51ĀŅĀ×

51ĀŅĀ×ā€™s Homecoming Week is just around the corner, and itā€™s time for members of the OHIO and Athens communities to start thinking about how they intend to ā€œpaint the town greenā€ to kick off the most Bobcat spirited event of the year.

Homecoming Week 2019 will include the 17^th annual Paint the Town Green decorating contest that challenges local businesses and organizations as well as OHIO offices to showcase their Bobcat pride. Businesses and Offices are also encouraged to collect donated non-perishable food items in contribution to the Student Alumni Board and Fraternity & Sorority Lifeā€™s Pack the Pantry event. All items will be donated to OHIOā€™s Catsā€™ Cupboard and the Athens County Food Pantry.

A Homecoming tradition, Paint the Town Green is sponsored by OHIOā€™s Alumni Association, which oversees the competition among campus offices, and the Student Alumni Board, which oversees the competition among uptown businesses and organizations.

ā€œPaint the Town Green is a time for the campus and community to unite in celebration of all who call or have called Athens home,ā€ said Brianna Agner, graduate assistant of the OHIO Alumni Association and Student Alumni Board advisor. ā€œNot only is this event a fun competition, it is a reminder of the strong ties that Athens has to all Bobcats and is a nice ā€˜welcome backā€™ to the community for alumni.ā€

In addition to boosting Bobcat enthusiasm within the community, the contest serves as a means of welcoming home the many Bobcats who return to the Athens Campus each fall for OHIOā€™s Homecoming festivities.

Paint the Town Green participants are encouraged to be creative and incorporate this yearā€™s Homecoming theme, ā€œā€ into their decorating. To register for Paint the Town Green, .

Contest judging will take place on Monday, Oct. 7, and the winners will be announced on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Yell Like Hell Pep Rally, which takes place 6 to 8 p.m. on College Green. Prizes will be awarded to the OHIO offices and the local businesses/organizations with the most spirited dĆ©cor.

Homecoming Week 2019 runs Oct. 7 through Oct. 12. For a detailed schedule of events, click here and follow #OHIOHC2019 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.