¾«¶«Ó°Òµ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ University fight song will blare down Main Street, the city of Kent will be flooded with blue and gold, alumni and friends will gather and reminisce about their ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ days, fans will pack the stadium to cheer on their beloved Golden Flashes, and the entire campus will boom with ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ pride.
¾«¶«Ó°Òµ will celebrate 100 years of Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 6. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and the community are invited to take part in one of the university’s long-standing traditions. Student events will occur the week leading up to Homecoming on all eight ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ campuses throughout Northeast Ohio.
¾«¶«Ó°Òµmorning of Homecoming kicks off with the 18th Annual Bowman Cup 5K Race at 8 a.m. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµrace, named after fedora-loving former ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ President George Bowman, is a chip-timed race that starts and ends in front of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
¾«¶«Ó°ÒµHomecoming Parade begins at 10 a.m. on the corner of Midway Drive and Main Street, traveling west on Main Street into downtown Kent. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµparade features floats, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ and local high school marching bands, university colleges and departments, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ cheerleaders and athletes, student organizations, local officials and more. Parade favorites ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ President Beverly J. Warren, the 2018 grand marshal and the Homecoming Courts anchor the parade. This year’s Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal is Wayne Dawson, WJW Fox 8 anchor and ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ alumnus.
¾«¶«Ó°Òµ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Alumni Association hosts the Welcome Home Party at 11 a.m. at the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement located at 350 S. Lincoln St. in Kent. ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµWelcome Home Party is free and fun for all ages with festive food, activities and ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ giveaways. Each college on the Kent Campus will host a free open house or event at one of its buildings. Events include meet and greets with the college deans and refreshments.
Couples who feel that ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ played an important role in their relationship will gather on the K at Risman Plaza (in front of the Kent Student Center) for a special Homecoming tradition called Kiss on the K. All couples will kiss on the K when the bell rings at 12:30 p.m. A special performance by the Kent Clarks acapella group and activities will begin at noon.
Before the football game, alumni and students can tailgate at Dix Stadium. Then at 3:30 p.m., the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Golden Flashes will take on Mid-American Conference East Division foe the Ohio University Bobcats. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµrivalry game will be ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s first conference home game of the season. ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµHomecoming Courts – more than 40 representatives from all ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ campuses – will be recognized at the game, and ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s 2018 Homecoming King and Queen also will be announced and crowned.
For more information about ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s 2018 Homecoming including a full schedule of events, visit www.kent.edu/homecoming.
To learn more about 100 years of Homecoming at ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, visit www.kent.edu/magazine/100YearsofHomecoming.