From homecoming royalty to CapFam loyalty, the university kicked off their homecoming festivities from Oct. 22 through Oct. 24. The university celebrated the 50th reunion for the class of 1976 with an accumulation of festivites.
The events kicked off with the Class of 1976 Reception and Dinner and ended with the football game against Anderson University at Bernlohr Stadium. Alumni, students and faculty were in attendence during the tailgate and block party, the culmination of these events bringing back the parade and the bonfire.
Maeve Kelly, assistant director for the Office of Student and Community Engagement mentioned that the office staff continually searches for enjoyable opportunities to boost school spirit. She noted how the procession showcases both campus groups and former graduates, explaining that student clubs had the chance to get involved by designing custom floats to compete for a $200 award for top decorations.
Saturday morning highlighted the university’s spirit with their annual homecoming parade with the theme highlighting old and new traditions among campus. The parade featured the pep band, fraternity and sorority life organizations, the university football team, cheerleaders, homecoming royalty and the university’s Audio Engineering Society.
Students, alumni and families all were in attendance lined along Pleasant Ridge Avenue as the pep band, organizations and homecoming court members helped usher in a Saturday full of festivities before the football game.
Caitlyn Couch, events coordinator of AES, and Emily Abrams, president of AES, showcased their student organization for the first time in the parade and got as close to the “old and new” theme as possible.
Abrams mentioned, “Our organization was interested in participating because one of our missions this semester was to be as active on campus as possible. Because our organization is mainly music technology students, we wanted to showcase how our organization can benefit the rest of the student community.”
AES decorated their van with “a lot of old records, 8-track tapes, cassettes, CDs and other old media.” Couch said, “We then got some newer gear to display in the van, and I even marched with my keytar, a synthesizer that I bought less than two years ago. We really wanted to show how technology has come a long way, and so have we, but we carry a love of music and music technology through every era. Technology is only getting better and more creative, and so are we, in everything we do.”
Delta Phi Epsilon showcased their sorority pride with showcasing a new spirit stick, sorority sisters wearing inflatable unicorn costumes to showcase their mascot and singing chants along the parade route.
From campus celebrations to avenues for alumni networking for current university students, homecoming brings together different parts of the university. Homecoming gives students a chance to participate in traditions old and new.
