Homecoming concluded Saturday with the football victory over Harding University and the crowning of the 2011 homecoming king and queen. Throughout the week, there were spirit competitions, student activities and alumni events.

Allison Ray, a senior from Huntsville, was crowned homecoming queen, and Will Riley, a junior from Tuscumbia, was named homecoming king. Both students were surprised and elated to be selected for the titles.

“It was an incredible feeling,” Riley said. “My heart was racing so fast, and I had the widest grin when they announced my name. I honestly had no idea.”

He said that it is an honor to represent UNA as homecoming king, and is thankful to all the UNA students who voted for him. Riley, the vice president of University Program Council, said that this year’s homecoming elections had the biggest voter turnout in UNA history.

Ray said she was humbled to have been chosen by so many of her peers as the UNA homecoming queen this year.

“I’m pretty sure my face said it all: total disbelief,” she said.

The winners of Spirit Challenges were announced Saturday at the game. Alpha Delta Chi won the overall spirit award, which is given to the organization that received the most points overall throughout the pep rally competition, window paint competition and parade float competition.

“It was definitely a lot of hard work but so worth it in the end,” said Katie Birth, homecoming chair for Alpha Delta Chi. “I’m so blessed we have a great sisterhood willing to step up and help.”

Birth said the events took about two weeks of planning and constant brainstorming to pull together.

The parade took place Saturday morning, and the winner of the parade float competition was Phi Gamma Delta.

The pep rally competition occurred Friday night, featuring groups from all over campus, from Greek life to Residence Life. Each group performed a chant and was judged and awarded for their performance.

The overall winner of the pep rally competition was Alpha Delta Pi.

“The pep rally is one of Alpha Delta Pi’s favorite events, and with about 50 girls participating in our cheer, we knew we could make it stand out,” said Lauren Graviett, social chair of Alpha Delta Pi.

Graviett said that two sisters worked together to come up with the words and movements and they taught the rest of the sisters in three practices.

“We had a blast learning it with each other, and I’m glad everyone seemed to enjoy it,” Graviett said.

The winners of window painting competition, which took place Tuesday, were announced Friday at the pep rally. Phi Mu was the overall winner of this competition.

David Johnson, UPC Spirit Chair, said that the events of Homecoming went well this year.

“I think the window painting went exceptionally well this year, and we had more people than ever for it and the pep rally, “Johnson said.

Johnson thanked all the students who participated, including faculty and staff who made every event possible and the UPC Spirit Committee for all their hard work before and during Homecoming.

Friday and Saturday were not only huge events for students, but for alumni as well. Friday, there was the Jack Kearns Memorial Golf Tournament and the Alumni Awards Banquet. Three UNA alumni were named Alumni of the Year, and several others were given service awards.

Carol Lyles, director of alumni relations, was pleased with Homecoming 2011.

“I thought homecoming was larger than life,” Lyles said. “There were events with Kilby School Alumni, Kappa Sigma finally burned their mortgage after 27 years, men and women who went to UNA in the 1960’s came back for the dedication of Florence and Stripling Halls, and there were large groups from everywhere coming back and having their reunions in their own special ways.”

“It was about expanding our horizons, not just our legacy. It’s not only about building on our past, but looking toward our future,” Lyles said.