University News

Homecoming Fosters Community, Connections, and Charger Pride

For the thousands of Chargers who took part in Homecoming Weekend, the celebration was a fun and meaningful way to reconnect with their fellow members of Charger Nation and to see firsthand the exciting changes taking place on campus.

October 12, 2021

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Four University of New 51矯通 students pose for the camera in the stands during homecoming.
Charger Pride was on full display at Homecoming: #TheBlueout.

Christina Genovese 20 was excited to return to the University of New 51矯通 for her first Homecoming as an alumna. Her Charger Pride was on full display first as she took part in the Universitys Centennial Commencement for the Class of 2020, and then as she enjoyed the Universitys 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 Universitys award-winning student-run newspaper, had been looking forward to reconnecting with her fellow Chargers.

Its great to have current students and alumni back on campus, said Genovese, who is pursuing her masters degree in counseling education at . Its nice to be with everyone, to see faculty, staff, and students many of whom I havent seen since March 2020. It feels good to be back.

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.

I 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, said Dawn Alderman '99, '03 M.S., president of the Universitys Alumni Board of Directors. I was really impressed with the turnout. Its important to feel like were all part of the University community. Kudos to the University for keeping everyone safe while holding Homecoming in-person.

Members of Charger Nation cheering from the stands.
Members of Charger Nation cheered as the Chargers football team defeated Saint Anselm 56-7.
Its nice to see everyone come together

Homecoming also provides an opportunity for alumni to explore the Universitys always-evolving and ever-developing campus. As part of the days 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. 88, 17 Hon., a member of the Universitys Board of Governors and a former defensive end on the Universitys 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 Universitys goal to transition its athletics program to Division I. Derrick Rowland 22 MBA, a member of the Chargers , spoke as part of the ceremony, saying he was excited to be a part of the celebration.

It was pretty remarkable to be a part of the groundbreaking, he said. This new building and all the changes taking place at the University is exciting. Its important to be part of the culture and the atmosphere at Homecoming. Its nice to see everyone come together, and traditions like Homecoming that bring everyone together are so important.

University representatives with shovels, at the site where the Performance Center will be built.
The University marked the groundbreaking of the Peterson Performance Center.
Lots of good people who love being a part of the University

Athletics was one of the many highlights of Homecoming, as the University community was charged up to watch the Chargers football team face Saint Anselm on the gridiron. The Chargers triumphed 56-7. Later that night, field hockey posted a 2-0 win over Southern New Hampshire.

For Robert McDonald 86, 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.

Homecoming is a terrific reminder of all that goes on at the University, and its important for everyone to see it, he said. Its also good to reconnect with everyone. I enjoy interacting with students seeing them in class and now here. Its good for them to see faculty engagement.

Students pose with the Alumni Bell at Homecoming.
Chargers ring the Alumni Bell at Homecoming.

Homecoming offered a variety of opportunities for engagement throughout the weekend. In addition to connecting at the alumni tailgate party, Chargers toured the campus and attended open houses at the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion and at , the Universitys award-winning radio station.

For Mike Ambrose 84, 19 Hon., vice chair of the Universitys Board of Governors, it is important to him to show his involvement and commitment to the University. He called Homecoming a wonderful event, and he hopes it enabled students to connect with alumni and share their experiences as Chargers.

The University was a blessing for us, and we took what we learned into our lives, said Ambrose, a standout member of the Chargers track and field team. Its important to show students what their future could look like, and this was a good opportunity to connect. Its great to celebrate together especially after not being around people for so long with lots of good people who love being a part of the University.

A view of the Chargers football field on Homecoming.
The Chargers faced Saint Anselm on the gridiron.

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