Schools and businesses will “Paint the Town Red” for the colorful Homecoming contest to determine the best displays of Ragin’ Cajun spirit and pride.
Red and white decorations will be splashed across campuses and storefronts, and inside offices and school buildings, during the Paint the Town Red contest.
A team of local celebrity judges will visit schools and businesses that have entered the competition, searching for the best displays of Ragin’ Cajun’ spirit and pride.
Judges also will seek out the best, most creative ways students, teachers, employees and bosses celebrate the “Homecoming 2014” theme. That includes wearing red clothing and costumes and performing skits.
This year’s theme is “Ragin’ Cajuns Ever After,” which refers to the University’s recent athletics success.
The Ragin’ Cajuns won their third consecutive R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the men’s basketball team earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament and the men’s tennis team won the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team made the school’s sixth appearance at the Women’s College World Series in May, the same month the baseball team was named the nation’s unanimous No. 1 team. CBS.com ranked UL Lafayette 34th in its Best in College Sports ranking in July.
The Paint the Town Red contest will be judged on two days. Businesses will be visited from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Schools will be visited from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Amanda Gary, event chair for the schools portion of the Paint the Town Red contest, said judges will determine the best decorations and displays of Ragin’ Cajun spirit in categories such as best decorations, and most spirited.
“Some schools only decorate, while others perform skits or sing the University fight song and the students sing and clap. It’s really fun to see,” Gary said.
Monique Villien, event chair for the business portion of the Paint the Town Red contest, said large and small businesses will compete against each other for best interior decorations and best exterior decorations. Skits, however, will be judged in two divisions. They are: large businesses of 40 or more employees and smaller businesses of less than 40 employees.
Plaques will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category.
Judges for Paint the Town Red are: Brett Baer, former placekicker for the Ragin’ Cajuns; Robert Harris, King Rob Productions; Ken Judice, BancorpSouth; Kip Judice, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office; Bruce Mikells, 97.3 The Dawg; Hans Nelson, BIG 102.1; Jenn Nelson, BIG 102.1; Gail Savoie, UL Lafayette; Kassie Stoute, Sodexo; and Tracy Wirtz, KATC TV3.
For more information, visit louisianaalumni.org/hcevents