The brains behind Homecoming have worked hard the past year to make this year’s celebration a great one.

Homecoming co-chairs JoAnn Ford and Chris Lursen had to reschedule events due to rain and moved the parade due to the Aerosmith concert this year.

The parade, which is typically on the Friday before the Homecoming game, has been scheduled for Saturday at noon, said Lursen, senior in agricultural systems technology. The parade, or “Spirit March,” will begin at Hilton Coliseum and will end at Jack Trice Stadium.

The co-chairs made an effort to keep the parade line-up similar to past Homecoming parades, he said. The ISU marching band will perform and the pre-game march will let the three Yell Like Hell groups that made it to the Saturday finals perform, Lursen said.

Ford and Lursen are in charge of Homecoming Central that includes 22 Homecoming chairs. The committee is in charge of Yell Like Hell, the Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build, the parade, lawn displays, tournaments and the choosing of this year’s Homecoming theme, “Living the Cyclone Moment,” said Ford, junior in psychology.

The co-chairs not only work with the Homecoming committee, but they are involved in considering the students’ responsibilities, she said. They also work with faculty and staff involved in Homecoming events and communicate with faculty and staff for authorization of some events, Ford said.

Both co-chairs have been active in Homecoming and other activities in the past. Ford said she has been involved in Homecoming events for the three years. She also is vice president of the Senior Class Council. She said being a Homecoming co-chair has kept her busy.

“It’s been a lot of long days lately,” Ford said.

Lursen said he enjoys his busy schedule.

“I love [Homecoming] so much – it keeps me going,” he said. “I enjoy being busy.”

He also plays the mellophone for the marching band and is the Varieties committee technical director.

Both co-chairs said the Homecoming events are going “very well.” After 10 months of dedication, Ford and Lursen won’t be quite as busy.

“I’ll be ready to be a normal student after this,” Ford said. “If there is such a thing.”