Departments Get Creative in Halloween Spirit Competition
“Boo in the Courtyard” brought forth departmental humor and creativity on Friday, October 28, in the fourth annual Halloween spirit competition of the Tickle College of Engineering. Five departments participated this year, and each earned an award.
Dean Wayne Davis announced the winners after reading a short “eulogy” for the Florida Gators football team’s winning streak against UT, which was ended with this fall’s UT victory after 11 years of Gator wins. Dean Davis and college administrative staff dressed as pallbearers and carried a symbolic coffin decorated with the Gator logo.
The Overall winner for 2016 was the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). Their costume theme this year was “Alice in Wonderland,” with department head Dr. Chris Cox as the Big Orange Mad Hatter, CEE business manager Samantha Allen as the Queen of Hearts, and Dr. Chris Cherry portraying Alice.
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) won Most Enthusiastic for its “Election Year” theme. Department head Dr. Bamin Khomami was dressed as Donald Trump, business manager Amy Brewer was Hillary Clinton, academic coordinator Rita Gray portrayed Bill Clinton, and Dr. Robert Counce sported a Bernie Sanders mask. CBE student Mary McBride and department financial specialist Amber Tipton played the roles of news reporters. Other staff and faculty were dressed as Secret Service agents.
The Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) received the Departmental Participation award for their “Game Day” theme. Faculty and staff members were dressed in their best game-day attire, with a crew of cheerleaders, one participant dressed as The Volunteer football mascot, and a hound dog named Chief portrayed Smoky.
The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) tied with the Department of Nuclear Engineering (NE) to receive the award for Most Creative. ISE’s theme was “Industrial Engineering is Hot,” with faculty and staff dressed as different hot sauces and peppers, with the sun along for the hot ride.
The costume theme for NE was “The Face of Nuclear Engineering at UT.” Administrative staff and faculty members were all in costume as department head Wes Hines, all wearing a photo-mask of his smiling face. Hines brought his own winning smile with him to the competition to complete the team’s theme.
