Homecoming is a special event that casts a light to celebrate a school, its alumni, and the current students and faculty, culminating with a football game to cap off a week-long series of events held on campus and in the community.

The Associated Students of New Mexico State University have been working diligently on the planning of the 2017 Homecoming events, in preparation of the week of celebration which is the 23-28. More specifically, Donovan Olvera the Director of Activities at ASNMSU. His department deals with all of the athletic relations, special events, and activities at the institution.

There are many events that students and community members can do to participate in the upcoming events that come with homecoming.

“There are a few different ways that people can participate. One way to participate, if you are a business, you can sponsor homecoming, you can donate for the silent auction,” Director Olvera said. “You can build a float for the actual parade, as well as incorporative dance or some kind of interpretive kind of thing [for the parade],” Olvera explained. There is also a door decorating and float building contest that any department, office, or student organization may get involved in. These contests must correspond with the theme.

Homecoming week is close to the Mexican celebration “Dia de los Muertos” which means “Day of the Dead”, so, of course, this year’s homecoming celebration is themed “Dia de los Aggies”.

Olvera and his department have been working with the NMSU Alumni Association in order to make this year’s homecoming one the students of New Mexico State will never forget. They have helped “in planning traditional Homecoming events, in an effort to deliver the most authentic Homecoming yet” according to Director Olvera in the opening letter of the 2017 Homecoming Packet.

The events will start Monday with the beginning of Homecoming King and Queen elections and the Homecoming Kickoff and then continuing with the Car Smash on Tuesday and Silent Auction on Wednesday. On Thursday, there will be a pep rally, bonfire, and a concert at the parking lot east of the Pan American Center. Pallets for the bonfire are provided by various student organizations. Then, on Friday, the elections for Homecoming royalty close at 5 p.m.

Saturday is the day of the Homecoming game and some big traditional festivities. It starts with the parade at 10 a.m. that will start at the Pan American Center, go down University Avenue and end west of Skeen Hall at the end of campus.

The tailgating activities will begin at 2 p.m. and will end at kickoff which is set for 6 p.m against the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The Homecoming Coronation and results will be at halftime of the football game.

These events are to celebrate amazing pastimes, inspire new traditions, and celebrate old ones as we come together with our Aggie family, whether you are a current student, alumni, staff or faculty member, or just a part of the NMSU community.

For more information on the Homecoming and a more detailed look at the events coming up, go to the ASNMSU Homecoming 2017 page at https://asnmsu.nmsu.edu/get-involved/homecoming/.