From Friday, September 17 to Sunday, September 19, NVU-Lyndon held its annual Homecoming Weekend celebration. Students’ family members and alumni were invited to come to campus and enjoy a slew of fun events put on by CAB, MEISA, and other school organizations. The weekend supplied enjoyable experiences for the whole family through a variety of activities.
On Saturday, September 18, guests to campus began their days with registration in the theater lobby. Complimentary coffee was provided to help wake up any sleepy guests. After registering, families could head to the Vail Museum, which opened for the first time this semester, or check out the Quimby Gallery hosting Pat Shine’s Close to Home photography exhibit.
Veterans Park was lively as ever that Saturday morning; it was packed from the Fall Festival. You could hear chatting adults and delighted children’s laughs from anywhere on campus. CAB handed out free Lyndon merchandise, which gathered a large crowd. Sodexo hosted a barbeque lunch for students and their guests with lots of delicious fixings. Outside Wheelock Hall, there was a bouncy castle and cornhole games. If you were feeling creative, there was a DIY ornament booth where you could decorate spooky ornaments and a pumpkin carving station to etch your mark. Some of the pumpkins carved by students are still sitting outside Wheelock today, giving the residence hall a festive attire for the season.
Unfortunately, the day was fraught with light scattered showers that rained on all the fun. The women’s lacrosse team, who were holding a bake sale in Veterans Park, had to carry their table inside quickly to save the pastries. However, no one seemed to let the showers ruin their day. Any moment the rain cleared, people were back out in the park having a good time.
If you stayed around to wait out the rain, the Alumni Council offered sweet treats at noon. They hosted an ice cream social in Veterans Park. This event was put on to encourage communication between the different groups of people on campus like students, alumni, and administration who often live separated but all care about our school and community. A Student Representative on the Alumni Council, Alexandra Huff, remarked, “I feel like sometimes students forget that administration are people too, and many times, students don’t even know the Alumni Council exists. I was happy to see them interacting in a casual and fun environment.”
The school also held a variety of inside events throughout the day, including Anchor For the Day, which started at 11 am. Meaghan Meacham and Kerri Nelson, professors in the Communications and Journalism Department, oversaw the event. Homecoming attendees were invited to the News7 studio to sit behind the desk and take a shot at being a news anchor. Using their feet to push down the pedal, which controls the teleprompter, students and guests could see into the life of anchors worldwide and students in the journalism program. You could also stand by the weather station and look at the different graphics used to showcase the weather.
In the theater lobby, Lyndon Pride was held. Students could snap a picture with Buzz the Hornet, and there was a stuffed animal booth where anyone feeling crafty could make a plush friend. CAB ran the booth, giving out bunnies, bears, cats, raccoons, frogs, turtles, and cows. They also came with adorable mini Lyndon t-shirts. People of all ages gathered around the table to stuff an animal. Many new suitemates and gifts for loved ones were made.
The final and one of the most advertised events was BINGO, hosted by CAB in the Stannard Gym. Before the doors opened, the theater lobby was bustling with people. The gym was set up with countless rows of chairs. The elusive prizes sought over included a mystery box, movie theater tickets and candy, a Monster Energy-themed backpack, antique Lyndon merch, a Keurig coffee machine, Apple Air Pods, and the grand prize, an Oculus Rift! CAB also gave out complimentary snacks, so even those who didn’t win left with a full stomach. Sophomore Thomas Decker won the first round of bingo and discovered that the mystery box contained an engraved potato. The attendees didn’t let the competition for the highly valued coveted prizes ruin the spirit. Everyone was cordial; they brought sportsmanship and good spirits to the night.
These kinds of events break up the routines of the student body and faculty, and bring much needed breaks for everyone on campus to enjoy. An essential part of the college experience at Lyndon is having fun with peers and the community on campus. The return of Homecoming after being canceled due to COVID brought life back to campus.
Feature Photo by Carter Lee Toro || Homecoming attendees migrated to Veterans Park for the Fall Festival.