The University of St. Thomas’ Homecoming week falls on Nov. 4-10, with events and activities planned for students, alumni and faculty.
What is Homecoming?
Homecoming is an annual, week-long event when alumni, along with their families, can return to the school they once attended. Though allegedly started in 1911 by the University of Missouri, other schools dispute who held the first homecoming, including Baylor University and the University of Illinois, according to Vice.
St. Thomas joined the tradition on May 21, 1918, according to the St. Thomas Newsroom. Past Tommie homecomings included activities such as bonfires, a raft race and a Homecoming court to crown a king and queen. These events have since been lost to time, but the university continues to celebrate the week in other ways.
Alumni
Take a trip down memory lane: Alumni visiting campus can learn more about St. Thomas’ current students and organizations. At Purple on the Plaza, the Opus College of Business and the School of Engineering will be setting up tables for alumni to drop by, and the Golf Cart Parade will showcase floats decorated by student organizations.
There will also be a Tommie Shelf donation drive, which alumni are encouraged to contribute to. A full schedule for alumni and visitors can be found here.
Sports
Homecoming revolves around football; the festivities are scheduled on a week where the Tommies play at home, and alumni, as well as current students, are invited to watch.
All are invited to gather at Purple on the Plaza, an event held before the game where fans can sit on an inflatable purple chair and play games to win prizes. To commemorate the event, take a video on the 360-degree photo booth.
The football game will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at O’Shaughnessy Stadium, with the Tommies facing the Drake Bulldogs.
Football not your thing? Show your Tommie pride at basketball and hockey games occurring throughout the week.
Women’s basketball will play at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Schoenecker Arena against Crown College. Women’s hockey will play at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 8 at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights, facing off against Lindenwood. Men’s hockey will play at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 against Minnesota State.
Other events
Non-sports fans are also in luck– throughout the week, additional activities will be held on campus.
Students, bring your friends to the Homecoming sweatshirt giveaway, a notable event that brings a swarm of undergraduates to John P. Monahan Plaza. It will be held on Nov. 4, just in time for the cool weather heading your way. Other giveaways like free food will be offered throughout the week at the Breakfast in Style event on Nov. 6 and Popcorn on the Plaza on Nov. 7.
Additional festivities include Homecoming at DFC on Nov. 4, Tommie Tuesday on Nov. 5, Game Show Night on Nov. 6, Music on the Quad with Jariah Higgins on Nov. 7, Homecoming DJ Dance Party and Friday Festivities on Nov. 8, and Bingo with Gus on Nov. 9.
Bridget Schmid can be reached at schm1520@stthomas.edu.