Student organizations are stacking canned foods to see who kicks off Homecoming with the most spirited sculpture.

For the fourth year in a row, student organizations will compete in extravaCANza, a Homecoming event that pits organizations against each other to build the best sculpture out of canned foods, promoting FAU spirit and contributing to a charitable cause.

The Weppner Center for Civic Engagement & Service and Students Advocating Volunteer Involvement (SAVI) are sponsoring this canned food sculpture contest on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Social Science Building (SO). Organization members around campus come together and collect as many canned foods as they need to build the best sculpture. The canned foods are then donated to Boca Helping Hands, a charitable organization that serves the community by providing food and assistance to those in need.

This year’s theme is Owl pride, and each organization will build a sculpture of something they believe represents their FAU spirit.

“Last year was the first year for FAU’s new stadium,” Christopher White, a graduate assistant in the Weppner Center leading extravaCANza this year, said.

“So many students created their vision of the stadium using canned goods. These sculptures were extremely creative.”

Last year’s extravaCANza donated over 2,000 cans to Boca Helping Hands, according to the Weppner Center.

“Students should expect a competitive and fun environment that will result in a large donation of canned goods to a worthy cause in our own community,” White said.

Three winners are chosen at the end of the competition each year. Last years winners were Delta Tau Delta, Sigma Kappa and Sigma Gamma Rho, according to White.

The winners this year will receive points toward the week long Homecoming contest, Owl Prowl Competition. The student organization with the most points at the end of the week will be named 2012 Homecoming champions.

Delta Tau Delta, one of the winning fraternities from last year’s extravaCANza, who built a sculpture of the FAU Football Stadium out of canned foods, is planning to participate again this year.

“We do have some big plans [for extravaCANza], but their kind of a secret right now,” Robert Huffman, student body president and member of Delta Tau Delta, said.

“It brings out all of the creative people of each organization to highlight the unique things about FAU. It brings out the school pride,”  Huffman said. “I think it’s a great event.”

According to White, the event should be a competitive and an exciting addition to this year’s Homecoming week.

“ExtravaCANza is one event on campus in arguably the most school spirited week on the master calendar.”