The invigorating smell of pumpkin spice, the crisp, cool air and the crackle of dried leaves under your feet could only mean one thing… fall has arrived, and with that, comes traditional Homecoming events such as chili cook-offs, blood drives, flag football tournaments, lawn decoration competitions, parades and pep rallies.

In an effort to keep those traditions alive, but also create new ones, the Student Alumni Association and the student Homecoming team Ashton Dawson, Connor Flocks, Hannah Bell and Maggie Benton have been working to increase their philanthropic efforts this Homecoming year.

The Color Those Hogs 5k is a new event added to this year’s Homecoming event lineup. It will be held Sunday, Oct. 12, following the Arkansas vs. Alabama game for those interested in running, walking or jogging the 3.1 miles of color fun. Early registration deadline is Monday, Sept. 22 and the cost of the run is a $35 donation or 30 points worth of food item donations. For the complete list of food items, please contact Connor Flocks at rcflocks@uark.edu. The food item donations will help service the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry.

If running is not an interest, another opportunity to participate is during the Chili Cook-Off, Tuesday, Oct. 14, where campus and community members can donate $1 for a cup of chili and all donations and leftovers will go to the 7Hills Homeless Shelter located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fayetteville.

For those who do not live in northwest Arkansas, but would like to participate in Homecoming events, the Homecoming student team have expanded the Red Cross Blood Drive efforts by offering satellite blood drives in Little Rock, Memphis, St. Louis and Tulsa, in addition to the one located in northwest Arkansas. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood and one donation can help save the lives of up to three people, according to the Red Cross website. If you would like more information or like to donate, please contact Alyssa Strodel at astrodel@uark.edu.

Other philanthropic efforts include donations from both Create-A-Hog and the Silent Auction events to go toward the Off Campus Connections Scholarship Fund and the Student Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, as well as official Homecoming apparel sold by Houndstooth, with a large portion of the profits going toward philanthropy.

The 2014 Homecoming theme of “Calling All Hogs Home,” is just that… to encourage alumni to come home to the Hill, reminisce and participate in the events. Friday, Oct. 24, the Class of 2013 Senior Walk dedication will be held with guest speakers Chancellor David Gearhart and Vice Chancellor of University Advancement Chris Wyrick, as well as the parade down Dickson Street and the first ever Homecoming Pep Rally held on the lawn of Old Main.

All of the events lead up to the big game against University of Alabama-Birmingham, Saturday, Oct. 25. Prior to the game, all are encouraged to attend the Hog Wild Tailgate at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. The cost of the event for Arkansas Alumni Association members is $15 and non-members is $25. Members can bring one guest at the member rate!

For the complete list of Homecoming events, please visit www.arkansasalumni.org/homecoming.