Homecoming Council prepares upcoming events

Written by: Melissa Burgess/Contributing Writer

Students aren’t the only ones excited for Homecoming. So are the planners.

“This is the moment we has been working for, and they are excited to see their hard work pay off. We are also excited for the students who come out to the events because we have so much planned for them,” said Kelly Ibarra, Homecoming Council overall director.

The Homecoming Council has been preparing for Homecoming since November of last year. Homecoming consists of everything from budgeting, getting sponsors, working with different vendors, creating timelines, layouts and coming up with ideas for every event, Ibarra said.

“Sometimes I like to think we can run a small business because of the actual tasks that we accomplish as a team. We work during our meetings. There is never time to sit and socialize,” said Jordan Thompson, the Rules and Regulations Chair of the Homecoming Council.

For the Council, the most challenging part of preparing for Homecoming was making sure to reach the student body and picking the artists for Panthermonium, Panther Prowl and Caribbean Fest.

“We do everything possible to make the students happy, meanwhile staying within our budget. Unfortunately, we can’t please everyone, and that is why we send our surveys to every student so that they can share with us their interest when it comes to the artists he or she wants to see at every event,” Ibarra said.

Ibarra said that her job as overall director of the Council can be stressful.

“It can get a little stressful when you oversee all of the Homecoming events, and a team of nearly 45 students. However, I love what I do. The people I work with, my amazing team and advisors help me with anything I need. As a team, we all help each other and when someone feels stressed, we make sure we stay positive and engaged.”

Thompson said that what he loves most about Homecoming are the setbacks that take place during events.

“They really test the abilities and skills of every Council member. These are the moments where Homecoming Council members rise to the occasion and do what we came to do. These are the moments that build the leaders that continue to carry the Homecoming tradition and rituals. These moments make Homecoming,” said Thompson.

Eric Arneson, assistant vice president of Student Affairs said he loves working with the Homecoming Council.

“It’s exciting to work with them. Homecoming is the most important time of the year, and the Homecoming Council does a really great job of organizing these exciting events.”

“It’s a really big responsibility on their part, to organize events for 55,000 students. It’s real life training, and not everyone gets the chance to say they were a part of planning for the most important event of the school year,” Arneson said.

According to Ibarra and Thompson, Homecoming is family and that they feel comfort as a team. They said that together, the Council is home away from home.

“We spend so much time together, planning events, doing outings, having potlucks, working at all the events together and it brings out the FIU spirit within us,” Ibarra said.

She said that when Homecoming 2015 ends, it will be a bittersweet feeling for the entire Council.

“We have become a family and have enjoyed working together, and we actually look forward to every meeting and spending time together. We will be excited that our events have been a success and glad to have our life back, but at the same time, we will feel sad that Homecoming 2015 is over. It’s all the memories we shared together that will continue to make us the Homecoming family that we have become.”

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Image by Bryam Ricaurte/FIUSM Staff