Homecoming 2004 Metro Magic and Spirit Week drew to a close last Thursday with victories for both Roadrunner basketball teams, celebrations and the beginnings of many new Metro traditions.

During halftime of the men's game, this year's Roadrunner Royalty was presented to the crowd of 1,432. Rus Tonn and Clara Ordonez are Metro's monarchs. Members of their royal court are Colleen Allen, Erin Durbin, Gary Keslar and Tiffany Hammer.

Also during halftime, history professor Stephen O'Bryan was revealed as the winner of the Most Magical Faculty contest. O'Bryan was nominated by Metro student Michelle Dargen, who received a $250 book scholarship at the Auraria Campus Bookstore from the Metro State Alumni Association.

The women's team beat Fort Hays State 68-50 and the men's team won 97-82.

New Student Orientation Coordinator and Homecoming Committee Co-chair Denny Boyd said last Wednesday's flagpole pep rally to kick off Spirit Week was a huge success.

Roadrunner team members, coaches and cheerleaders fired up the crowd, which included nearly 400 high school students who were visiting Metro as prospective students that day.

Also at the rally, winners of the office-decorating contest were announced. Eighteen offices participated and Academic Affairs took home top prize, while Accounts Payable and Career Services received honorable mention.

The homecoming committee was thrilled with the level of student participation in this year's weeklong series of homecoming events.

"We are absolutely pleased with the spirit on campus," said Kristin Magill, assistant director of alumni programs and services, and committee co-chair. The excitement and involvement by students in homecoming continues to evolve, according to Magill.