Homecoming 2006 revs UD spirit, reunites alums

4:32 p.m., Oct. 18, 2006--UD spirit and alumni camaraderie ran high at this year's Homecoming, as UD alumni, friends and family members streamed onto UD's Newark campus beginning Friday evening, Oct. 13, to attend reunion and spirit events and to gear up for Saturday's football game against Hofstra University.

According to Sharon Dorr, director of Alumni and University Relations, “some of the most well-attended events included the Honors and Spirit Reunions on Reunion Row.

“More than 80 members of the Class of 1956 returned for their 50th reunion celebrations,” Dorr said, and while it was difficult to get an accurate count, “approximately 400 alumni attended Reunion Row on Saturday and more than 500 guests attended the Homecoming reception for donors and the Class of 1956 at the Center for the Arts on Friday night.”

In a typical display of UD spirit, many alumni also participated in the numerous activities held all weekend, Dorr added, from attending UD's Professional Theatre Training Program's performance of Peter Pan to cheering on the men's soccer team in their Sunday game against Georgia State.

More than 80 members of the Class of 1956 returned for their 50th reunion celebrations.

Good showings from affinity alumni groups on Reunion Row included members of UD's Black Alumni Organization and Honors Program, as well as College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy alumni, physical therapy alumni, spirit alumni (which included alumni marching band members, cheerleaders, dance team members, mascots, Blue Hen Ambassadors and Ag Ambassadors) and members of the classes of 1961, 1976, 1986 and 1991.

Another well-attended alumni event included the Homecoming brunch for the Class of 1956, at which the 2006 Outstanding Alumni Awards were given to UD alumni James A. Sears (Class of 1970) and his wife, Suzanne McMahon Sears (Class of 1978), and at which this year's Medals of Distinction were given to alums Linda Brinton Harra (Class of 1971) and her husband, Robert V. A. Harra Jr. (Cass of 1971).

At halftime, both the Searses and Harras were acknowledged, as were the 18 UD Spirit Ambassadors.

Also at halftime, the University of Delaware Alumni Association named one Spirit Ambassador, Natalie Gempesaw-Pangan, a senior from Albuquerque, N.M., the recipient of the 2006 T. Muncy Keith Spirit Award. This $1,000 scholarship is given annually to one Spirit Ambassador in recognition of his or her outstanding spirit and leadership.

Homecoming 2006 also held plenty of excitement for current students, Matthew Lenno, assistant director of Student Centers, said.

According to Lenno, the weeks leading up to Homecoming were consumed with spirit-related activities for many, as student groups poured their energy into creating banners for the Homecoming banner competition.

UD President David P. Roselle (right) joined UD football fans at halftime in honoring 2006 alumni award winners (from left) James A. Sears (Class of 1970) and his wife, Suzanne McMahon Sears (Class of 1978), recipients of Outstanding Alumni Awards, and Linda Brinton Harra (Class of 1971) and her husband, Robert V. A. Harra Jr. (Cass of 1971), who were awarded Medals of Distinction.

The 34 banners submitted by various student organizations decorated the Trabant University Center in the week and a half leading up to the judging last Friday, Lenno said, and the three winning organizations--the Student Centers Programming Advisory Board (SCPAB), the Vietnamese Student Association and the Red Cross Club--took part in the Hens Hoopla event held on Friday evening at the Bob Carpenter Center and got to perform skits, songs and cheers at the pirate-themed Spirit Competition event held earlier in the day on the Trabant University Center patio. The three top-winning organizations also had their names announced and put on the scoreboard during Saturday's football game, and SCPAB, the first-place banner winner, got to lead the entire Fightin' Blue Hens team onto the field.

For more information about specific Homecoming Weekend events, click on its link below.

Four alumni honored with Presidential Citations
B&E alums Lavelle, Tenev honored for excellence
Four alums cited for special honors at Homecoming
Hens Hoopla tips off new basketball season

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson, Duane Perry, Kevin Tucker, Greg Drew and Sarah Simon

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