WVU Tech’s 2015 Homecoming theme was “Around the World,” but could just as easily have been “Togetherness” as students and alumni gathered in Montgomery to celebrate their common ties to the University.
Students participated in a variety of themed activities throughout the week, including spirit week, campus cup, late night movies and an International Student Organization luncheon where they experienced food from throughout the world.
Kylie Lang, a sports management major and runner for WVU Tech’s cross country and track and field teams, spent the week photographing events for the Tech Media Crew. She said the student body, which represents more than 20 countries and 30 states, was eager to celebrate the close-knit community at Tech.
“Students are really spirited here and they’ve been having a lot of fun this whole week,” she said. “We all come from different places and we’re into different things. These events bring us all together to celebrate our school and the way we feel about it.”
Sophomore chemical engineering major and WVU Tech wrestler Tristan Bean agreed.
“We’ve had a lot of fun this week with the activities, with people wearing pajamas and Halloween costumes on campus and that sort of thing. The activities are fun, but it’s more than that, too,” he said. “Homecoming is about gathering the whole student body and the community and building relationships on the idea that we’re all part of the same thing.”
On Friday evening, alumni gathered in the WVU Tech Center for a reception and dinner honoring this year’s WVU Tech Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Jim Longest, ‘91, Rodney Mayes, ‘05, and Kelly Weikle, ‘04.
On Saturday morning, the volleyball team kicked off the day with an early morning Color Fun Walk/Run to raise money for the CAMC Cancer Center. Donations and race fees will be used for women in need of breast cancer screenings.
“It was a great run. It’s early and a little cold, but we’re here doing a good thing with our friends and having fun. The volleyball team is doing a great thing by showing their support and we wanted to participate and show our appreciation for what they’re doing,” said Pieter Lubini, a former Civil Engineering student at WVU Tech who participated in the run.
Saturday’s activities also included a town parade, an outdoor tailgate and an alumni association meeting where alumni planned activities for the coming year and elected alumnus Hank Wright, ‘68, to the position of association president.
Men’s and women’s basketball opened their seasons during Homecoming weekend. The women’s team trumped Northwestern 75-49 and the men were edged out by West Virginia State at 85-82. During the games, WVU Tech senior History and Government student and U.S. Navy veteran William Hughes presented campus president Carolyn Long with a coin to commemorate the University’s dedication to the 5 Star Challenge, Students Raul Torres and Ashley Burns were crowned Mr. and Mrs. Golden Bear. The day also saw graduates face off in an alumni basketball game.
Alumnus Robin Davis, who graduated in 2013 with a degree in mechanical engineering technology, attended the day’s festivities. He recently joined the board of the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association and traveled to Montgomery from his current home in Kentucky to participate in Homecoming.
“It’s good to come back and get that feeling of nostalgia, see how Tech is doing and reconnect with the family that you make at Tech when you’re here. We’ve done so much catching up that we haven’t been able to get to everything on the schedule, and it’s been a lot of fun remembering the people, the personalities, the way you’re treated and the way you feel here. It’s the people that make Tech, and it always will be the people that make Tech,” he said.
Visit WVU Tech on Flickr to see photos from the week’s activities.