Broadening horizons

Alisa Boswell: Portales News-Tribune

Eastern New Mexico University homecoming queen candidate and sophomore Stephanie McCorkel, left, visits Tuesday with homecoming king candidates Tim McCoy, center, and Phillip Gomez at the Associated Student Activities Board office. The three students said the most exciting thing about running for the positions is getting to know more of their peers.

Three Eastern New Mexico University homecoming king and queen candidates talked excitedly Tuesday afternoon in the Associate Student Activities Board office in the Campus Union Building.

"When I first got here, I didn't know anybody, because I was from out-of-state, so I just wanted to get involved," said junior Phillip Gomez, who came to ENMU from Riverside, Calif. "I didn't want to just be a background person. It's nice to be able to represent Eastern."

This Friday and Saturday marks ENMU homecoming for the 2012-13 school year with several activities open to the public, including the Friday night pep rally and bonfire in which the homecoming royalties will be chosen from five queen candidates and three queen candidates.

Gomez said being involved with homecoming was always a passion and goal of his while at the university.

"I almost didn't stay at Eastern because it was such a culture shock coming here, so I decided to get involved in everything and do things for me and make it fun for me," he said. " I can't believe (now) I was one step away from going home."

Deadline for ENMU students to vote on a homecoming king and queen is 5 p.m. today and the two winning candidates will be announced at the Friday night bonfire at Greyhound Arena, which is open to the public.

Fellow homecoming king candidate and junior Tim McCoy said he was homecoming king at his high school in Maxwell.

"This is just another way to broaden out horizons and help support campus," McCoy said. "We're definitely all being good sports."

"We're actually just having fun and getting to know people," added homecoming queen candidate Stephanie McCorkel, a sophomore, who is in track and field. "Nobody is being a stickler or talking trash."

The three candidates all agreed that getting to know their peers better is the best part of running for the positions of ENMU royalty, along with being able to see each other's creativity.

"I didn't know any of the other candidates, so seeing all their creativity and brainstorming as they came together was really cool," McCorkel said. "Everyone is so different. Campaigning together, all of our talents come out and it's just really amazing to see."

Senior Justin Aguilar, student body vice president, said homecoming candidates have to be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours of classes and have already taken at least 12 credit hours total at the university to be able to run.

He said there is also a 2.0 grade point average requirement.

"I'd say these guys have campaigned the hardest (compared to previous candidates)," Aguilar said. "Usually, you see one person who will campaign hard but this year, they all have."

Aguilar said homecoming campaign rules include students not being allowed to campaign off campus, campaign negatively or slander other candidates. The are limited to spending $200 on their campaign.

"It's that one week Eastern can come together as a whole and show their school spirit," McCoy said of homecoming week, adding that the king and queen are a part of that spirit.

"It's a great kick starter to the school year."

Schedule of ENMU homecoming events:

Friday

College of Education and Technology School Carnival — 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., ENMU Education Building Lawn.

Greyhound Grill — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Casa del Sol, 1401 W. 17th St.

ENMU bonfire and pep rally — 8 p.m., Greyhound Arena.

Saturday

The ENMU Foundation 37th annual breakfast — 8 a.m., ENMU Campus Union Ballroom. $10 per person.

ENMU Homecoming parade — 10:30 a.m., intersection of West Third Street and South Avenue C.

ENMU homecoming football game — 2 p.m., Greyhound Stadium.

ENMU Educator Hall of Honor Gala — 6 p.m., Yam Theatre. Dinner served at 7 p.m. $15 per person.