Students crowded Lawther Field Monday evening to celebrate University of Northern Iowa’s Homecoming kickoff.

The homecoming theme this year is “Students By Day, Panthers By Night.” The annual kickoff featured pep talks from President Ruud, head basketball coach Ben Jacobson, a performance from UNI’s dance team and the Pride Cry event. 

Homecoming is a chance for students to don their Panther purple and flaunt their school spirit.

“It’s a time where people can take off their Iowa and Iowa State shirts,” said Evan Cruise, senior accounting major.

UNI’s mascots TK and TC cheered on the sidelines and rallied up the crowd throughout the kickoff.

Seven teams competed in Pride Cry. Each team had to incorporate UNI’s fight song, this year’s Homecoming theme and rally enough school spirit to win over the judges. The seven teams included Alpha Phi and Sigma Epsilon, Alpha Xi Delta and KULT, Noehren Hall, SAA and CATS, Alpha Delta Pi and Pi Kappa Alpha, Camp Adventure and Dance Marathon.

Allison Cruthis, senior elementary education major, competed in Pride Cry with SAA and CATS.

“It’s a great time for everyone to come together for Panther Pride,” Cruthis said about Homecoming week.

The three finalists from Pride Cry will go on to compete for first place at Friday’s pep rally. The judges of Pride Cry voted SAA and CATS, Noehren Hall and Camp Adventure as the three finalists. 

Concluding Homecoming kickoff, Masters of Ceremonies Kellie Krueger and Anthony Peavy, announced Homecoming royalty. 

King candidates include Jacob Ferguson, Garrett Harrison, Jefferson Fosbender, Matthew Klien and Ben Huber. Queen candidates include Jordan Bruess, Bailey Jimmison, Jana Johnson, Sabrina Santos and Linh Nguyen. Homecoming king and queen will be announced at Friday’s pep rally. 

“This is our campus, this is our family, we are the University of Northern Iowa,” Jacobson said. “You make sure you’re darn proud.”