The ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ fight song will blare down Main Street, the city of Kent will be flooded with blue and gold, alumni and friends will gather and reminisce about their ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ days, fans will pack the stadium to cheer on their beloved Golden Flashes, and the entire campus will boom with ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ pride.
ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ will celebrate 100 years of Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 6. ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and the community are invited to take part in one of the university’s long-standing traditions. Student events will occur the week leading up to Homecoming on all eight ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ campuses throughout Northeast Ohio.
The morning of Homecoming kicks off with the 18th Annual Bowman Cup 5K Race at 8 a.m. The race, named after fedora-loving former ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ President George Bowman, is a chip-timed race that starts and ends in front of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
The Homecoming Parade begins at 10 a.m. on the corner of Midway Drive and Main Street, traveling west on Main Street into downtown Kent. The parade features floats, ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ and local high school marching bands, university colleges and departments, ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ cheerleaders and athletes, student organizations, local officials and more. Parade favorites ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ President Beverly J. Warren, the 2018 grand marshal and the Homecoming Courts anchor the parade. This year’s Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal is Wayne Dawson, WJW Fox 8 anchor and ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ alumnus.
The ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Alumni Association hosts the Welcome Home Party at 11 a.m. at the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement located at 350 S. Lincoln St. in Kent. The Welcome Home Party is free and fun for all ages with festive food, activities and ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ giveaways. Each college on the Kent Campus will host a free open house or event at one of its buildings. Events include meet and greets with the college deans and refreshments.
Couples who feel that ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ played an important role in their relationship will gather on the K at Risman Plaza (in front of the Kent Student Center) for a special Homecoming tradition called Kiss on the K. All couples will kiss on the K when the bell rings at 12:30 p.m. A special performance by the Kent Clarks acapella group and activities will begin at noon.
Before the football game, alumni and students can tailgate at Dix Stadium. Then at 3:30 p.m., the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Golden Flashes will take on Mid-American Conference East Division foe the Ohio University Bobcats. The rivalry game will be ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡â€™s first conference home game of the season. The Homecoming Courts – more than 40 representatives from all ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ campuses – will be recognized at the game, and ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡â€™s 2018 Homecoming King and Queen also will be announced and crowned.
For more information about ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡â€™s 2018 Homecoming including a full schedule of events, visit www.kent.edu/homecoming.
To learn more about 100 years of Homecoming at ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡, visit www.kent.edu/magazine/100YearsofHomecoming.