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More than 1,100 alumni, families, and friends joined OWU students, faculty, and staff to celebrate Homecoming & Family Weekend Oct. 4-5 at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Special events began Oct. 3, when student leaders connected with Alumni Board members during an Emerging Leaders Reception and when OWU broke ground on a student social hub at 4 Williams Drive. The new gathering spot, expected to open next fall, is made possible thanks to an anonymous lead gift and a gift from Dr. Richard Rowland '61 and his wife, LaVerne.
Homecoming weekend officially teed off Oct. 4 with a Team OWU Golf Outing at Mill Creek Golf Course. Also on Friday, President Matt vandenBerg announced a $12 million estate commitment from Kathrine Trine Grissom '92 for initiatives to support OWU's first-generation college students. In addition, the campus celebrated with Pints with Profs, an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with favorite OWU professors or staff members, as well as a men's soccer tailgate at the OWU-Wittenberg game, and the men's and women's OWU Cross Country Invitational.
On Oct. 5, the "W" Association held its Hall of Fame Induction and Team of Distinction Ceremony. Ten new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Dr. Robert M. Strimer Honor Award was bestowed upon Bob DiBiasio '77 and the George Gauthier Award upon Doug Dittrick '55. The 2024 Teams of Distinction included the 1990 Men's Soccer team and the 1961-62 Men's Basketball team. Inductees were recognized during halftime of the football game, where the Bishops faced DePauw.
OWU's field hockey team blanked Allegheny 2-0 during Homecoming & Family Weekend.
Saturday programming also included a Family & Doughnuts meet-and-greet with the Bishop and a Parents Leadership Council (PLC) meeting. Bishops also gathered at the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday to hear President vandenBerg discuss OWU's commitment to entrepreneurism and find out the winners of OWU's inaugural U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition (USEC).
A favorite Homecoming moment was Saturday's Parade of Bishops, when OWU family and friends processed from the JAYwalk to Selby Stadium led by the OWU Marching Band. The parade included OWU cheerleaders, football players, and alumni from various class years. Prior to the game, everyone enjoyed food trucks, music, and fun during the Bishop Tailgate and affinity huddles.
Homecoming & Family Weekend also celebrated Fraternity & Sorority Life by presenting the David Hamilton Smith Greek Alumni Awards to Diane Petersen '66, Delta Delta Delta, and Jim Mendenhall '73, Phi Delta Theta. Other fraternity and sorority celebrations included reunion dinners for Alpha Sigma Phi and Phi Delta Theta and 100th Anniversary Celebrations for Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta.
Check out our photo albums on Flickr for more pictures from Homecoming & Family Weekend 2024!
Save the Date! Next year's Homecoming & Family Weekend will be Sept. 19-20, 2025!