SUNY Buffalo State celebrated homecoming week, leading up to the football game from Sept. 19-24.

Students were able to participate in events all week, including the Homecoming Food Drive, where donations went to the Buffalo State Milligan’s Food Pantry

Clubs and organizations also took part in the annual window painting and banner competition. The winning window painting was Neumann Hall. The Chemistry Forensic Club won the banner competition.

Last Wednesday, students gathered in the Campbell Student Union for Bengals Night Out and the Lip Sync Competition. The union was packed with students, where there were bounce houses, games, and food. NAACP won the Lip Sync Competition.

Last Thursday, the pep rally was held in the Campbell Student Union Quad. Students received lunch from the United Students Government Chicken Barbeque, t-shirts were being given away, and students put on several performances.

Buffalo State alum Nick Stutzman, class of ’13, energized the crowd as emcee of the pep rally.

President Katherine Conway-Turner joined the men’s football and soccer captains on stage at the rally, who gave her team gear for the homecoming games.

The POM Dance Team preformed at the rally, followed by Buffalo State’s Cheer Team, who put on a hip-hop routine.

Sophomore Kelsey Koscielniak and freshman psychology major Gabby Milkos performed as part of the Cheer Team.

“It went really well,” Koscielniak said. “We threw up a couple of stunts and the crowd seemed to like it.”

The team also performed tumbles and jumps, Koscielniak added.

Milkos, who has been cheering for years, was excited to be cheering outside of high school.

“The energy was great,” Milkos said. “The crowd always loves it when we put people up and throw them in the air.”

The two are looking forward to a great season.

The S.P.i.R.i.T Gospel Choir later sang a few songs at the rally.

On this past Friday, students gathered to walk in the Homecoming Parade, starting at the Burchfield Penney Art Center and going through the Elmwood Village. Student organizations and clubs decorated floats for the occasion. The Council for Exceptional Education and Best Buddies won the parade float competition. Following that was the post-parade carnival and Welcome Home reception.

The week concluded with a football game at Coyer Field, where the Bengals defeated Morrisville State, 40-24, and where students could enjoy the Food Truck Rodeo, featuring local Buffalo food trucks.

The homecoming court was announced at halftime. The Queen was Jestine Megget and King this year was Malik Murray.

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