SMU organizations participate in spirit activities like window painting. (Sidney Hollingsworth/The Daily Campus)

Homecoming week has officially kicked off. Some of the festivities include Rock the Vote, float building, the step show and of course Boulevarding and the game. In addition to welcoming back SMU alumni, it’s a time for current SMU students to join in on the fun.

The theme this year, “Homecoming for the Holidays,” gives the organizations participating a chance to represent the various holidays, including Valentine’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Texas Independence Day, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas and others.

“We chose this theme because it was very different from what we have done in the past, and we thought holidays would be unique and fun for everyone to participate it,” Ashley Tote, decorations coordinator for Student Foundation, the SMU organization in charge of putting on Homecoming week, said.

Student Foundation prepares for this week every year and designates an entire committee to the events and preparation. Something new the group is incorporating this year is encouraging first-year students to participate in Rock the Vote by inviting them to a rally before the event.

“In the past freshmen have maybe not felt as involved, so we want them to come out to Rock the Vote and join everyone. They will get a free T-shirt and get to be a part of the event,” Rote said.

Also participating in Rock the Vote and a big part of this week are this year’s homecoming candidates. The candidates for queen include: Jessica Hart of Alpha Chi Omega, Kimbrell Hughes of Pi Beta Phi, Jennie Pearson of Chi Omega, Alana Collinsworth of Delta Delta Delta, Ankita Krishnan of Asian CounciI, Alexa Dow of the Union, Pamela Varela of College Hispanic American Students, Amie Kromis of the Association of Black Students and Melinda Ng of Gamma Phi Beta.

Pamela Nickell of Delta Gamma, Paige Evans of Kappa Alpha Theta, and Anne McCaslin Parker of Kappa Kappa Gamma round out the Homecoming queen candidates.

The winners are selected by a combination of popular vote, interview, resume, GPA and group spirit points.

Homecoming king nominees include: Jack Dawson of Lambda Chi Alpha, Eric Sabandal of FIJI, Ryan Cole of Beta Upsilon Chi, Ryan McComb of Pi Kappa Alpha, Alex Saucedo of Beta Theta Pi, Alex Mace of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Juan Castillo of Multicultural Greek Council, James Moreton of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Tim Delahanty of the Union and Blake Palmer of Kappa Alpha Order.

“I would encourage all students to come out this week to the events, vote, donate blood and of course cheer on the mustangs in the game this Saturday,” Rote said.

A complete list of events for this week includes Candidate Voting, Monday through Friday, The Union Homecoming challenge, Monday through Friday, the blood drive, Monday through Thursday at the flagpole, the freshmen spirit rally and Rock the Vote, Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively at Westcott Field, the float building party, Thursday at 8 p.m., Pigskin Revue, Friday at 8:15 p.m. at McFarlin Auditorium, the parade, Saturday at 11 a.m. on Hillcrest Avenue., and the Boulevard and football game, kick-off Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Mustangs will take on the Memphis Tigers.

Student Foundation Homecoming Chair Kaleigh Schropp is very excited for Homecoming this year.

“We are dedicated to increasing campus unity across every demographic and social group,” Schropp said.

“We’ve started planning for Homecoming since January. To finally see all our efforts come to life has been awesome.”