Red Hot cheers accompanied dancing and singing as participants rang in the spirit of Stony Brook, a kickoff to Homecoming weekend Wednesday night in the Student Activities Center Auditorium. The Homecoming event allowed the candidates to present themselves to a panel of six judges and audience members who later voted for their favorite candidates.
Homecoming king and queen are viewed as leaders representing and guiding the Stony Brook student body.
The event drew a crowd of approximately 450 students, an increase since 2004 when audience members were allowed to attend the contest. “This is the biggest turn out of people we have had,” said Sarah Young, the coordinator of Homecoming events.
The contestants, five males and five females dressed in formal attire, were each asked two questions by a panel of six randomly selected judges made up of faculty and staff.
The questions consisted of what each contestant’s goals were as a leader and a question about their personal achievements.
Following the Q’A section of the event each participant expressed a visual image of their leadership by performing a talent to personalize their attributes in something called “Creative Explosion.”
The performances even swayed some voters. Zaid Hasan switched his vote because “[The Creative Explosion] influenced my vote for the Queen.”
All audience member ballots were collected at the end of the event, counting as the seventh judge.
Standing apart from the other contestants, Sunny Makhijani, performed karate as a Seawolf against a student representing Charleston Southern University, which is the school that SBU will be competing against in the Homecoming game. Makhijani then played the drums and ran into the audience.
“It only takes one person to make a difference in the world,” said Makhijani. “Imagine a difference it would make if we all work as one.” With his self proclaimed motto he wants to “Help spread the message.”
All 10 contestants are required to have a minimal standing point of a 2.5 GPA, experience in leadership, and an essay reflecting a personal experience. The winners will be announced this Saturday at half time during the Homecoming game.
“I loved it, it was out there,” said Deidre Flores, a student. “It hypes up school spirit.”
