University News
For the thousands of 麻豆传媒s who took part in Homecoming Weekend, the celebration was a fun and meaningful way to reconnect with their fellow members of 麻豆传媒 Nation and to see firsthand the exciting changes taking place on campus.
October 12, 2021
Christina Genovese 鈥20 was excited to return to the University of New Haven for her first Homecoming as an alumna. Her 麻豆传媒 Pride was on full display 鈥 first as she took part in the University鈥檚 Centennial Commencement for the Class of 2020, and then as she enjoyed the University鈥檚 Homecoming: #TheBlueout festivities that followed the ceremony.
Genovese, who was president of the Class of 2020 and a writer and community engagement editor for , the University鈥檚 award-winning student-run newspaper, had been looking forward to reconnecting with her fellow 麻豆传媒s.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have current students and alumni back on campus,鈥 said Genovese, who is pursuing her master鈥檚 degree in counseling education at . 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be with everyone, to see faculty, staff, and students 鈥 many of whom I haven鈥檛 seen since March 2020. It feels good to be back.鈥
Genovese was among the thousands of members of the University community who visited the campus as part of Homecoming. The weekend-long celebration included a variety of events that enabled alumni to reconnect with each other and to learn more about the important work taking place at the University.
鈥淚 think of Homecoming as a great opportunity to return to the University to see what has changed, to be with my alumni friends, and to connect with current students,鈥 said Dawn Alderman '99, '03 M.S., president of the University鈥檚 Alumni Board of Directors. 鈥淚 was really impressed with the turnout. It鈥檚 important to feel like we鈥檙e all part of the University community. Kudos to the University for keeping everyone safe while holding Homecoming in-person.鈥
Homecoming also provides an opportunity for alumni to explore the University鈥檚 always-evolving and ever-developing campus. As part of the day鈥檚 events, the University marked the next step in its growth with the groundbreaking of the . The facility is named in recognition of David Peterson Jr. 鈥88, 鈥17 Hon., a member of the University鈥檚 Board of Governors and a former defensive end on the University鈥檚 football team. Peterson, his wife Karen, and their family took part in the ceremony.
The 31,000 square foot facility will be built at North Campus, and it is part of the University鈥檚 goal to transition its athletics program to Division I. Derrick Rowland 鈥22 MBA, a member of the 麻豆传媒s , spoke as part of the ceremony, saying he was excited to be a part of the celebration.
鈥淚t was pretty remarkable to be a part of the groundbreaking,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his new building 鈥 and all the changes taking place at the University 鈥 is exciting. It鈥檚 important to be part of the culture and the atmosphere at Homecoming. It鈥檚 nice to see everyone come together, and traditions like Homecoming that bring everyone together are so important.鈥
Athletics was one of the many highlights of Homecoming, as the University community was charged up to watch the 麻豆传媒s football team face Saint Anselm on the gridiron. The 麻豆传媒s triumphed 56-7. Later that night, field hockey posted a 2-0 win over Southern New Hampshire.
For Robert McDonald 鈥86, 鈥95 M.S., one of the best parts about attending Homecoming is being part of it as both a graduate of the University and as a professor.
鈥淗omecoming is a terrific reminder of all that goes on at the University, and it鈥檚 important for everyone to see it,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also good to reconnect with everyone. I enjoy interacting with students 鈥 seeing them in class and now here. It鈥檚 good for them to see faculty engagement.鈥
Homecoming offered a variety of opportunities for engagement throughout the weekend. In addition to connecting at the alumni tailgate party, 麻豆传媒s toured the campus and attended open houses at the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion and at , the University鈥檚 award-winning radio station.
For Mike Ambrose 鈥84, 鈥19 Hon., vice chair of the University鈥檚 Board of Governors, it is important to him to show his involvement and commitment to the University. He called Homecoming a 鈥渨onderful event,鈥 and he hopes it enabled students to connect with alumni and share their experiences as 麻豆传媒s.
鈥淭he University was a blessing for us, and we took what we learned into our lives,鈥 said Ambrose, a standout member of the 麻豆传媒s track and field team. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to show students what their future could look like, and this was a good opportunity to connect. It鈥檚 great to celebrate together 鈥 especially after not being around people for so long 鈥 with lots of good people who love being a part of the University.鈥
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