By BRITTANY WALL

Staff Writer

Thanks to the Union Board and Student Government Association, students can enjoy events such as the parade, Talent Show and a Unity Step Show.

The Board will also sponsor a student talent show at 8 p.m. tonight in the Student Center, Main Floor.

"Preparing for the talent show takes a lot of work," Steven Bell, president of the Union Board and a senior biology major, said. "We've already started putting up decorations in the Tonk. We are going to have a Studio 54 theme for this year."

Bell said the Union Board held tryouts for the talent show earlier this month.

Amy Askegrer, secretary of the Union Board and a senior biology major, said, there will be eight performances in the talent show this year, including a bagpiper and a couple of bands, dancing groups and singers.

SGA has also been in preparation all week for Homecoming events.

This year SGA is sponsoring Paint the Town, where organizations get together to paint patriotic themes in downtown Ruston. They are also sponsoring the parade.

"We've spoken to the band director and spirit organizations to get prepared for this parade," Ashley McGarity, director of student affairs for SGA and a junior biology major, said. "This year we will have 17 floats and the grand marshal will be Keith Hightower. He is the mayor of Shreveport and a 1979 Tech graduate."

McGarity said the top three floats will receive prizes. SGA judges the floats on whether or not they adhere to the red, white and blue theme, creativity, appearance and overall effort. The floats that are deemed most creative and best overall will receive $100 each.

The SGA also joined forces with the Minority Council to put the Unity Step Show together.

"The Minority Council was responsible for getting the packets ready for the participants," McGarity said. "SGA reserves the building and is responsible for providing sound equipment and a stage."

SGA will also sponsor the pep rally, which will be after the concert Friday.

"We have a lot of great things going on this year," McGarity said. "Dr. Reneau will present the top escort and queen of the Homecoming Court at the pep rally. We will also have a sky diver bring the game ball in the stadium."

Students seem to be excited about this year's Homecoming events.

"This is my last year, so I'm really looking forward to the festivities," Derek Watson, a senior electrical technology engineering major, said. "But my favorite part of Homecoming is definitely the football game."