“People were glad to be back, and most people brought their kids or their significant others, so it seems like people enjoyed it, which is all we can ask for,” Maura Fenske, coordinator of Development and Alumni Relations, said.

According to Fenske, around 200 alumni came out for the Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, Waynesburg University homecoming events.

The Alumni Relations team went into homecoming with the goal of getting alumni back on campus and facilitating conversations between the alumni and the current students. According to Fenske, the team was able to reach that goal.

“I definitely think we achieved that. It felt like we did, and we heard from a lot of people who were appreciative of being back and being able to reconnect with classmates especially,” Fenske said. “We heard from a lot of people, once again like I mentioned, who hadn’t been back to campus in five, ten, sometimes like 50 years, which was awesome.”

The Class of 1973 reunion had 50 attendees this year. “I think the biggest turnout we had was the class of ’73,” Fenske said. “They all seemed to really enjoy the brunch.”

According to Fenske, the nursing reunion also had a good turnout with around 30 people in attendance. There were also other reunions such as the joint chemistry and biology reunion, and the Stover reunion, which Fenske stated usually has good attendance. 

According to David Floyd, director of Development and Alumni Relations, the Christian life, campus ministry and biblical ministry studies also had a reunion brunch with around 30-40 attendees. 

“There was a really good connection from graduates maybe back in the 70’s, really recent grads and then current students,” Floyd said. “So I think some of those opportunities there was a chance to interact, in addition to faculty members interacting with alumni as well.”

The Waynesburg University Alumni Relations homecoming football game events were held at the new pavilion next to Wiley Stadium. Alumni had the opportunity to enjoy pregame snacks and conversation, stay under the tent during the game, have Chick-Fil-A at halftime and then have a post-game dessert bar, which Floyd stated he felt alumni really enjoyed and appreciated.

“We always say everybody loves free stuff and food whether it’s an 18-year-old or a 78-year-old,” Fesnke said.

The Waynesburg University Alumni Relations team has already started debriefing and exchanging written feedback and observations amongst the team as to what they want to change or keep going forward, while the events are fresh in their mind. Fenske extended a big “thank you” to her fellow team and was pleased overall.

The next homecoming date is Oct. 18 and 19, 2024. On this date, the 175 years of light fundraising initiative will be unveiled. “With the 175th anniversary coming up, we’ll try to add some pieces to make that a really enjoyable experience for alumni,” Floyd said. 

“A brick campaign where alumni and friends can purchase a brick, and customize a message on it, and they will be placed at either in Cusick court, or at the Veterans Memorial Plaza between the library and Stover, or down at Wiley,” Floyd said.

The Day of Givingwill be the next large event for Alumni Relations and Institutional Advancement. Including both development and alumni relations aspects, the Day of Giving is currently scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.

“Obviously when you’re a university, your alumni play a big part in a lot of those different pieces,” Floyd said. “It is pretty close to their hearts in a lot of situations because their four years or other amount of years here is a pretty big piece of their lives.”

Then, the team will get back to planning next year’s homecoming, “sooner rather than later,” Floyd said.