By Jacob Brown, Editor-In-Chief
Newman University this year has moved its annual homecoming celebration from the spring semester to the fall, combining the annual tradition with St. John Henry Newman Weekend to create a larger celebration for students, families, staff and the surrounding community.
This year’s homecoming will run Oct. 9 and 10 and will include a bonfire, a tailgate, a volleyball game, a homecoming king and queen crowning, a pig roast, live music from the local band Sometimes on Sunday and a dance.
The idea to change up homecoming began with a suggestion from Matthew Umbarger, associate professor of theology, to hold a hog roast and dance in celebration of the feast day of St. John Henry Newman, the university’s patron saint. Umbarger said the idea eventually led to conversations about moving homecoming to the fall.
Father Ed Herzog mentioned the idea to director of student activities Josh Prilliman, who spoke with athletic director Kenyon Spears, Umbarger said.
“And he thought moving the homecoming to fall and doing everything all together was the move,” he said.
Spears said that people across many departments agreed that combining the celebrations could create a more festive weekend and bring different parts of the Newman community together.
Umbarger said the change also fit what he believes Newman needs as a university.
“Pulling out all the stops for the feast of our patron saint looks like a good step in that direction,” Umbarger said.
The move to the fall also creates opportunities to put on events that may be more difficult to hold during the spring, said Kathrine Reynoso, Newman’s director of multicultural engagement, who is organizing the homecoming crowning ceremony.
Jump
“A good thing is that the weather is nicer and there’s more opportunities to do events and activities outside,” she said.
One of the major changes this year will be the athletic event that homecoming is centered around. Instead of a basketball game, this year’s homecoming game will be a Newman volleyball match.
Spears said the change gives the volleyball program an opportunity to get more attention.
Senior volleyball player Avery Kelley said that she and her teammates are looking forward to it.
“I think we are all super stoked to have all the homecoming events scheduled around a volleyball game this year,” Kelley said. “More than anything, I think we are excited to have a big crowd and lots of people cheering us on.
“Speaking for myself, I’m sure I’ll have a bit of nerves leading up to the game, but I love playing with a student section and a packed gym, so I’m sure those nerves will quickly fade into excitement,” Kelley said.
Reynoso was responsible for organizing the crowning ceremony, a process that takes approximately one month, she said. Her responsibilities included creating voting forms, confirming students’ senior status, contacting students about participating, purchasing crowns, sashes, flowers and boutonnieres, coordinating photographs and creating promotional flyers for social media.
Students began voting for homecoming king and queen online on Monday, and voting will close at noon on Friday. began Monday, Sept. 28, and ends Friday, Oct. 2, at noon. Students who still want to vote can find a QR code on the homecoming voting flyers posted around campus.
Spears said that moving homecoming and centering it around volleyball has taken some work.
“I think it's a learning experience for all of us,” he said. “It's new, so that always comes with these challenges. But challenges can also be exciting.”
PHOTO: Courtesy photo
