Soapbox racer Dylan falling slightly behind her competition. By Kate Maddison 
Soapbox racer Keaton Berryhill posing with his winning trophy Friday Nov 15. By Kate Maddison 
One half of “hot girls save lives” painted on the front of a soapbox cart. By Kate Maddison 
The intricate design on the helmet of a soapbox racer on Friday Nov 15. By Kate Maddison 
The checkered design of Andrew Draper’s cart shining in the sun. By Kate Maddison 
Soapbox racer Dylan sporting her car and GoPro as she prepares for her race. By Kate Maddison 
The intricate and creative wheel design of a soapbox cart competing in the derby. By Kate Maddison 
Soapbox racer Andrew Draper showing off his fraternity flag. By Kate Maddison 
Keaton Berryhill tests out his cart on Friday before the event starts. By Kate Maddison 
Andrew Draper poses enthusiastically as he prepares to win a race at the soapbox derby. By Kate Maddison
57th Annual Soap Box Derby at Texas State University
Article by: Matthew DeLeon
Texas State University’s Homecoming week is filled with multiple entertaining events. According to the Texas State Student Involvement and Engagement, the Soap Box Derby is the longest-running tradition and favorite among students and alumni.
The Soap Box Derby is an annual Homecoming event, started by the fraternities at Texas State University in 1967, where student organizations make their own homemade cars and do a tournament style race to decide a winner. Each race will have 2 cars going against each other, starting on top of a ramp on a hill leading down to hay bales to be stopped. All cars must go through a 15 minute inspection a day prior of the race. The winner of the race gets points that go to the overall homecoming spirit stick competition and President’s Cup. The race was located on Wood Street, right outside of Bruce and Gloria Ingram Hall.
Associate Director of Student Involvement Engagement, Bob Dudolski, helped plan the Soap Box Derby. The Inter-fraternity Council also had a hand in helping set up the event. Dudolski hopes to have a great 57th run as last year the event was unfortunately rained out. Although this year they decided elevate the event by adding racing simulators and other games.
“We’ll also be seeing some food trucks that are going to be showing up here in just a little bit. To add some more elements for people to hang out and enjoy the environment of homecoming, as well as to see the races this afternoon.” said Bob Dudolski.
Registration is open to any student organizations or department on campus. This year there were 13 entries into the race. Fraternities, other student organizations, and one campus department are all entered cars for the race.
One fraternity that entered the race was Phi Kappa Tau with racer, Keaton Berryhill. Sorority, Chi Omega, gifted Berryhill with their car. The car was colored maroon and gold decorated with the Phi Kappa Tau animal, a unicorn, and their chapter Gamma Psi on one side. On the other side of the car was the Chi Omega letters with their animal, an owl, and their chapter too. Berryhill expresses his feeling of being nervous, but nervous as he did not know what to expect.
Berryhill stated “I hope I don’t crash and I make it all the way. I want to make it. All the way to the hay barrels down there”.
Another fraternity in the race was Alpha Sigma Phi with their racer Andrew Draper. Their car was also gifted by a sorority, Delta Zeta, which was decorated with a checker design and red underbelly. Draper was seen throughout the race wearing a typical pro racer outfit and repping his fraternity flag.
A student organization, Latinas Unidas, entered the race as well. Their car was driven by Brianna Carbajal. The design for the car was made by Carbajal herself and had others from the organization help paint it. Carbajal hoped to represent the latino community at Texas State and especially girl power.
“So Latina Unidas, is an organization based on empowerment and friendship and awareness of the community here at Texas State. We try to do a lot of volunteering and social work and everything like that, just to kind of like help build the community and get closer with everyone around us.” Carbajal said to describe her organization.
At the end of the race every group fell short of victory except Phi Kappa Tau’s racer Keaton Berryhill. After every race in the tournament style competition Berryhill felt like he was going to crash every time, but feels good that he won for his fraternity. He will celebrate his win at Chimy’s on the square.
On the behalf of his fraternity brothers Keaton Berryhill says “Come to Red Room. That’s all I gotta say”.
