University of Florida Homecoming Pageant
November 2, 2015
Contestant Information Packet
Contact Information
Caroline Robbins: Homecoming Pageant Director
 Cell: (904) 476-0360
 Email: caroline.robbins@gatorgrowl.org
 Please feel free to call/text/email me at any time for anything you need!
Suzanne Brinson: Pageant AD (Contestant Involvement)
 Cell: (239) 994-0051
 Email: sbrinson@ufl.edu
 Suzanne will be helping me deal with any information, questions or concerns that
you may have, so feel free to contact her as well!
Florida Blue Key Office
 Phone: (352) 273-0829
 Talk to Sharon Connell- she knows everything!
Things to Keep in Mind:
 Clothing requirements
o Interview Wear
o Gator Game Day Apparel
o Casual/Day Wear
o Formal Wear
 Meetings/rehearsals before the pageant
o All contestants are required to attend AT LEAST TWO to compete; however,
with that said, I strongly encourage you to attend all 3 if possible.
o Attending these will only help to make you feel more comfortable and look
more confident during the show.
 Ticket Sales
o All contestants are required to sell a minimum of 20 tickets
 Advertisement Sales
o Each Pageant Contestant is required to sell ad space in the Pageant
Program, as stated in the contestant agreement.
o Females must sell $125 and males must sell $85 in ads
 Sponsorship Fee
o All contestants must secure a sponsor. In order to do so, the contestant or
the sponsor of the contestant is required to pay a $120 sponsorship fee.

Hotel reservations for out of town guests
o Homecoming week is a busy one here in Gainesville. If your relatives plan
on attending the pageant, remind them to book a hotel as soon as possible.
Dates to Know
 Information Session
o Thursday, September 10, 2015 @ 8 P.M. in Law School 285B
 Headshots
o Friday-Sunday, September 25-27th at the statue by Heavener Hall
 Contestant Workshops (Must attend AT LEAST 2 to participate)
o October 7, 2015 @ 7-9 PM
o October 14, 2015 @ 7-9 PM
o October 21, 2015 @ 7-9 PM
 Interviews with Judges
o October 24-24, 2015 (Location TBA)
 Dress Rehearsal
o Sunday, November 1st at 8-10 PM at the Philips Center
 Pageant Reception: reception for contestants, judges, sponsors and contestants’
families; food and beverages provided
o Monday, November 2nd 5-6 P.M. in the foyer of the Philips Center
 The Pageant
o Monday, November 2nd 7 P.M. at The Philips Center
Money and Fees:
All checks must be made out to University of Florida and can be dropped off to Sharon at the Florida
Blue Key trailer on the ground floor of the Reitz Union.
 $25 Application Fee
 $120 Sponsorship Fee
 $125 Advertisements for Female Contestants and $85 for Male Contestants
*Often, the contestants’ organization will pay for the application fee and/or the sponsorship fee.
Also, contestants’ organizations will pay for an ad to support their contestant. If your
organization is paying for you or any other contestants please include your name in the memo
portion of the check. Please talk to me if you are having any financial concerns so I can help you!*
Deadlines:
Please have everything turned into me via email by 11:50PM on the respective dates
 Wednesday, September 23, 2015 Application Fee & Signed Contestant Agreement
(attached)
 Sunday, October 11, 2015 Ads and ALL Money Due
 Sunday, October 11, 2015 Program Bio & Pageant Bio
 Sunday, October 11, 2015 “Intro to the Judges” Cover Sheet & Final Resume
*ALL ADS, AD MONEY, AND SPONSORSHIP MONEY MUST BE IN BY THESE DATES TO COMPETE
IN THE PAGEANT, NO EXCEPTIONS*
Advertisements:
Each Pageant Contestant is required to sell ad space in the Pageant Program, as stated in the
contestant agreement. Female contestants must sell $125 and male contestants must sell $85 in
ads. The Ad material needs to be sent to me via email. Ads are a great way for your families and
organizations to show how proud they are of you!
Prices
-Full Page
$250
-Half Page
$125
-1/4 Page
$75
-1/8 Page
$ 40
(Business card)
“Intro to the Judges” Cover Sheet:
Please have all documents emailed to me in Word documents by the respective deadline. Your “Intro
to the Judges” Cover Sheet and Final Resume can be sent to me in the same document!
The “Intro to the Judges” is what the judges will read before you walk into your interview, so it’s
important to give them a good first impression! It should be done in Microsoft Word and should
not exceed two paragraphs of 5 sentences in length. The judges do not have enough time to read
anything longer that that before you walk into our interview. So anything more that you write
will not be read and will simply be a waste of your time! A safe rule is to keep it around 150
words. Please have your name centered at the top of the page.
The following is an outline for what information your coversheet should contain:
 An introduction of yourself
 Brief them on some of your interests and one of your greatest accomplishments
 Give them an interesting fact: a cool place you’ve been, a special talent, your
proudest moment, etc
 Make it personal. It gives the judges a chance to get to know you before they meet
you
 TELL THEM WHY YOU LOVE THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA!
Final Resume:
Please have all documents emailed to me in Word documents by the respective deadline. Your “Intro
to the Judges” Cover Sheet and Final Resume can be sent to me in the same document!
The resume cannot exceed one standard sized page, NO LEGAL PAPER. This is what the judges
see before your interview.
Biographies:
 Program Biography
o This will appear under your picture in the program. I will be sending out
biography forms for you to fill out so all of the biographies are formatted the same.

Pageant Biography
o This is the information that will be read during your Gameday Wear walkout and
your Formal Wear walkout. I will be sending out biography forms for you to fill out
so all of the biographies are the same.
o In these biographies, include the information that is MOST IMPORTANT to you.
Choose the top 3 things to highlight, so that the pageant doesn’t run too long and
everyone’s bios are around the same length.
Clothing Requirements:

Male Contestants
o Interview with the Judges
 Business Attire (suit)
o Opening Number/Gator Gameday Wear
 Slacks and button down/collared shirts in Orange and Blue
You are allowed to have ONE personality prop of your choice: football, hat,
sunglasses etc. This must get approved by me on the night of the rehearsal
Show off your GATOR PRIDE!
o Formal Wear
 Tuxedo and Dress shoes
Female Contestants
o Interview with the Judges
 Classy business attire
o Opening Dance Number/Gator Gameday Wear
 Orange, Royal Blue, or White outfit
 Dresses, shirts, nice tops, nice sandals or heels
 You are allowed to have ONE personality prop of your choice: football, gator
backpack, purse, tote, hat, sunglasses etc. This must get approved by me on
the night of the rehearsal
 The key is casual elegance; look well put together, nothing too flashy
 Show off your GATOR PRIDE!
o Formal Wear
 A long, formal dress of your choice, heels
If Selected for the Homecoming Court
 Both Males and Females: You will be attending a brunch the day of the parade, the parade,
and the football game. You need business attire for all three of these events. You can plan
on wearing the same outfit for the brunch and the parade if you would like.
2015 University of Florida Homecoming Pageant Contestant Agreement
On November 2, 2015 six contestants in the 2015 Homecoming Pageant will be named to serve on the
Homecoming Pageant Court. One of these three women will be crowned the 2015 Homecoming Queen and one
of these three men will be crowned the 2015 Homecoming King of the University of Florida.
If I am chosen as one of the three women or three men to serve on the Homecoming Court, I agree to abide by
the terms of this agreement. In addition, I agree to comply with any reasonable requests of Florida Blue Key
that relate to my duties as Homecoming Court member or as Homecoming Queen or King.
The contestants participating in the 2015 Homecoming Pageant agree to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Be a full time student (twelve hours for undergraduates and nine hours for graduate students in fall 2012). You
are exempt from this requirement if you have a letter from the Dean of your college stating that you are a
graduating senior. If you are not a graduating senior, you must have proper petition filed and approved by the
Dean of Student Office.
Sell a minimum of (20) twenty tickets to the Homecoming Pageant.
Sell ad space for the Homecoming Pageant Program and have the ads and ad money turned in by October 11,
2015. $125 for female contestants and $85 for male contestants.
Turn in the Pageant Contract and $30 Application fee by September 23, 2015.
Turn in a sponsor check of $120.00 by October 11, 2015 along with your program biography, gameday and formal
wear biographies, Intro to the Judges cover letter, and final resume.
*If the above requirements are not met by the deadline, you will not be allowed to appear on
stage the night of the pageant*
The three women and three men serving on the Homecoming Court agree to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Attend and participate in Gator Growl 2015 as requested by Florida Blue Key.
Attend and participate in the 2015 Homecoming Parade.
Attend a brunch at the President’s House prior to the parade.
Attend the Homecoming football game.
Assume the role of Homecoming Queen or King if the 2015 Homecoming Queen or King is unable to fulfill her
responsibilities as the Homecoming Queen or King.
In addition to the duties of the Homecoming Court specified above, the 2015 Homecoming Queen
of King agrees to:
1.
2.
Make appearances in his/her official capacity as Homecoming Queen or King as specified by Florida Blue Key.
Limit interviews or any other form of public appearances to those sanctioned or approved by Florida Blue Key.
Failure to comply with the terms of this agreement or to abide by any reasonable requests of Florida Blue Key
as it relates to the duties of the Homecoming Pageant, Court, or Queen/King, will be considered a breach of
agreement. Any breach of this agreement will result in the revocation of the status of Homecoming Pageant
Finalist, Homecoming Court, or Homecoming Queen/King.
I have read this agreement, I understand its terms, and I agree to abide by them.
Contestant
Date
General Chair, Homecoming
Date