Winners lauded in Homecoming spirit celebration on The Green

1:50 p.m., Nov. 14, 2011--The University of Delaware Alumni Association President’s Choice inaugural award presentation got off to a great start on Friday, Nov. 11, thanks to an enthusiastic crowd and a late afternoon of near-perfect fall weather.

Held on The Green in front of Memorial Hall as part of Homecoming weekend, the presentation was part of a spirit event that featured music by members of the UD Marching Band and awards to University departments as part of the "Dare to show more spirit" photo competition and to students for creative spirit banners.

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

• Doctoral hooding
• Old Swedes
• Summer SAT, ACT prep
• 'Opus 13' pre-sale

The "Dare to show more spirit" competition featured photographs of various University departments and units decked out in UD gear, with honors including the new Alumni President's Choice Award and the People's Choice Award.

The inaugural Alumni President’s Choice Award went to Student Financial Services. As winners they received the Blue Cup trophy to display in the office until next year’s winners are chosen.

The People’s Choice Award, determined by online voting, was awarded to UD’s Disaster Research Center.

Members of the UD Marching Band offered a crowd-pleasing performance of the Delaware Fight Song to kick off activities, highlighted by the awarding of the Alumni President’s Cup by Darelle Riabov, the 28th president of the UD Alumni Association. 

“I’m delighted to be here and to be part of the Blue Hen tradition,” said Riabov, who graduated in 1973 with a bachelor of science degree in home economics. “It was really difficult choosing from among so many great entries.”

Also gracing The Green were more than 30 banner entries representing a wide variety of student groups, including Greek life, residence halls, resident student organizations and individual entries. 

Student banner competition winners included:

1. UDress

2. French Club

3. Rodney F1

4. Student Government Association (SGA)

5. Alpha Sigma Alpha

6. Samantha and Amy Team

7. UD Sailing Club

8. Gamma Sigma Sigma

9. Lauren Lord

10. Delta Sigma Pi.

“We wanted a second winner in the 'Dare to show more spirit competition,' so we inaugurated the Alumni President’s Cup Award,” said Christine Scheirer, reunion and student program coordinator in the UD Office of Alumni Relations. “We also wanted to engage current Blue Hens with some of the more than 155,000 UD alumni located around the world."

The Homecoming spirit event, which included free hot chocolate, light snacks and UD spirit items, was attended by more than 200 UD students, alumni and employees. 

The festivities were capped by a red-carpeted crowning ceremony for contest awardees. 

Article by Jerry Rhodes

Photos by Ambre Alexander