Thousands of Alumni and Parents Visit Campus for Homecoming/Family Weekend

Carolyn Gioia (Doisy '49) enjoys a game at Homecoming.

This sentiment from Gioia, a 1949 graduate of the Doisy College of Health Sciences, seemed to reverberate around campus as thousands of people enjoyed the combined Homecoming/ Family Weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

All told, more than 3,000 alumni, parents and their families attended a wide array of events, including a golf cart parade, ice cream social, campus tours and live entertainment.

On Saturday night, an estimated 2,200 people attended a special tailgate barbecue before the men's soccer match, which drew a crowd of 5,749 fans, the second largest in school history. The halftime fireworks display was a showstopper again.

Sunday found St. Francis Xavier College Church overflowing for the 10:30 a.m. Mass, which is a major draw for alumni and parents alike.

Stephen Petersen, Ed.D., associate vice president for alumni relations, said his office tries to offer something for everyone.

Fireworks illuminate the sky above Robert R. Hermann Stadium.

"Homecoming is an opportunity to provide alumni the chance to reconnect not only with their alma mater, but also with one another," he said. "Clearly we also want our alumni to feel excited about and proud of SLU because of all of the great things that are happening here."

Adam Peck, Ph.D., director of student life, said that same sense of excitement extends to parents and students.

"We take a lot of pride in watching our students show SLU off to their little brothers and sisters as well as showing their moms and dads where they study, eat, sleep and play," he said. "Interest in this year's event makes it apparent to us that the parents are just as enthusiastic and engaged as the students themselves."

Petersen added that this year's large turnout shows how much alumni and parents care about SLU, considering that St. Louis was brimming with other events over the weekend, including Cardinals games, Taste of St. Louis and Grand Center's grand opening.

"The weekend offered the chance for alumni to share their excitement for SLU with parents of students," Petersen said. "Alumni are proud to see that SLU continues to enroll extremely bright women and men from around the world."

The 2007 Homecoming/Family Weekend is set for Sept. 28-30.

The Billiken delights children at the men's soccer match.

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