24 Homecoming 2022 took place Oct. 28-29. It encompassed the entire campus with many alumni and families. Over 100 events took place including the home football game, the tailgate and the Heritage Circle induction. The class of 1972 was inducted into the Heritage Circle and had a banquet in the Charles White Dining Hall. Many additional alumni were recognized at the dinner. Multiple awards were distributed including the Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Young Alumni, Botham Jean award and awards from every college. Landmark years were also recognized with alumni having graduated 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 years ago. Heather Kemper, director of parent and alumni relations, said one of her favorite memories from Homecoming was the Heritage Circle banquet. “While I love everything about Homecoming, that night is so special as people come back and reminisce and tell stories and reconnect,” Kemper said. Kemper and her team organized the weekend in collaboration with the University Communications and Marketing (UCM) team. UCM designed all the pamphlets and other printed material related to Homecoming. “It is an opportunity for us to provide a service to people that come back to campus,” Kemper said. A popular Homecoming activity was the football tailgate. Due to weather conditions, the tailgate could not take place outside the Ganus Activities Complex, so the festivities took place in the Huckelbea Fieldhouse. Most social clubs set up tents, the Thundering Herd Marching Band performed with the cheerleaders and the football team walked through the fieldhouse with alumni players. Sophomore Casey Robison was the foreign affairs and tailgating officer for women’s social club Chi Omega Pi and teamed up with men’s club Omega Phi for the tailgate. Because Homecoming’s theme was fairytales, Robison chose “Sweet Dreams” as the two clubs’ tailgate theme, providing desserts and candy. “With the bad weather coming I wasn’t sure who all was going to show up, but it turned out to be a great crowd,” Robison said. “I’m still a bit new to all the club and tailgating stuff, but my favorite thing is seeing the community that Harding creates through tailgating.” Despite the rain throughout the weekend, the Homecoming Court was presented during halftime, and the Homecoming queen was crowned. Junior Britney Njeri was chosen as the Homecoming representative by the Black Student Association and crowned on Oct. 29. She said it was a day she will never forget. “I am still stunned by the fact that I am the Homecoming queen,” Njeri said. “I have never felt the presence of God in my life like I have this week.” Written by: Elizabeth Dillard Once Upon A Homecoming Homecoming 2022 events are spread throughout campus for all to enjoy. SHARING CULTURE A student wears a mask from the Latin Fest that international students hosted during Homecoming week. International students put on Latin Fest in order to raise money for schools in Central America. Photo by: Julianne Baker
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