Homecoming offers a mix of events on campus.
Catherine Twing/Castleton Spartan

Homecoming Weekend at Castleton was filled with families, fun and plenty of things to do, all made complete with an enormous blow-up reptile.
“It gives students a chance to come together as a community,” junior Eric Ginter said.
The excitement began Friday after sun down with the Campus Activities Board, CAB, sponsored Family Feud game show night.
“We lost, but it was pretty cool. They gave away $200 cash,” junior Mariah O’Hara said.
Hypnotist Eric Mina was yet again a success as he performed in the Campus Center, which was filled with 100 attendees, both family and students.
According to David Ievoli, president of CAB, Mina’s skills of hypnosis made everyone laugh so much that there have already been requests for him to return next year.
“Getting hypnotized was the greatest experience ever,” freshman Kirsty Bell said.
Getting an early start Saturday morning were tailgaters, teams and other groups preparing for the days events.
Although the football team suffered an unfortunate loss to RPI, there was no shortage of Spartan Pride.
Graduate Assistant Meghan Hakey said the weekend was “already successful,” as she stood in line to make a personalized license plate Saturday morning.
Later in the afternoon students packed into the campus center waiting for their chance to make license plates, key chains and personalized door hangers.
Hakey was very impressed with attendance this year.
“There are so many alumni,” she said. “Especially young alumni.”
However, Alum Paula Danforth was excited for a very difference reason.
“I love the school now,” she said. “It’s just beautiful.”
Compared to the usually quiet atmosphere of a Saturday on campus, there was no shortage of activities.
“It’s exciting that there are so many free things for students to do” junior Courtney Shannon said.
Most enjoy the weekend because they get to see their parents. One student said the highlight of the weekend was the bounce house and blow-up slide with the alligator on top.
“It’s a bounce house at a college. Where else can you find that?” said the student, who wished to remain anonymous.
Overall, Ievoli saw the weekend as a success.
“The glass etching was my favorite,” said Ievoli. “Something new we hadn’t done before and people really enjoyed it.”
The activities that seemed to elicit the most attention was the football game, cow plop bingo, and the hockey team’s dunk tank.

Continuing into Sunday, the cross-country team sponsored their second annual color run to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 70 runners dressed in white shirts and colorful shorts. They had a great time being covered in colors as they ran the 5K. Even the spectators got a little splash of color.
Melissa Crossman, head coach of the women’s cross-country team, said the team usually does some sort of community service so in conjunction they chose to support research for cystic fibrosis.
“It’s a high spirited, non-competitive run to celebrate homecoming weekend and have a little fun” Crossman said.
The event even attracted runners from the community such as Cathy Sosaa’s daughters, who attend Rutland middle and high school, were excited to participate.
“Both girls wanted to participate. They were very excited” Sosaa said.
Mother and daughter, Andrea and Hillary Ryan did the run together. Hillary wanted to last year, but was unable so this year they did it together.
“It’s my first run ever,” said Andrea Ryan before the run began. “It’ll be fun.”
While it was near impossible to attend every event, there was something to interest everyone and really bring out Spartan pride.
“There are things for little kids, alumni, adults; it’s a weekend with something for everyone” Shannon said.