chamber Bucks. Mason also won the medallion hunt in 2022.
Northwestern’s on-campus activities had a great turnout of decorations that showed Ranger spirit.
First place for the on-campus Spirit Sheet Competition was the Chemistry Club, second place went to the Northwestern Art Society, and third place to the Writer’s Roundtable.
First place for the on-campus Spirit Board Competition went to the Northwestern Baptist College Ministry, second place went to the Northwestern Black Student Union, and third place to the Medical Sciences Club.
The winning office/window display was awarded to the Business Office, second place went to the J.W. Martin Library, and the Human Resources and Payroll office received third.
The winning door/wall display went to the Dean of Faculty office, Graduate Studies, and Counseling and Career Services, second place went to the TRIO Student Support Services office, and third to the Housing Office.
The winning dorm was Fryer Hall, second place was Cunningham Hall, and Coronado Hall received third place.
The Rangers got their first football win of the season against Southern Nazarene University, 33-22, and Northwestern Soccer triumphed in its game over East Central University at Advance Soccer Complex in Enid, 1-0.
The Ranger Band performs during halftime of the Homecoming football game Oct. 25.
“Our committee worked hard to ensure a fun-filled celebration for our community,” said Dr. David Pecha, homecoming chairman and university executive vice president. “We had a great homecoming week and are thankful for all the participation despite the weather.”
The Homecoming committee will start work soon on next year’s Homecoming set for Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.
Be watching for a contest to open during the spring semester to enter ideas for next year’s homecoming theme and parade marshal. Until then, people may enter the competition at nwosu.edu/homecoming. The homecoming committee will consider all entries and make an announcement of the new theme and parade marshal during the spring semester.
Photos from the homecoming events can be found at flickr.com/photos/nwosu-rangers/collections/72157721568384563/.
-NW-
Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8480