Editor's note: A photo gallery highlighting Homecoming 2009 may be found at "UD in Photos" on the University's home page.

12:06 p.m., Nov. 4, 2009----Rain and a Fightin' Blue Hens loss to James Madison University in the centerpiece football game did little to dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of returning alumni during Homecoming Weekend, according to Cindy Campanella, University of Delaware director of alumni relations.

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“There were so many activities and get-togethers planned, and everyone seemed to be enjoying coming back to UD and attending special events for alumni,” she said, adding, “We were especially delighted to welcome the class of 1959 to their 50th Class Reunion Dinner.”

Campanella said that this year, UD “introduced some new events that were well-received, such as the Greek alumni homecoming tent, which attracted close to 100 alums and guests. Another new event was the UD Young Alumni Program post-game gathering at the Stone Balloon Winehouse with about 65 Blue Hens in attendance. Young alumni, as well as our older alumni, are important to us, and this is the first of many reunions to come.”

Another new program was the Reunion Committee Volunteer Leadership Training, held Friday evening and Saturday morning, with volunteers from the classes of 1960, 1985, 2000 and 2005 in preparation for their reunion held during Forum and Reunion Weekend on June 4-6, 2010.

“The Presidential Citation Award ceremony and reception on Friday was another way of recognizing young alumni who have graduated within the past 20 years and have shown great promise in their professional careers and/or public service activities. This year, we were pleased that the honorees represented different colleges and majors,” Campanella said.

The honorees were David Bullock '90 EG, Faye M. Corman '97 AG, Louis M. Honick '98 AS, Scott R. Rosas '93 AS,'99 M CEPP, '02 PhD CEPP, and William R. Van Etten,'03 BE.

Also during the weekend, Alan Brayman, president of the University of Delaware Alumni Association, presented the 2009 Outstanding Alumni Awards, which recognize exemplary dedication and volunteer work to UD, to Julie Moyer Knowles and Leonard Stark at the President's Homecoming Brunch before the game. Both were also were recognized at halftime.

Knowles received her bachelor's degree in physical therapy in 1982 and is the owner of Southern Delaware Physical Therapy. She has been involved with the U.S. Olympic Committee and was on the medical staff for the Olympic Games in Korea. She is a past president of the Alumni Association and has served on numerous committees at UD. She sponsors the annual Julie Moyer Knowles Outstanding Student Athletic Trainer Award.

She has received the Barbara Cossoy Service Award from the UD Department of Physical Therapy twice and was inducted into the UD Alumni Wall of Fame in 1997.

A 1991 graduate receiving both bachelor's and master's degrees, Stark was honored with the Alexander J. Taylor Sr. Award for Outstanding Senior and became UD's eighth Rhodes Scholar.

Currently a magistrate judge for the U.S. Federal Court in Delaware, Stark has been on the Alumni Association board for 10 years and served as president. He has been the speaker at Winter Commencement twice. In 2004, he was named a recipient of the UD Presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement.

UD Spirit Ambassadors, undergraduates selected for outstanding achievements and leadership, were also honored at halftime. They are Jenna Bagley, Christa Cariddi, Rita Chang, Kiara Clayton, Jenna DeAngelis, Arielle Durrua, Daniel Gerber, Sarah Glickstein, Marc Paulo Guzman, Christine Hadfield, Emily Hartline, Stefanie Kahn, Dani Laverty, Matthew McClure, Katie Meloro, Katie Pusecker, Alyssa Quezada, Rachel Randell, Clay Rowe, Allison Stitt and Erica Vacaro.

Of these, Daniel Gerber was selected as the T. Muncy Keith Spirit Award recipient and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Article by Sue Moncure
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and Kevin Quinlan