Homecoming 2012
Blue Hens celebrate Homecoming with football, contests, events
4:29 p.m., Oct. 23, 2012--The University of Delaware celebrated a spirited Homecoming 2012, with a 47-24 victory by the Fightin’ Blue Hens football team over the University of Rhode Island and the revival of the Homecoming Court tradition.
For the first time in 15 years, UD crowned a Homecoming King and Queen. Following weeks of intense campaigning by the six men and six women of the Homecoming Court, and online voting by the student body, seniors Sam Katz and Jennifer Lowe were selected this year’s king and queen.
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Doctoral hooding
The winners were crowned by Valerie Biden Owens, a member of UD’s Class of 1967 and the 1965 Homecoming queen.
“The Office of Alumni Relations would like to recognize and thank all the Homecoming Court nominees, and the Homecoming Student Planning Committee for their hard work reviving this tradition and on the other events throughout the week,” said Christine Scheirer, a member of UD’s Class of 2009 and associate director of reunions and student programs.
Dare to Show More Spirit winners
For a fourth year, University faculty and staff submitted photos of their colleges, departments and units in a contest to determine which UD employee group had the most spirit.
The People’s Choice Award went to the UD Honors Program, while the UD Alumni Association President’s Choice Award was bestowed upon the Carvel Research and Education Center in Georgetown.
A total of 20 UD units participated.
Battle of the Blue Hens
Student organizations battled it out throughout Homecoming Week in the Battle of the Blue Hens, in which members of groups attended different events across campus throughout the week.
The three groups with the highest attendance were: Gamma Sigma Sigma, which took first place and a $500 prize; Alpha Epsilon Phi, second place, $200; and Alpha Xi Delta, third place, $100.
Blue Hens take to Main Street
More than 250 alumni attended the Office of Alumni Relations event Blue Hens on Main for a nostalgic night with friends on Main Street. Prior to hitting the restaurants in town, Blue Hens met and mingled in the Trabant University Center and enjoyed snacks and entertainment, and reconvened at the end of the event for a late-night breakfast.
Hens come home for win
After two consecutive losses followed by a bye week, the No. 25 ranked UD football needed a win in a big way. And that's exactly what the Blue Hens got Saturday afternoon as they treated a Homecoming crowd to a solid offensive performance in a 47-24 Colonial Athletic Association football victory over Rhode Island at Delaware Stadium.
Spirit Celebration, Banner and Spirit Competition
On Friday, Oct. 19, hundreds of students, faculty and staff gathered in the Trabant University Center for a Spirit Celebration. UD President Patrick Harker and UD Alumni Association President Darelle Lake Riabov, a 1973 alumna, were in attendance, as were mascots YoUDee and Baby Blue, the Homecoming Court and dozens of student groups.
Homecoming banners were designed and submitted by 24 student groups and five of the Homecoming Court nominees.
The Rodney B4 Buddies were voted the winners of the banner competition. The Student Centers Programming Advisory Board (SCPAB) took home the prize for best spirit skit, and HOLA won best overall skit and banner.
Outstanding Alumni and Presidential Citation
Harker honored six alumni with the Presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement. The awardees were: Joseph Chen, a 1992 graduate; Darryl P. Conway, 1993; Andrew T. Hill, who received degrees in 1996, 1997 and 2003; Kirk Malloy, 1990 and 1993; Taesha Mapp-Rivera, 1994 and 2000; and Karen A. Stout, 1982 and 1995.
Two more graduates – Claire M. DeMatteis, Class of 1987, and Terrance Bowman, Class of 1995 – received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the University and the UD Alumni Association.
Homecoming spirit campuswide
In addition to the Office of Alumni Relations, the following colleges and departments planned events throughout the week: the University Library’s Morris Library; Bank of America Career Services Center; Center for Political Communication; University Museums; School of Public Policy and Administration; Student Centers Programming Advisory Board and Deltronica; College of Agriculture and National Resources; Black Alumni Organization; Center for Black Culture; UD Hillel; UD Greek Alumni Association; UD baseball and volleyball; College of Health Sciences; UD Swimming and Diving Alumni; UD Cultural Programming Advisory Board; UD music department; Theta Chi Alpha Xi; UD men’s soccer; ASHA For Education, and many others.
Monday Madness Pep Rally
Homecoming Week kicked off with the inaugural Monday Madness Pep Rally on Laird Campus. More than 200 students attended in Blue and Gold and created a giant interlocking “UD,” enjoyed games, and kicked off the Battle of the Blue Hens competition. Over a dozen varsity student athlete teams were there, plus the UD Cheerleading Team, UD Dance Team, and YoUDee.
Office of Alumni Relations
The Office of Alumni Relations is the chief liaison between the University and the worldwide alumni body of more than 151,000 living alumni represented by the UD Alumni Association. Alumni Relations coordinates major events such as Alumni Weekend, Homecoming and prestigious awards. The office also manages all volunteers and events for the regional alumni clubs across the country and is charged with creating new and exciting programs while maintaining current traditions. For more information, visit www.UDconnection.com.
Article by Melissa Cox