Eastern’s 2021 Homecoming includes a series of virtual and in-person events which will continue through the entire week.

To get students engaged on social media, the Homecoming Committee created hashtags on TikTok where they encourage students to post a “3-minute TikTok dance video wearing a 2021 HC Spirit T-shirt.”

The hashtags are #CloseorApart, #PanthersatHeartChallenge and #EIUHomecoming2021.

Winners will be randomly chosen from the students who post videos to receive prizes from the Homecoming Committee.

On campus, the “Panther Patrol” will be active in the mornings, driving a golf cart and offering rides to students walking to classes or other locations.

These randomly selected students will have the opportunity to answer trivia questions about Eastern and win prizes.

Residence halls, registered student organizations, departments and offices can participate in the Spirit Cup Challenge.

This challenge involves decorations- from window painting to banners, any decorations in halls or offices can earn points toward prizes and awards.

The “Big Blue Give! Food Pantry Drive” has been organized to gather supplies for the Campus Food Pantry.

This drive includes food, clothing and monetary donations for the recently opened pantry, as well as volunteer hours to help distribute the supplies to people who need them.

The Homecoming Committee, in conjunction with Charleston’s Tourism Department, has invited businesses in Charleston to participate in Paint the Town Blue, an event which encourages city residents to show support for Eastern as homecoming events go on.

Like the Spirit Cup Challenge for organizations on campus, Paint the Town Blue includes decorations inside and outside of businesses around town.

Eastern’s mascot, “Billy the Panther,” will be visiting local schools throughout the week to spend time with students.

These students are participating in the “Billy in the Schools” coloring contest, which allows them to color their own paper doll version of the mascot.

Luke Taylor can be reached at 581-2812 or egtaylor@eiu.edu.