SPRINGFIELD – Students waged war for pizza, made shirts they may never wear and ruined their diets by turning healthy apples into junk food. After the Homecoming dance held Saturday on Feb. 14, some slept until noon after dancing like it was the ’70s.
Lincoln Land’s 2015 Homecoming offered a festive myriad of events during the week of Feb. 9 to 14.
‘PENNY WARS’
The ‘Penny Wars’ were held to raise money for the Grow Beyond Fund. The Veterans Club won, despite strong opposition from the Honors Program.
The Veterans Club earned 5,000 positive points and 306 negative points. The Honors Club was a close second with 4,642 points and 206 negative. Student United Way had 2,741 positive points and 87 negative. Phi Theta Kappa had 382 positive and 830 negative.
The war raised a total of $239.50. “It took about six hours to count the
coins with the aid of a coin-counting machine,” Amber Berman, Student Life program assistant The ‘Penny Wars’ were part of a campaign by the Lincoln Land Foundation to raise $2.5 million for scholarships, classroom equipment and more.
’70s TRIVIA
On Monday, students gathered around a poster board with 19 faces from the ’70s. They were trying to recall the names of some of the decade’s biggest stars. After wrecking their brains, students blatantly asked others or turned to Google. It would seem the reward of candy didn’t warrant a high level of honor.
TYE-DYE T-SHIRTS
On Tuesday, students made tie-dye shirts for the week leading up to the Homecoming. One might wonder how many would wear them in public. But the Homecoming Court had to wear its shirts on Saturday during the men’s basketball game.
EDD FAIRMAN: WIZARD OF SORTS
On Wednesday, students gathered in the A.Lincoln Commons as magician/comedian Edd Fairman. Fairman wowed his audience with cardricks, mind reading and daring acts.
During the show, he played a dangerous game of 90s Trivia Pursuit in which every wrong answer from his volunteers was a chance at a spike to the hand.
He astounded a volunteer, a student known only as Stretch, by showing him a series of sleight-of-hand moves that eventually led to a dollar from Stretch appearing in a kiwi.
EXPRESS YOUR PEACE, LOVE AND APPRECITATION
On Thursday, student made gifts for their favorite teachers at Lincoln Land Community College. Teachers then received handmade cards and goody bags.
TURTLE APPLES
On Friday the 13th, which some say is the most day, students ruined their New Year’s resolution. They indulged in Turtle Apples covered in caramel, chocolate, peanuts and various candy.
HOMECOMING DAY: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
It was finally the big day on Saturday. It was also Valentine’s Day.
Students started the day with the women’s basketball game against the Lincoln College Lynx. The Loggers took a commanding lead and won the game, 72-39.
“It’s been a hard year, been a couple hard years,” said a parent from the Lynx. “That’s why we cheer every basket.”
HOMECOMING DAY: MEN’S BASKETBALL
The men basketball game proved very exciting. The Loggers scored first and quickly took and held the lead throughout the first half.
In the second half, Lincoln put the pressure on. The team easily scored the first basket and tied up the game at 41. At 67-67, the game went into overtime. But the Lynx took the win, 72-79.
HOMECOMING DANCE
Donning a stylish hat, Derek Cop- pinger said of the dance and his nomination or the homecoming court was “Awesome sauce!”
About 125 people attended the dance, said Michelle Burger, the grand master of the homecoming event and Student Life’s student engagement coordinator,
Student came out to dance, gamble and drink nonalcoholic beverages at the Homecoming Dance.
Students walked around and mingled, got their picture taken, laughed at some awkward dancing and cheered for the homecoming court. This made it a wonderful night and well worth braving the cold.
“We came out because there is nothing like this in Jacksonville,”said Sarah Brown, a Jacksonville native. “We (she and her sister) came to support the Jacksonville nominee for Homecoming.”
Toward the middle of the night, the winners of the homecoming court were announced. Brown was happy to see one of the Jacksonville nominees win the king: Nathaneal Herbert.
Amanda Monke was queen.
Herbert and Monke said they never expected to win, but he said it was a great honor to be nominated among such a great group of people. He was also honored to win the crown for Jacksonville.
The other nominees for king were Tyler Borski and Conor Ford. For queen, the nominees were Annie Lochmann, Emily Tomlin and Lindsay Floyd.
Before ending the night Burger said she felt everything had been a great success.
Burger said she was happy to see the students mingling and blending while having a fun time together.
Steven Hoskins can be reached at [email protected] or (217) 786-2311.
