Written by Maggie Samples // Photo by Macy Cox
The Harding University band will be represented in the Homecoming court for the first time in Harding history this weekend.
Senior Angelina Brown from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was chosen by the Thundering Herd as their representative for the Homecoming court.
Brown will graduate in December with her degree in nursing, but this has not stopped her from participating in band during her time at Harding.
“Music has always been a big part of my life, and band has allowed me to make music and meet amazing people throughout high school and college,” Brown said.
Brown said the shared love of Christ among her fellow band members is part of what makes their community so special.
“The decision to have a Homecoming representative this year was a quick and sudden process,” Brown said. “It’s been a little stressful figuring out everything, but also very exciting.”
As representative, Brown participated in Homecoming chapel Oct. 26 and will be in the Homecoming parade Saturday. She said the eligible women in the band chose who was best suited for the role and had the time for the responsibilities of Homecoming representative. Brown said it was an honor to represent the Thundering Herd in Homecoming activities.
Eric Colgrove, director of Thundering Herd marching band, said the band is a tight-knit community because of all of the time they spend with each other. Colgrove said the band considered having a Homecoming representative last year but decided against it. This year they looked into the process and ultimately decided that they were interested in participating.
“We’re together all the time,” Colgrove said. “We’re at all these events outside of our normal class times, and so it almost feels like a club experience.”
Colgrove said one of the reasons Brown was such a good candidate for Homecoming representative was because she represents the approximate 60% of non-music majors that compose the Thundering Herd. He said it is possible for students of any major to participate in band alongside their school work.
“We couldn’t have chosen a sweeter and more hardworking representative for the band,” Colgrove said. “We think that she is the epitome of what we like to represent to the rest of the school. So we’re excited to have her be honored in this way, and we’re excited to get to participate in the Homecoming court pageantry, and not just the performing music side of it, but actually getting to have somebody participate in the court.”
Senior Erin Fouss, a drum major, shared similar thoughts.
“Angel was chosen to represent us because she is a beautiful person on the inside and out,” Fouss said. “She is also a very dedicated member of our group that even when it has been a challenge with her major and our schedule, she chose to stay with us because we are a family. I’m really proud that Angel will be representing us this Saturday at the game.”
