Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

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David Barron THE STARS, MOON and earth visited Pittsburg during the Homecoming parade. Alpha Gamma Delta was behind these celestial objects. David Barton TEARING HOPEFULLY INTO a new season was the Corillas. They were preparing to challenge the Missouri Western Griffons in the Homecoming game. Floats Tradition Spectators enjoy eventful parade floats and decorated cars were the first to arrive, gathering at the corner of Tenth and Broadway early Saturday morning. They were driven, pushed and pulled by tired, dedicated students who had worked for weeks to have the best, most original entry. Members of novelty groups were also there, dressed in outer-space costumes and shivering in the cold air of the windy November morning. The yellow school buses began rolling up next, unloading 1,400 band members from 19 Kansas and Missouri high schools and junior high schools. Shortly thereafter, spectators started to arrive. Some huddled inside warm buildings, but still more braved the cold wind and cloudy sky, lining up both sides of Broadway. All were waiting anxiously for the beginning of the biggest Homecoming parade Pittsburg State University had ever hosted. PSU students and alumni were joined by adults from Pittsburg and the surrounding communities, as well as crowds of children, in enjoying the spectacle of 100 parade entries, in- cluding floats, decorated cars, novelty groups and marching bands. Clowns shook the hands of small children, and Cus and Gussie Gorilla roared up and down Broadway on mopeds. Jack Overman, former director of the PSU Student Union, was the honorary grand marshal. In the float competition, Alpha Sigma Alpha and Sigma Tau Gamma received first place. Their float por- trayed Gus piloting a space shuttle, under which the feet and tail of a Griffon could be seen. Second place was awarded to Alpha Gamma Delta and Lambda Chi with their Zap the Griffons float. It showed a star fighter, piloted by Gus. The smoke coming out of the tailpipe of the star fighter helped make this float a success. Sigma Sigma Sigma and Sigma Chi placed third, with their Space, the Final Frontier theme, and the Technology Clubs' portrayal of a lunar landing module atop a Griffon snared fourth place. In the decorated car competition, Newman Club received first place; Trout Hall, second; Tau Kappa Epsilon, third; and the Social Work Club, fourth. Sigma Chi won first place in the novelty competition. Alpha Sigma Alpha and Sigma Tau Gamma received second, and Sigma Sigma Sigma third. The novelty groups in the parade included portrayals of the Star Wars Cantina Band, War of the Worlds, and Fat Albert and the Brown Hornet; A novelty group is a group who choose a theme and then act it out. Any club may form a novelty group and march in the parade. For the second year, prizes were also awarded to community businesses and organizations participating in the parade. The Pittsburg area Chamber of Commerce received first place in this competition, and Lowe's Skateway, second. Jody Richards, Uniontown fresh- man, said, I've been coming to this parade for years, since I was a little girl. But this was the best parade I've ever seen Pittsburg put on. —by Stacey Sanderlin David Barton

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McGraw crowned Homecoming queen 5 tudents and faculty at Pittsburg State University poured into Brandenburg Stadium to witness the crowning of the 1984 University Homecoming Queen, at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Carol McGraw, Bonner Springs senior, representing Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, was elected Queen by the student body. Each student voted for one candidate on the ballot where the names of 10 semi- finalists appeared. The choice of 10 semi-finalists had been made earlier, narrowed from a field of 25 queen candidates. McGraw's court was also named during the convocation. They in- cluded Julie Bresnick, Pittsburg senior, sponsored by Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority; Gena Buche, Mulberry junior, sponsored by Sigma Chi fraternity; Anne Mullen, Leavenworth sophomore, sponsored by Lambda Sigma honor society; and Anita O'Brien, Chetopa junior, sponsored by the Newman Club. The queen candidates met four times with campus and community judges before the convocation, including a public competition in the Jack H. Overman Student Center, Ballots were collected at the convocation by members of Lambda Sigma honor society, and were tabulated by computer. While waiting for the results of the voting, students were entertained by comedian John Penny, Kansas City, Mo., who acted as Master of Ceremonies. Penny is a drama student at South- west Missouri State University and is an entertainer at Stanford Sons Comedy House in Kansas City. Other entertainment included music by the PSU Pride of the Plains Marching Band, a Pom Pon squad routine to the song Let's Hear it For The Boy by Deniece Williams, and a cheerleader and yell leader routine to the song Hello Again by The Cars. Dr. Donald Wilson, University president, gave a short pep talk on student enthusiasm, and Mike Mayerske, head football coach. introduced the PSU football team and coaching staff and talked about the upcoming game against the Missouri Western Griffons. The 1983 Homecoming Queen Pam Farney, Haysville senior, gave her farewell address and handed her title over to McGraw. The Queen and her court were presented during half-time ceremonies of the Homecoming football game on Saturday. The other five semi-finalists and their sponsors: Nancy Booker, Pittsburg junior, Tau Kappa Epsilon; Karen Carter, Pittsburg junior. School of Technology, Association of General Contractors, Graphic Arts Club, Instrument Society of America, Society of Associated Woodworkers, Society of Automotive Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Society of Plastic Engineers. Vicky Hight, Cherryvale senior. Social Work Club; Aletha Patterson, iola sophomore, Trout Hall; and Kristi Russell, Caney senior, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The other 15 candidates and their sponsors were Charlotte Ambler, Iola junior. Concerned Black Students; Shannon Bailey, Chanute junior, Sigma Phi Epsilon; Kristine Bozman, Coffeyville freshman, Dellinger Hall; Latricia Bromley, Coffeyville, Vocational Industrial Clubs of America; Vicki Comstock, Chanute senior, Ecumenical Christian Ministries. Teri Deffenbaugh, Coffeyville junior, Nation-Mitchell Residence Hall; Kimberlee Lawson, Fort Scott senior, Sigma Tau Gamma; Kim Middleswart, Oswego sophomore, Nation-Mitchell Hall; Lynn Murry, Shawnee sophomore, Student Union Board; Shellie Overman, Liberal, Mo., sophomore, Student Home Economics Association. Teresa Reinier, Greeley senior, KANS; Shelly Sparks, Fort Scott sophomore. Pi Kappa Alpha; Jenny Steele, Pittsburg senior. Alpha Gamma Delta; Dee Vitt, St. Paul senior. Lambda Chi Alpha; and Wendy Woods, Abilene junior, Dellinger Hall.—by Ron Ausemus Audrey Van Becelaere ONE DOESN'T HAVE to be a college student to enjoy college activities. In spite of the cold, these two youngsters enjoy the clowns and colors of the P5l Homecoming parade. Audrey Van Becelaere CLOWNS, CLOWNS, EVERYWHERE downs. Danic McMillen, Baldwin resident, is just one of many who participated in the University's parade. Homecoming Queen Tradition

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Steven Hauler Floats Tradition