Spirit Spot Showdown
Get ready to transform your creativity into campus pride at the Spirit Spot Showdown, an exciting pre-Spirit Weekend event where YOU get the chance to leave your mark—literally—on campus!
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to apply for the opportunity to paint a designated parking spot with original designs that embody school spirit, unity, and community pride. Whether you’re an artist, a superfan, or just passionate about your school, this is your chance to showcase what makes our campus special – and win yourself a free parking spot for the semester.
How the Spirit Spot Showdown Works
- Submit a design proposal that follows our official guidelines and promotes school spirit and inclusivity.
- If selected, you’ll be assigned a parking space to paint in the week leading up to Spirit Weekend. Applicants will be selected and notified the week of September 21.
- Once all spots are complete, the entire campus community will vote for their favorites! Over 2,000 community members voted on last year’s designs. Voting will begin on the day of the Spirit Weekend Campus Kick-Off on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Winners receive a reserved campus parking spot for the rest of the Fall semester. Winners are announced and contacted after Spirit Weekend.
Key Dates
- Proposal Submission Deadline: September 15, 2026
- Painting Dates: October 5–8, 2026
- Cast Your Vote: October 14–18, 2026
Design Guidelines and Rules
All proposals must align with event criteria that celebrate school pride, community engagement, and positive representation. All final proposals will be selected and announced by the Spirit Weekend Committee. All spots will be returned to standard parking spaces after the semester ends.
Paint colors must be submitted with the proposal. Paint colors are subject to availability.
So grab your brushes, rally your friends to help, and compete in the most colorful competition of the year—Spirit Spot Showdown!
Proposals will be selected by the Spirit Weekend committee based on:
- School Spirit:
- Incorporates School Colors: Uses school colors prominently and effectively.
- Represents School Identity: Includes mascots, slogans, or symbols that represent the school.
- Homecoming Theme Alignment: Ties in with the official homecoming theme, if applicable.
- Creativity and Originality
- Unique Concept: The design stands out from others and shows original thinking.
- Artistic Expression: Demonstrates personal style and expressive design choices.
- Inventive Use of Space: Creative layout and composition within the boundaries of the parking spot.
- Visual Impact
- Eye-Catching Design: Makes a strong impression at a glance.
- Color Harmony and Contrast: Effective use of color to enhance design clarity and appeal.
- Execution and Effort
- Neatness and Precision: Clean lines, solid fills, no smudging or excessive oversmudging.
- Level of Detail and Time Invested: Evident care and attention in completing the design.
- Overall Impression
- Wow Factor: The painting leaves a memorable impact and brings excitement to the event.
- Stay Within the Lines: You may not paint over the white or yellow parking spot lines or outside your assigned spot’s boundaries. Designs must be fully contained within your designated space. Parking lots are 93” X 205”.
- Any proposal that includes offensive, discriminatory, vulgar, or copyrighted material (without permission) will be disqualified and subject to a hearing by the Student Conduct Board.
- No Permanent Materials: Use only water-based exterior latex paint (no spray paint, oil-based paint, or permanent sealants). Chalk paint or washable paints are encouraged for easy cleanup at the semester’s end.
- No 3D Objects or Attachments: Do not attach any physical materials (e.g., signs, decorations, glitter, tape) to the parking space. Paint only—no raised or embedded materials allowed.
- Respect the Surface: Do not damage or etch into the asphalt. No pressure washing, drilling, or altering the surface of the parking lot.
- Cleanup: Participants are responsible for cleaning up their area after painting (brushes, buckets, drop cloths, etc.). Trash and unused materials must be properly disposed of.