No place like home
November 3, 2005
Alison Madden
At the mention of the word “homecoming,” a king and queen, electrifying athletic games, and a dance are images that may enter one’s head. An annual American tradition, mention of the word “homecoming” to Trinity Western University’s Canadian population draws blank stares on many faces.
“Homecoming is a celebration of Trinity Western University,” explained Jody Cnossen, an enthusiastic alumni (’03) volunteer.
The alumni division has made increasing efforts in the past four years to involve current students in the celebration.
“We want students to begin to understand that Homecoming is for them, and not just for alumni,” said Cnossen.
In the past, Homecoming was called Alumni Sports Weekend, where alumni athletes returned to play the current varsity teams.
Paul Perschon, Executive Director of Alumni and Parents Relations, explained, “If you weren’t in a sports weekend, you probably wouldn’t come back.” By incorporating “a variety of experiences,” he hopes students will have a greater interest in being part of Homecoming.
To achieve this goal, organizers have expanded last year’s three-day festivities to a Homecoming week that runs from Monday, October 31 to Saturday, November 5. Incorporating all facets of the TWU community, the week includes special events from many departments, as well as the gathering of the Board of Governors, Parents Weekend and the 1995 class reunion.
New events include a series of class challenges such as a scavenger hunt, a mural painting on the cafeteria walls, Fear Factor cafeteria-style, and a race across TWU’s infamous pond to determine who will compete in the Indy Race at the end of the week.
Also new is the daily alumni chapel speaker series with accomplished alums such as Dr. Peter Flint, who is internationally recognized for his work on the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Dr. Flint exemplifies the theme of this year’s Homecoming celebration: “Honouring the Legacy.”
“We are ‘Honouring the Legacy’ that Trinity Western is leaving on the world. [Homecoming] is a celebration of Trinity and how it’s impacting different areas of the world,” said Cnossen.
The organizers of Homecoming hope that the fun-filled week of events will inform students of what Homecoming is, and will encourage them to look forward to it in the future when they come back to participate as alumni.
“We are trying to create a tradition,” said Perschon.
Along the same tradition-creating lines, the much-loved Spartan Faithful shirts will once again be sold.
After all, once a Spartan, always a Spartan.
Now you go...
One Response to “No place like home”
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Always a Spartan?
That is far too presumptuous of a statement. I hold loyalty to only a few teams, the TWU Bombers and the Calgary Flames and I do not have room in my lock-box of loyalty for additional teams. So I may be a TWU fan, but it doesn’t make me a Spartan. That’s for the guys who get the scholarships. They’re the Spartans.