Scholars bond during Homecoming float construction
10/8/2010
By Carly Mallenbaum '10
Schreyer Honors College College Relations Intern
In preparation for the annual Homecoming Parade, Schreyer students are hard at work building and “pomping” (the art of gluing tissue paper to chicken wire) their float to be pulled by truck on a flatbed across campus and through downtown State College. For the first time in Schreyer Honors College history, the honors college teamed up with Phi Sigma Phi, the National Honors Fraternity, to build their tissue paper masterpiece.
The 2010 Homecoming theme is “Bonded by Blue and White,” but each student group has its own unique float theme. The honors college has chosen James Bond as its theme.
Tiffany Mosier, SHC Homecoming chair, says having a float that related to the Homecoming theme was no coincidence.
“James Bond was one of our top choices, but I didn’t think we’d actually get it. I’m pretty excited,” she says.
The Phi Sigma Phi Homecoming chair cites the float theme as the reason he got so involved with float-building this year.
“When we got the Bond theme I couldn’t help myself,” says Justin Hayer. “I’m a huge James Bond fan.”
Here’s to hoping the float judges are 007 fans too.
The Bond float, along with floats created by other student organizations, will be given a score out of a thousand points as part of the Homecoming Parade competition. Floats are judged on a number of factors including “completeness” of the float, “Penn State spirit,” and “appeal.”
The SHC float on Friday will feature a red car made from tissue paper and structured chicken wire emerging from a tunnel constructed of the same materials. An actress and actor playing a Bond girl and James Bond will be aboard the float, and Bond will be attempting to free his beautiful damsel in distress.
Does Bond get the girl?
Zach Hostetler, President of the Schreyer Honors College Student Council, says, “You’ll have to come to the parade to find out.”
The Homecoming Parade kicks off Friday, October 8, at 6 p.m.
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