By Vantage Staff
Homecoming weekend at Newman included a pig roast, the crowing of homecoming royalty, a volleyball game – and some alarmingly huge heads.
Those who were at the festivities probably saw the “Big Heads” featuring the smiling faces of Newman University administrators, professors and coaches. Among the people who got the big head treatment were Athletic Director Kenyon Spears, volleyball coach Tori Provencio, Father Ed Herzog, Newman’s chaplain, and Sister Therese Wetta, director of mission integration.
The heads were waved by students in the standards of the homecoming game, and they also made appearances at the pregame tailgate.
The big heads were made by the leaders of Newman’s Art Club: President AJ Bonilla, Vice President Dani Ibarra and Social Media Manager Carla Ortiz. The idea for them came about during a conversation with Director of Student Activities Joshua Prilliman.
Bonilla said that Prilliman initially asked the art club to do face painting for homecoming, but the members wanted to do something more interactive, too.
“And then Josh and I came up with the idea of making big heads,” Bonilla said.
Prilliman suggested making heads of staff and faculty members then selling the finished products to raise money for the Art Club.
First, club members printed the heads off on a special printer in Dugan Library. Then, they pasted them onto cardboard Prilliman provided, cut them out with an X-Acto knife, and taped them to sticks.
Father Ed happened to walk by when the heads were being cut out and saw his own giant face, Bonilla said. “He looked at it and said, ‘...This is wrong. This is weird. I’m leaving,’” she said.
Only two of the heads actually sold. A member of the Metanoia Catholic living community paid $5 for the Father Ed head, and Dean of Students Megan Chambers shelled out $10 for the Spears’ head. The club gave the rest of the big heads away.
The club had fun with the fundraiser, Bonilla said, and they’d consider reviving the idea next year.
But Bonilla said she’d suggest a change.
“I think next year, it would probably be better to do more of the volleyball players,” she said.
Other homecoming news
Newman’s first fall homecoming also included the crowning of new royalty. Senior Melissa Arguijo was crowned queen, and junior wrestler Bryce Kegley was crowned King.
The volleyball team was featured in the homecoming game but fell to Washburn 0-3. Students in the stands supported the team by wearing T-shirts that read “Newman Watches Women’s Sports.”
Other activities included a pig roast which featured six whole hogs that theology professor Matthew Umberger cooked over a bed of coals in a trench he dug next to the soccer field.
Photo: AJ Bonilla, Staff Photographer
