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USA Fun Activities & Events
University Staff Assembly’s Halloween Contest 2025
Get ready for some spooky fun! The University Staff Assembly invites all staff to join our annual Halloween Costume Contest on Thursday, October 30, 2025. (Please note the date change—this year’s contest will take place one day earlier than Halloween!)
Categories to sign up for:
- Combined Office Décor and Costume - Large & Small Office categories
- Skit / Interactive Experience
- Office Group Costume
- Individual Costume
- Office Décor - Large & Small Office categories
Show off your creativity, humor, or school spirit by entering as an individual or as part of a group. Choose your contest category and get ready for this fun campuswide festive experience!
Registration
Don’t miss one of the most spirited staff events of the year—we can’t wait to see your costumes!
Registration is closed. Missed the deadline? Don't let the ghoul times pass you by - send a scare-a-gram to the team at usa@csus.edu and we will see if any late entries can sneak in.
We'll reply with next steps if there's room in the cauldron (witchful thinking welcome)!
Judges Route
Judges route and time will be published the day before. Everyone is welcome to cheer on your colleagues and enjoy the festive spirit. See table below.
Questions:
Email Amy Macias-Stowe macias-stowe@csus.edu or USA usa@csus.edu
Judges Route
Our Halloween Contest Committee - the boo-tifully fun bunch - will creep, crawl, and cackle its way across campus Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 on a fang-tastic walkthrough. Follow the route below to catch the judges and join the boos!
The route and schedule is detailed below. Times are approximate.
Boo you soon!
| Office Name | Location | Time (approx.) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facilities Management | Facilities | 9:00 am | Combined Office Costume Decor |
| Project Rebound | Sac Hall, 161 | 9:15 am | Office Decor |
| Office of the Provost | Sac Hall, 230 | 9:25 am | Combined Office Costume Decor |
| Campus Life Programs | Lassen Hall, 1010 | 9:45 am | Combined Office Costume Decor |
| Registrar | Lassen Hall, 2000 | 10:00 am | Office Decor |
| Financial Aid/Scholarships | Lassen Hall, 2100 & 2103 | 10:15 am | Skit / Interactive Experience |
| Financial Aid/Scholarships | Lassen Hall, 2100 & 2103 | 10:15 am | Combined Office Costume Decor |
| EOP | Lassen Hall, 2205 | 10:40 am | Skit / Interactive Experience |
| EOP | Lassen Hall, 2205 | 10:40 am | Office Decor |
| School of Social Work | Mariposa Hall, 4010 | 11:10 am | Combined Office Costume Decor |
| English | Calaveras Hall, 102 | 11:25 am | Individual Costume |
| UEI - SPA | Bookstore, 3400 | 11:35 am | Combined Office Costume Decor |
| Committee | Lunch Break | 12:00 pm | |
| CCE | Napa Hall, Lobby | 1:10 pm | Combined Office Costume Decor |
| Office of Water Programs | Modoc Hall, 1001 | 1:35 pm | Combined Office Costume Decor |
| Office of Water Programs | Modoc Hall, 1001 | 1:35 pm | Individual Costume |
Culturally Responsive Participation | Hornet Halloween Costume Guide
When choosing to dress up, please commit to wearing a costume that contributes to a welcoming and inclusive campus environment.
Consider the following:
- Does it mock cultural or religion symbols (e.g., dreadlocks, headdresses, afros, bindis, etc.)?
- Does it trivialize human suffering or oppression (portraying a houseless person, or someone living in a prison or jail)?
- Does it lean into stereotypes or attempt to represent an entire culture or ethnicity?
Usure if your costume might be offensive? Consider going in a different direction. And don't be afraid to ask questions. You can call one of the units listed below for guidance on your costume.
- Dean of Students webpage
Combined Office Décor and Costume - Large Office
Honorable Mention: Combined Office Décor & Costume - Large Office
Academic Advising & Career Center - "Welcome to Mystery Inc."
Winner: Combined Office Décor and Costume - Small Office
Winner: Combined Office Décor and Costume - Small Office
Honorable Mention: Combined Office Décor & Costume - Small Office
Winner: Office Décor - Large Office
Honorable Mention: Office Décor - Large Office
Winner: Office Décor - Small Office
Honorable Mention: Office Décor - Small Office
Winner: Individual Costume
Honorable Mention: Individual Costume
Winner: Office Costume - Small Office
Honorable Mention: Office Costume - Small Office
Winner: Skit / Interactive Experience
Honorable Mention: Skit / Interactive Experience
Previous USA Halloween Contest Results
Expand the sections below to view last years winners and honorary mentions! Check out the level of creativity and fun from our colleagues across campus!
2024 WINNER | UEI Admin., RES, Marketing, Dining Services - "The Place to Bee" (Large Office)
2024 Honorable Mention | Academic Advising & Career Center - "Welcome to Mystery Inc." (Large Office)
2024 WINNER - Tie | Space Management - "Three Little Pigs" (Small Office)
2024 WINNER - Tie | Office of Student Engagement College of Business - "Inside Out" (Small Office)
2024 Honorable Mention | Guardian Scholars Program - "The Pirates of the Haunted Hornet" (Small Office)
2023 WINNER | Communication Studies Department “Haunted Mansion Villains”
2023 Honorable Mention | School of Social Work “Social Work Dungeon”
2024 WINNER | EOP - "Castlevania"
2024 Honorable Mention | UEI - Sponsored Programs Administration - "SPA Puzzling Pumpkin Patch"
2023 WINNER | Educational Opportunity Program (EOP): "Barbie Land"
2023 Honorable Mention | College of Business Dean’s Office: C.O.B. Story
2024 WINNER | University Communications - "Land Before Time" (Small Office)
2024 Honorable Mention | Facilities Management - "Mario Universe"
2023 WINNER | Sponsored Programs Administration – “Milk and Cereal” (Small Office)
2023 Honorable Mention | Facilities Management “Scooby Doo”
2024 WINNER | Michelle Goya McNeill - "Witch Doctor"
2024 Honorable Mention | Lanette Carrasco - "Jigsaw"
2023 WINNER | Jonathon Long “The Mandalorian”
2023 Honorable Mention | Jolie Roberts “Queen Elizabeth the First”
2024 WINNER | Financial Aid & Scholarships - "Inside Out 2 & Escape Room" (Large Office)
2024 Honorable Mention | Office of the University Registrar - "Star Wars" (Large Office)
2024 WINNER | School of Social Work - "School of Social Work Horror Theater" (Small Office)
2024 Honorable Mention | University Events - "Herky's Tattoo Shop" (Small Office)
2023 WINNER | Financial Aid “Spooky Hallow Mall”
2023 Honorable Mention | Center for Teaching and Learning “Fall in Paris”
2023 Population Research Center “Alice in Wonderland”
See you next year!
The 2024 USA Halloween Contest Judging Committee would love to thank all contest participants. Our staff did a great job showcasing their creative talents! We had a wonderful day viewing all the costumes, decorations, and being scared until we screamed!
2024 USA Halloween Committee
Shannon Ainger, Chair
Amy Macias-Stowe
Ryanne Green
Madeleine Vadenais
Valerie Kelly Kerl (not pictured)
With assistance from Crystal Velazquez (not pictured)
