With Homecoming 2004 events in high gear, there are two words on participants' minds: spirit points.

However, while many student groups strive to earn the most spirit points for their organization, some do not actually know how the point system works.

According to the Penn State Homecoming competition rulebook, student groups earn one spirit point per group member that participates in a Homecoming event, with a maximum of 425 possible points.

Separate from spirit points are competition points, which are earned based on overall group performance in events such as the Homecoming Airband competition and the quality of the Homecoming parade float. Events such as these have been going on all week and will continue through Sunday.

Katherine Norris, Homecoming overall competition chair, said additional point opportunities are also available for groups participating in Homecoming events.

"Group members can earn additional spirit points if they wear a T-shirt to Friday's pep rally that they decorated at Thursday's Late Night HUB event," she said.

After all of the points have been tallied, spirit points and competition points separately, winners will be announced at an awards ceremony Sunday in 102 Forum. Trophies will be awarded to the three organizations with the highest overall spirit point totals. For each individual event, trophies will also be awarded to the top three organizations with the most competition points.

Student groups will not know who is winning the competition until Sunday's ceremony. "One change we made from last year is that we are not announcing any of the standings until the awards ceremony on Sunday," Norris said.

Norris also said spirit points served a dual role for Homecoming as well as for student organizations.

"Spirit points are a good way to get people excited about Homecoming and are also a good way to get people involved with their organizations," she said.

Claire Fuhrman (freshman-animal bioscience) said she was not familiar with spirit points before working for the Homecoming University Relations committee at the East Halls Celebration.

"The system wasn't very clear to me," she said. "It would have helped if it was explained a little more, but I understand it better now after working at the East Halls Celebration."

Fuhrman also said many of the people she encountered at the university apparel table during the East Halls Celebration were not familiar with spirit points and that she and the other workers had to explain how the system worked.

Laura Gamble (sophomore-history), who participated in the Homecoming Airband competition, said spirit points were explained at a meeting of her sorority, Delta Zeta, but she was not present to learn about them.

"I wish I would have been there," she said, "because it seems like spirit points are a great way to get people involved in Homecoming."

Katie Applegate (junior-history), who also participated in the Airband Competition, said that although she was not completely familiar with spirit points, she felt that the basic premise was solid.

"Competition always makes things better," she said.