The winner of the Homecoming Float Competition was the Baptist Collegiate Ministry with a  float based off of New York, ‘The Big Apple’. The float’s main feature was an apple bigger than a person made out of chicken wire and napkins.
Breshon Foster/The Lion's Roar

Parades are a sign of celebration in Louisiana and the Homecoming Game was something that alumni, current students, friends and family of the university came out to celebrate.

The Homecoming Parade held on Saturday, Oct. 22 included the Homecoming Court, President John L. Crain, various close friends of the school and the organizations around campus that signed up to enter into the float contest.

Some of the floats that had been entered were the size of the car pulling them while others were the size of a school bus. 

The winner of the contest this year, and one of two groups entered in the parade that were not a Greek organization, was the Baptist Collegiate Ministry.

“We’re just trying to spread the name of BCM and hopefully make an impact on the students,” said Hikita Foster, a junior psychology major who helped organize the construction of the BCM’s float. 

With this year’s Homecoming theme being Roomie’s Road Trip, each group that entered the contest chose a place that Roomie might go as the theme of their float.  Floats in the parade were based on Kentucky, Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas and more. The winning float was based on New York, ‘The Big Apple.’ 

Along with a student dressed as a lion in a Lady Liberty costume, the BCM used New York’s nickname quite literally on their float by making an apple bigger than a person to be the centerpiece.

“We first started off with chicken wire and trying to get the shape right was difficult, but we started to paper mache it, then we got the idea to do the napkins,” said Foster. “We cut the napkins in squares and stuffed it.” 

Decorating a float can be difficult and proved to be a challenge that the BCM rose to. 

“It’s stressful, but it also builds character between us,” said Foster. “You have to be vulnerable and you have to let them know if you’re frustrated, but it was fun doing it. It builds team spirit and team bonding.”

The main goal in BCM entering the Float Competition was to spread their message through love. 

“We are all about spreading the gospel, so just loving on people is a big part of sharing the gospel,” said Foster. 

 

President John L. Crain was among those riding in the Homecoming Parade.
Breshon Foster/The Lion's Roar

The Homecoming Court rode in the Homecoming Parade.
Breshon Foster/The Lion's Roar

Roomie the Lion rode on top of a firetruck during the Homecoming Parade. 

The Spirit of the Southland performed music while leading the start of the Homecoming Parade. 
Morgan Ledet/The Lion's Roar

Floats during the Homecoming Parade was based on places that Roomie may go on a road trip like Las Vegas.
Amber Grace Garrard/The Lion's Roar