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Homecoming officially began last week and the fever spread rapidly across the entire campus, and one of the most popular events, the Roo Decorating Contest.
Blank wooden cut-outs of UMKC's famous mascot, the fighting kangaroo, were painted, dressed and displayed by the various groups participating for the chance to win prizes.
The first place winner received $200, the runner-up received $100 and third place took $50.
The competition was not only fierce this year, but highly secretive. Like a cloak and dagger game, student organizations came by discreetly to drop off their Roos in the Student Life Office before judging.
They came in right before the deadline to keep prying eyes away from their original designs.
When it came time to actually judge the designs, Student Life, which sponsored the event, selected 10 non-biased people to make the selection.
A reporter from The Kansas City Star was on hand to take photos and document some of the festivities taking place on campus as part of the University's 75th Anniversary.
Among some of the notable entries were a glow-in-the-dark Roo from the Athletic Department and a glittery version painstakingly transformed into a winged dragon from Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
The votes were tallied and the winners were as follows:
1st place went to the LGBT department.
2nd place went to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
3rd place went to Women's Soccer
The Miller Nichols Library was also notable as the only faculty department to place in the top spots and won their entire department breakfast.
All of the decorated Roos are currently on display and can be seen in the lawn around the University Center walk way.
crose@unews.com
