The Golden Boot: A Homecoming Tradition

Department offices and Laramie businesses, it’s time to show Homecoming pride in the Golden Boot competition.
            As tradition, every year on homecoming week UW departments and Laramie businesses get the opportunity to be the next Golden Boot winner.  For one week offices and businesses create their own decorations based on the year’s homecoming theme. Participants send their photos to UW alumni and offices are judged based on their creativity and UW spirit. This year, the winners will be announced Oct.18.
            One office and one business who show the most creative and enthusiastic decorations based on the theme “Breaking Through” will hold the Golden Boot until next year’s Homecoming week.
            “It is a friendly competition that brings the campus and community together,” assistant director and operations Sarah Luke said.
            Last year the UWYO Transit and Parking Services and the UniWYO Federal Credit Union won the Golden Boot with the theme #TheWorldNeedsMoreCowboys. Transit and Parking services created a large paper mural with streamers covering the hallway. UniWYO Federal Credit Union also made a collage of personal experiences and photos of the community as cowboys. Transit and Parking Services Kira Winterssaid said she noticed a boost of morale when people walked into the office.
            “I liked having a weird boot in the office. People would ask about it,” Winters said. She said this year the office did not participate in the competition, partially due to the turmoil of Wyoming Hall being demolished. She said she hopes Transit and Parking will be able to participate next year.
            In the past, the Admissions Office and the department of Residence Life and Dining Services have won more than any other department. The Office of the Registrar follows behind in a close second.
            The Golden Boot began in 2005 with only 13 offices from the Division of Student Affairs, soon followed by Knight Hall. In 2017, the Golden Boot became a part of the Homecoming Planning Committee which made it available to all UW departments and Laramie businesses to participate in.
            Only time will tell who will win the Golden Boot this year.