There is an unmatched homecoming tradition at the University of Montevallo known as College Night. Every year during the second weekend in February, students, faculty, staff, relatives, friends and alumni gather in Palmer Hall for College Night. For UM students who are involved in this great tradition, it is the event of the year and the moment they have been waiting for since the fall semester. The Gold and Purple sides are on the edge of their seats waiting for either a Gold victory or Purple victory to call their own.

I received my first taste of College Night in February 2005, and right then I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. My brother was on the Gold side all the years he was a student at UM, and his love for it rubbed off on me. After attending College Night my first time, I became fascinated. I always tell people that College Night is the main reason I came to Montevallo, and I’m not lying.

Last fall I transferred to UM from Jefferson State Community College, and I already knew I was going to be a part of the Gold side.

Throughout the course of the weeks leading up to the performances, I had a burst of Gold side energy. Saturday night’s performance was exciting and nerve-wracking. Each night we performed, I felt that we were one chance closer to taking our victory. But I also knew that we could lose just as easily.

All the time, I had prepared myself for what actually did happen. In the end, the Purple side took their victory, winning for the third consecutive year. On Saturday night, we Golds held our heads up high and kept our thumbs up because we knew we had done our best. I love being a Gold, and I love my Gold side people! GV, Gold!

Laura Wise is a University of Montevallo junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in art with a concentration in photography. This was her first year to participate in College Night.