The University of Missouri-Kansas City began putting on an annual Homecoming banquet and dance in 1955. At that time the University did not have a football or a basketball team, so the dance honored the alumni of the university. Although the students danced the night away at the dance, the tradition was not like it is today. It was not the week full of events that we all look forward to now.
The tradition came to an end in the mid 1970’s when the dance started to become less successful. One of the University newspaper headlines read “Homecoming Flops”. It is assumed that the change of spirit and student involvement came when all Korean War Veterans came back from the war and went back to school. The student population suddenly became comprised largely of adults, which drastically changed the environment of student activities on campus.
The Activity & Program Council revived the tradition in 1996 under a new name to honor and promote UMKC school spirit and athletics, especially the basketball program. Today, Court Warming features a week packed with fun events both on and off campus. In addition, two student leaders from campus compete to be crowned Roo Royalty. The highlights of the week is the Yell Like Hell event, and the Court Warming Roo Royalty are crowned during halftime of the KC Athletics Basketball game on Saturday.
Court Warming 2025 - Roos Get Crafty
Court Warming 2025, Roos Get Crafty, will take place February 15th-22nd, 2025. Court Warming 2024 candidate applications are now open and must be turned in by 11:55PM on November 15, 2024. Student organizations can sponsor/nominate one person from their organization to be a part of Court Warming. Their candidate will participate in events, get creative with their organization, and gather votes to be part of the Roo Royalty Court. The 2 students that are awarded Roo Royalty will win $100 in RooBucks that will be added to their student account. We hope to see many different organizations represented this year and have candidates that embody Roo Spirit! Applications can be found on Roo Groups at Court warming application
Court Warming 2025 Voting Now Open!
Men's Basketball Game
Wednesday, February 19th – 7:00 pm
Swinney Center
Show your UMKC spirit and cheer on the men's basketball team!
Women's Basketball Game
Saturday, February 22nd – 2:00 pm
Swinney Center
Show your UMKC spirit and cheer on the women's basketball team! The 2025 Court Warming candidates winners will be crown at halftime!
Yell Like Hell
Thursday, February 20th – 7:00 pm
Student Union Theater
Come enjoy Minecraft theme performances from our 2025 Court Warming candidates!
Canned Art Construction
All Week
Student Union 3rd Floor
Check out the canned art masterpieces created by the 2025 Court Warming candidates!
Zixuan Deng
I would be honored to be crowned Roo Royalty as a way to give back to the UMKC community that has supported and inspired me. I’ve tried my best to foster school pride through my participation in an international stage by playing concerts, giving masterclasses in a global wide mentoring which represents UMKC honors in various settings. It would be a privilege to continue celebrating and sharing the UMKC spirit of our university with others.
Shelby Marquis
Roo Royalty Does not only mean a title, it is the representation of what it means to be a member of the UMKC community. Through my love and support of the UMKC community, I hope to continue To represent what it means to be a fellow student here at UMKC. I’ve loved the community ever since I stepped foot on campus and I never plan to stop. Roo Up!
Morgan Sansone
I should be crowned Roo Royalty because I am passionate about promoting school spirit and unity through leadership roles in campus organizations such as Delta Zeta and Greek week executive board. My participation in campus traditions such as Yell Like Hell and UnionFest demonstrates my commitment to promoting pride in UMKC. I give back through volunteer activities such as specific local opportunities, like KC Pet Project, and my work with my sorority's philanthropies. My leadership experience and dedication to school spirit make me an excellent candidate to represent UMKC as Roo Royalty
Aiden Williams
I believe I should be crowned Roo Royalty because I am a first-generation college student, very blessed to spend 4 years at UMKC, I know what is best for the student body, and I look forward to representing my fraternity and school in the best way possible to foster more involvement on campus.
Claire Covert
I should be crowned Roo Royalty because I am deeply committed to representing the heart and spirit of UMKC. As president of the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, I’ve worked to foster a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and pride among students. This has taught me how to bring people together, celebrate our shared traditions, and uplift our community. My involvement goes beyond campus, through projects like the CDC REACH initiative, I’ve contributed to addressing health disparities in Kansas City. These experiences have shaped my understanding of leadership as a tool to inspire change. Being crowned Roo Royalty would be an incredible opportunity to continue building a campus culture where every
