11/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/05/2026 16:56
Colorful banners hung from the J.W. Jones Student Union during Northwest's Homecoming week, which coincided with Halloween and embraced spooky movies for the theme. (Photo by Gracelynn Brown/Northwest Missouri State University)
Northwest Missouri State University capped its 2026 Homecoming by handing out some awards on Wednesday to the winners of competitions throughout the annual celebration.
Northwest hosted its Homecoming week Oct. 25-31 with a theme of "Now Showing ... A Bearcat Homecoming." The week included traditions such as the Variety Show, International Flag-Raising Ceremony and the Homecoming parade and football game. The University also welcomed the class of 1976 for its annual 50-year reunion activities.
Phillip Motazedi and Lily Olsen were crowned as Northwest's Homecoming king and queen during the Variety Show. (Photo by Lilly Cook/Northwest Missouri State University)
During the Variety Show, Phillip Motazedi was crowned Homecoming king, and Lilly Owen was crowned Homecoming queen. Motazedi is a senior digital media major with a content strategy emphasis and hails from Joplin, Missouri; Olsen is a senior social studies major from Persia, Iowa.
As a result of Northwest's annual Donation Creation contest, during which students build Homecoming-themed scenes with canned and boxed food items, student organizations donated 1,162 pounds pounds of food to the Maryville Ministry Center and 711 pounds to the Bearcat Food Pantry.
Additionally, Northwest collected 59 units during a blood drive in partnership with the Community Blood Center.
Northwest's 2026 Homecoming Executive Board consists of Anna Clark, a junior biology and psychology major from Liberty, Missouri; Sam Young, a mass media and broadcast production major from Platte City, Missouri; Kelsey Tallman, a senior public relations major from Glenwood, Missouri; and Caroline Utz, a junior elementary education major from Gower, Missouri.
All 2026 Homecoming competition categories and winners are listed below.
View a photo gallery of 2026 Homecoming Week images
Sigma Kappa claimed first prize in the Homecoming banner competition. (Photo by Gracelynn Brown/Northwest Missouri State University)
Alpha Sigma Alpha and Tau Kappa Epsilon took first place for their Variety Show skit, "The Clue to Homecoming." (Photo by Gracelynn Brown/Northwest Missouri State University)
Lizze Clark took honors for her Variety Show olio act, singing ""Bennie and the Jets." (Photo by Lilly Cook/Northwest Missouri State University)
Alpha Sigma Alpha earned first place in Homecoming parade's paper mache heads competition. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
Sigma Kappa, Sigma Tau Gamma, and Alpha Kappa Lambda took first place for their Homecoming parade float. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
Sigma Tau Gamma
Phi Mu