By Reagan Hunter | Reporter
As Baylor Homecoming approaches with floats, marching bands and generations of Bears back in Waco, some Baylor fans have the chance to skip the scramble for a good viewing spot. The grandstands provide a comfortable view of a beloved Baylor tradition, but the ticket’s impact can last far beyond the parade route.
For $50, fans can reserve a seat in the grandstands in front of the Bill Daniel Student Center and enjoy a prime view of the homecoming parade. But beyond the convenience of a guaranteed seat, each ticket helps support Baylor students through the Student Foundation scholarship fund.
The grandstands offer a front row seat to one of Baylor’s most recognizable traditions while giving attendees a chance to give back to the student body.
Lauren Emiliani, assistant director of Student Activities and Troy and Betty Lou Mays director of Student Foundation, said proceeds from the event go directly toward Student Foundation scholarships after expenses are covered.
Student Foundation has awarded scholarships to Baylor students since the organization was founded in 1969. The scholarships are available to undergraduate students and provide recipients with $3,000 each year.
This school year, the organization awarded 145 scholarships totaling about $405,000.
For Emiliani, the impact of those scholarships is what makes fundraising events like the homecoming grandstands meaningful.
“We even heard students who say that that $3,000 has been the make or break moment for them of if they could return to Baylor for the next academic year or not,” Emiliani said.
The money raised through grandstand ticket sales covers expenses such as processing fees and renting the bleachers. The remaining funds are donated to the scholarship fund.
While the parade itself is free to attend, the grandstands offer something that can be difficult to find on a busy homecoming morning: peace of mind.
Emiliani said the reserved seating gives attendees a stress-free experience without having to arrive early to search for a place along the parade route.
“They get a pretty prime view and prime location of the parade,” Emiliani said. “One of the main reasons why they are willing to spend the $50 to get seats is because it gives them a lot of peace of mind and convenience.”
There are 285 seats available this year, and the tradition has been part of Baylor homecoming for at least a decade. Emiliani said Student Foundation has been selling grandstand seats since at least 2016.
Brentwood, Tennessee, senior Owen Reed, Student Foundation co-president, said fundraising for scholarships is a central part of the organization’s mission to serve Baylor’s past, present and future.
For Reed, one of the most rewarding moments of being involved with Student Foundation comes when scholarship recipients gather each fall. After months of reviewing applications and raising money, the reception gives members a chance to see the people behind the names and numbers.
“We see a lot of names on paper,” Reed said. “We see a lot of numbers. There’s a lot of work behind the scenes. But when we have these receptions with all our recipients, it’s actually putting a face to these names.”
The scholarship selection process considers a combination of merit and financial need. Applicants are asked about their dedication to Baylor, their service in Waco and how receiving a scholarship would support them. Applications are reviewed anonymously by multiple graders.
For some recipients, Reed said the scholarship can be the reason they are able to remain at Baylor.
“It’s a make or break situation,” Reed said. “The reason they’re able to stay at Baylor is this $3,000 scholarship.”
That impact is the bigger story behind the rows of grandstands that will sit in front of the SUB during the parade. What might look like a convenient place to watch floats roll by also represents a fundraising effort that can make a difference for students across campus.
“I hope people see it as not only nice seats for homecoming, but it’s also their way to give back to the student body,” Reed said.
For Student Foundation members, the work begins long before the first float appears. Emiliani said the organization’s members wake up as early as 4 a.m. to help set up the grandstands, motivated by the stories they hear from scholarship recipients.
“Those are just the most rewarding part, and why we put so much work and energy into doing these events,” Emiliani said. “It really does have an incredible impact for students.”
Tickets for the homecoming parade grandstand seating are still available through Baylor Student Activities. Those interested in learning more about Student Foundation and its scholarship program can visit the Student Foundation website.
