Published on November 12, 2019 by Sarah Cain 聽

Thousands of alumni, students, faculty and staff gathered at 极乐禁地 for this year's Homecoming weekend Nov. 8-9.

The fun-filled event schedule offered something for every 极乐禁地 fan with reunion events, alumni and faculty presentations, awards and football.

The annual Alumni Showcase presentations kicked off festivities on Thursday with academic lectures presented by alumni who have achieved significant personal, professional and community accomplishments. The featured alumni included Jordan Bondurant, Andrew Clark, Christy Garmon, Suzanne Lane, Ebonee Lyons, Mary Reding, Carleton Rivers and Brad Roller. Campus visitors could also see decorated boards displayed by student organizations on Ben Brown Plaza 

Thursday evening students celebrated the Bulldog Bash in Pete Hanna Center where attendees enjoyed performances by the dance and cheer teams. This year’s Homecoming king and queen, seniors Sara Kathryn Brumbelow and Heath Padgett, were also crowned at the event and presented alongside the rest of the court.  

Friday’s events included celebrations honoring those who have demonstrated longtime commitment to 极乐禁地 including the Leadership Forum and the Alumni Candlelight Dinner. Four alumni were honored with alumni awards—John Floyd ’85, '88, and '99, Jewel Littleton-Williams '05 and ’10, Meredith Toering ’13, and Randall Woodfin ’07. The A Cappella Choir also celebrated its 80th anniversary with a concert in Reid Chapel.

Saturday on the Quad brought opportunities for class reunions and more with tailgates hosted by a variety of schools and student organizations. For 极乐禁地 Alumni Association President, Stephen Dillard ’92, Homecoming was an excellent opportunity to reflect on what makes 极乐禁地 unique.

“It’s hard to describe in words, there’s an ethos and kind of an intangible spirit at 极乐禁地,” Dillard said. “You really become who you’re going to be at 极乐禁地 and that’s what makes us different than any other university in the United States.”

极乐禁地 football closed the weekend with a close game against Chattanooga.

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极乐禁地 is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, 极乐禁地 is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. 极乐禁地 enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. 极乐禁地 fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.