Anderson University alumni and their families joined in with current students and their families, along with faculty and staff for Homecoming and Family Week at Anderson University.
On a beautiful, albeit unseasonably warm October day, record crowds came out to the Anderson University campus from near and far. It was a fun time for students showing their parents around campus and introducing them to their friends. It was a marvelous time for alumni to reconnect, reminisce and enjoy the many changes that have occurred since their days as students.
Of course, probably the biggest highlight of Homecoming festivities was the Trojans Football Team debut on the Spero Financial Field at the newly-expanded Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium. More than 5,500 Trojans fans filled the stadium for the team’s first-ever Black and Gold Football Scrimmage. The Homecoming Court was presented during halftime. Anderson University’s First Lady Diane Whitaker crowned Madilyn McCown as Homecoming Queen and Grayson Smith was crowned Homecoming King. Leading up to that moment was the crowning of Hudson Taylor and Isabel Weddie as Mr. and Ms. Senior, Skylar and Emory Ford as Mr. and Ms. Junior, D’Andre Hicks and Ada Dooley as Mr. and Ms. Sophomore and Weston Pack and Paulina Chang as Mr. and Ms. Freshman.
In intercollegiate competition, the Men’s Soccer Team lost to the Wingate Bulldogs 2-1, the Women’s Soccer Team also lost to Wingate 2-0, and the Volleyball Team lost 3-1, also to WIngate. There was also a softball scrimmage versus Gaston College.
The Quad was transformed into the “Fun Zone,” where youngsters could play in a variety of inflatables. There were also games for the young and young-at-heart, along with food and drink. Later in the day Homecoming crowds turned out for the BBQ picnic out on the campus. There was also a community health care, ceramics sale and a parent prayer walk. Homecoming participants made new memories taking selfies and photos at a beautiful photo backdrop that proclaims “Long Live Anderson.”
Homecoming and Family Weekend were preceded by a weeklong Homecoming celebration for students, which included a HoCo Dance, Drive In Movie Night and Fall Fest.
Other Homecoming and Family Weekend activities included the South Carolina School of the Arts putting on a Hansel and Gretel workshop in Henderson Auditorium and a chance to see rehearsal for the upcoming production “Frankenstein,” in Belk Theatre. (“Frankenstein” will run Nov. 3-11, 2023 in the Belk Theatre of the South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University.)
Also, AUthenticity, Anderson University’s commercial music ensemble, gave a concert of popular and contemporary Christian music. Thrift Library hosted a display highlighting well over a century of Anderson memories, including photos, yearbooks and other items from the university’s history.
Homecoming sponsors were the City of Anderson, Event Rentals and Allen Tate Realtors.
