In what turned out to be an ideal fall weekend, the College of Denver neighborhood returned to campus to rejoice Homecoming 2022. With pandemic protocols and limitations now not in place, the campus was completely “open” for alumni and associates to go to the College.
For a lot of guests, it was their first alternative to see, in-person, the brand new Group Commons and the Burwell Middle for Profession Achievement, each which opened in the course of the pandemic. Excursions of the brand new buildings had been out there to guests, in addition to a strolling tour of DU’s Chester M Alter Arboretum, led by organic science college from the Faculty of Pure Sciences and Arithmetic.
For present college students, Homecoming actions lasted all week and included a campus-wide seize the flag contest, ice cream sundaes, and a DU drive-in film expertise that includes “Prime Gun: Maverick.” These had been simply a number of the many occasions hosted by Scholar Affairs and Inclusive Excellence.
On Friday afternoon, the Crimson Traditional introduced your entire neighborhood collectively. Over 800 people signed as much as take part within the tenth annual 5K run/1.5-mile stroll. Stephen Could was the highest male finisher and Molly Smith posted the perfect feminine time. In what has change into a Homecoming custom, the Crimson Traditional formally kicks off the weekend and brings everybody collectively to rejoice wellness.
“Homecoming is one among DU’s longest-running traditions,” says Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “It energizes your entire neighborhood to see college students, alumni, college, workers—and even these dwelling locally round DU’s campus—come out in full drive to take part in Homecoming’s many enjoyable occasions and share their DU pleasure.”
DU’s signature Homecoming occasion, HocktoberFEST, hosted greater than 1,200 folks on Saturday afternoon on the Campus Inexperienced, positioned outdoors the Group Commons. There, individuals realized about dozens of campus organizations and loved music, actions for adults and youngsters, meals vans and a beer backyard that includes some alumni-owned companies. The occasion led as much as DU males’s hockey internet hosting Windfall in Magness Enviornment.
“This yr’s Homecoming was a celebration like no different on the College of Denver with great turnout,” says Val Otten, senior vice chancellor for Development. “Our alumni and associates had been excited to take part in all of the festivities and cheer on our championship hockey group, and we had been thrilled to welcome the DU neighborhood again to campus for a memorable weekend collectively.”
DU followers packed Magness to observe the No. 4-ranked Pioneers defeat the No. 11-ranked Friars 4-1 on Friday evening after which 3-2 on Saturday. Earlier than the Saturday sport, DU capped its celebration of final season’s nationwide championship by elevating the ninth hockey championship banner to the rafters of Magness Enviornment.
“For a lot of establishments this by no means occurs, however for us it’s occurred 9 occasions. To honor that achievement with all that goes into making it a actuality, it’s simply extremely particular,” says Josh Berlo, vice chancellor for Athletics and Ritchie Middle Operations. “The scholar-athletes are very a lot conscious of the [Homecoming celebrations] occurring on campus. Groups do rather well once they really feel the entire College neighborhood is rallying round their occasions.”
Along with watching the Pioneers on the ice, followers had been capable of watch the ladies’s volleyball group defeat South Dakota State 3-0 in Hamilton Gymnasium and males’s soccer defeat Southern Indiana on Wednesday evening by a rating of 6-0.