It’s October and that means the Homecoming Door Decorating Contest is right around the corner.

Jesse Heath, graduate assistant in the Office of Student Activities, said this is the first year that door decorating has been incorporated into the homecoming events.

Three groups are able to compete: students, faculty and staff and organizations or departments.

Decorating will take place from Oct. 15 at 8 a.m. through Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. Decorations should follow this year’s homecoming theme, “Once a Mule, Always a Mule.”

Doors must be ready to be presented by 5 p.m. on Oct. 19 when Homecoming Committee members will take pictures of the doors and vote for the best. The homecoming committee encourages participants to keep their doors decorated throughout homecoming week.

Materials for decorating can be found and purchased at the Office of Student Activities in Union 217 or from outside stores, though the use of glitter is strictly prohibited.

Winners will be announced via email and at the Homecoming Pep Rally on Oct. 26 in the Multipurpose Building at 4 p.m. The winners will receive a plaque and bragging rights. Heath said the goal is to get more people involved in the homecoming festivities. Window painting has traditionally only involved student organizations on campus, so the committee and Spotlight felt door decorating would be a great way to get faculty and staff, offices and individual students involved in the process.

For more information, contact Jesse Heath at jheath@ucmo.edu, or click here to register.