Â鶹´«Ă˝â€™s Homecoming took place Saturday, Oct. 20. Sponsored by the Â鶹´«Ă˝ Alumni Association, the day was filled with tradition and exciting activities. One highlight includes The Golden Flashes win over the Western Michigan Broncos, 41-24.
“Homecoming is a great opportunity to invite alumni back to campus so they can reconnect with former classmates and see how their alma mater has changed,” said Nancy Schiappa, Kent State’s associate director of alumni relations and Homecoming chair. “This year, we have our traditional Homecoming activities and we’ve also added a few new, exciting programs.”
In keeping with tradition, the festivities kicked off with the 12th annual Bowman Cup 5K Race at 8 a.m. and was followed at 9 a.m. with the annual alumni continental breakfast and parade viewing hosted at the Williamson Alumni Center, located at 1200 Main St. in Kent. Schiappa said all alumni are welcome to attend the complimentary continental breakfast and watch the Homecoming parade from beginning to end at this great location.
This year’s Homecoming parade theme was “Battle of the Decades.” When the parade stepped off at 10 a.m., spectators saw different types of floats, walking units, city and student organizations and university departments representing all different time periods.
Following the parade, the community had the opportunity to participate in several new events.
“Homecoming is about tradition, but we wanted to start some new traditions,” Schiappa said. “After the parade ended, there were plenty of exciting activities before the big game.”
New Homecoming activities included a family-friendly event with Christopher Carter, proclaimed one of the world’s greatest mind readers, in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. Also in the Kent Student Center will be an art auction for the works of comic strip artists Tom Batiuk, a 1969 graduate of Kent State, and Chuck Ayers, a 1971 graduate of Kent State. Batiuk, creator of the Funky Winkerbean comic strip, collaborates with Ayers on Crankshaft.
In keeping with tradition, the festivities kicked off with the 12th annual Bowman Cup 5K Race at 8 a.m. and was followed at 9 a.m. with the annual alumni continental breakfast and parade viewing hosted at the Williamson Alumni Center, located at 1200 Main St. in Kent. Schiappa said all alumni are welcome to attend the complimentary continental breakfast and watch the Homecoming parade from beginning to end at this great location.
This year’s Homecoming parade theme was “Battle of the Decades.” When the parade stepped off at 10 a.m., spectators saw different types of floats, walking units, city and student organizations and university departments representing all different time periods.
Following the parade, the community had the opportunity to participate in several new events.
“Homecoming is about tradition, but we wanted to start some new traditions,” Schiappa said. “After the parade ended, there were plenty of exciting activities before the big game.”
New Homecoming activities included a family-friendly event with Christopher Carter, proclaimed one of the world’s greatest mind readers, in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. Also in the Kent Student Center will be an art auction for the works of comic strip artists Tom Batiuk, a 1969 graduate of Kent State, and Chuck Ayers, a 1971 graduate of Kent State. Batiuk, creator of the Funky Winkerbean comic strip, collaborates with Ayers on Crankshaft.
Find more information about the Alumni Auction
Other activities included tours of downtown Kent aboard Lolly the Trolley, the second annual Kiss on the K, the class of 1962 Golden Order reunion luncheon and an open house at the new May 4 Visitors Center.