Homecoming 2015
Blue Hens return to campus for Homecoming celebrations
10:11 a.m., Nov. 13, 2015--Gray skies didn’t dampen the blue and golden spirit of Homecoming 2015, with hundreds of University of Delaware alumni returning to campus for a weekend of celebration Nov. 6-7.
In addition to the home football game against Albany, weekend events included a student pep rally and talent show, affinity reunions, a concert by the Juilliard String Quartet, “Blue Hens on Main” event, recognition of this year’s Outstanding Alumni Award recipients, a tailgate hosted by UD’s acting president and other school-spirited activities.
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“It’s one of the best weekends of the year, with so many alumni and friends on campus,” said Justine Talley-Beck, senior associate director for alumni relations. “Nothing is better than welcoming Blue Hens back home!”
Coming home
Many of the Homecoming festivities began on Friday evening. More than 200 alumni and friends returned to campus for “Blue Hens on Main,” where they had the opportunity to reconnect for a nostalgic night. Blue Hens met and mingled in the Trabant University Center and enjoyed snacks and entertainment, prior to hitting their favorite Main Street establishments.
On Saturday, the Black Alumni Organization held its annual tailgate in partnership with the Center for Black Culture. More than 250 alumni and students attended, including more than 100 members of the Mu Pi chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. The first African-American sorority at the University, the Mu Pi members celebrated their 40-year anniversary over the weekend with numerous celebrations.
Homecoming events were scattered throughout the weekend, and the campus was filled with UD spirit.
Mary Ann Blair, a 1966 graduate and member of the 50th reunion committee, came back to campus with her husband, a Harvard alum and “honorary Blue Hen.”
“We’ve vetted him carefully,” she joked of her spouse’s honorary title. Of course, Joseph Blair understands the importance of his wife’s alma mater and says that if she gives blood, it comes out blue and gold.
For Matt O’Donnell, just driving onto South College Avenue brings all of the memories back.
Celebrated in these parts for his famous Call of the Blue Hen, the Philadelphia Action News anchor and 1994 alumnus spoke fondly and passionately about his alma mater.
“When I see the students, I see myself when I was here,” said O’Donnell, who also serves as a member of the advisory board for the College of Arts and Sciences. “It takes me back to a lot of great memories.”
Blue Hen pride was the theme of the weekend.
Inventing Tomorrow
Prior to Saturday’s football game, at the tailgate hosted by Acting President Nancy Targett for loyal alumni and friends of the University, pride took on new meaning.
Taking a page (quite literally) from the most recent issue of the Messenger, the tailgate theme was “Inventing Tomorrow” and featured faculty and student research “stations,” highlighting novel new work underway from all of the University’s seven colleges.
Held in the Frank Acierno Arena of the Bob Carpenter Center, the tailgate included several interactive demonstrations, including one on concussion assessment devices in the College of Health Sciences; “the hidden life of microbes” from the College of Arts and Sciences; and stations on small robots and underwater drone research from the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment.
“’Inventing Tomorrow’ captures who we are, why we matter,” said Targett in her welcoming remarks. “When you look around, you see the sense of talent and vigor that makes UD special.”
UDAA Outstanding Alumni
Targett also announced the 2015 UDAA Outstanding Alumni Award recipients during the tailgate ceremony.
Awarded annually over Homecoming weekend by the University of Delaware Alumni Association, this distinction is given to alumni who have exhibited exceptional volunteer work on behalf of the University and/or the University of Delaware Alumni Association.
This year’s recipients are Marian Bergan Cottrell and Fred Cottrell, Double Dels from the Class of 1985, and Patricia Novack Drake, who received her undergraduate degree in nursing in 1975 and master’s in 1980 and worked for years as a professor at UD.
“My UD education prepared me for a very rewarding career,” said Drake, who spent 20 years in maternity nursing and taught as a clinical professor in the School of Nursing. Of the school, which celebrates its 50-year anniversary next year, she says, “I’ve been affiliated with it for 45 of its 50 years, and it’s wonderful to see it continue to grow in quality and reputation.”
The Cottrells echo this sentiment.
“The University gets better every year,” says Marian, who, along with her husband, serves as national co-chair of the Parents Fund Council. “It’s a large University, internationally known, but what makes it so special is that you get to really know professors and friends.”
The Presidential Tailgate was held immediately before the Homecoming game against Albany, which the Hens lost, 17-6.
Student celebrations
In addition to the numerous alumni events, there were many student activities and events preceding the weekend.
The Student Homecoming Committee (SHC) kicked off the week with The Amazing Race, in which eight registered student organizations hosted internationally themed stations for thirteen teams to compete in, with the gOLd Team of Orientation Leaders taking first place.
Later in the week, 15 teams battled it out on the volleyball court, with How I Set Your Mother taking first place and Teamwork Makes the Dream Work placing second.
The week’s events also included Now That’s Talent, Quizzo, the Step Show and After Party, Perkins Live and Homecoming Shabbat at Hillel. The SHC ended the week with an amazing Pep Rally on the Harrington Turf. Students cheered on the UD football team and mascots, spirit teams and talented performers entertained the crowd.
The UD Student Alumni Ambassadors also held an inaugural Hen Spirit Day, partnering with Athletics and the UD Police Department to celebrate the spirit of UD, learn about the UD Bucket List and educate students on how alumni donors have impacted their experience on campus.
Watch excerpts from Homecoming 2015 here.
For more photos and social media posts from Homecoming 2015, visit the University’s Storify page.
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson, Wenbo Fan, Doug Baker, Tyler Jacobson and Lane McLaughlin