Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2024 Brings 4,000 Back To Campus
October 22, 2024
By
Claire De Lisle M.B.A. ’21
In crisp fall weather under sunny blue skies, more than 4,000 members of the William & Mary community gathered Oct. 17-20 on our beautiful campus for this year’s Homecoming & Reunion Weekend. Events hosted by the W&M Alumni Association and university partners celebrated all that makes William & Mary distinctive, including the lifelong connections we forge with each other and alma mater.
See highlights from signature events below. Many departments and student groups across campus also held open houses, receptions and performances during the weekend. Additional photos and videos will be posted in the coming weeks.
Homecoming Parade
Green & Gold filled Richmond Road during the Homecoming Parade! More than 50 student and alumni groups participated with floats, performances and walking groups. Students competed for cash prizes from the W&M Alumni Association based on creativity, effort and school spirit. Parade judges included Bill Schermerhorn ’82, creative director for Colonial Williamsburg’s signature events and member of the W&M Alumni Association Board of Directors; Heather Deere, director of family engagement; and Andrew “AJ” Joseph ’21, WMSURE program coordinator.
This year’s winners were Griffin Bhangra for best performing group, Classics Club for best walking group and the W&M Choir for best float. The Olde Guarde also received a prize as the best alumni group.
Homecoming Grand Marshal Cord Jefferson ’04, award-winning writer and director, led the parade. In 2023, Jefferson made his directorial debut with the film “American Fiction,” which won him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He has also written for TV shows such as “Master of None,” “The Good Place,” “Station Eleven” and “Watchmen,” for which he won an Emmy Award in 2020.
Football Game
The Tribe defeated the Campbell Camels 35-28 in Zable Stadium to the cheers of thousands of Tribe fans. Quarterback Darius Wilson ’25 threw two touchdown passes and running backs Malachi Imoh ’25 and Bronson Yoder ’25 both topped 100 yards and rushed for touchdowns. Read more about the game from W&M Athletics.
Before the game, Cmdr. Ian Kemp ’03 flew over Zable Stadium in a Navy jet in celebration of the new Naval ROTC program at William & Mary. Kemp is the commanding officer of the VFA-192 Golden Dragons, an F/A-18 Super Hornet Squadron based in Lemoore, California. Later in the game, he and his family came out onto midfield for a warm Tribe welcome.
During halftime, Cord Jefferson ’04 joined President Katherine A. Rowe and Tina Kenny ’92, P ’24, P ’27, president of the W&M Alumni Association Board of Directors, to receive the Grand Marshal Award. Class ambassadors from the reunion classes of 1979 through 2019 were also recognized on the field during halftime for their volunteer leadership and for raising over $30 million for William & Mary this year. Alumni from the fraternity and sorority community raised over $58.3 million this year, and Theta Delta Chi and Chi Omega were honored as the winners of the Fraternity and Sorority Alumni Challenge.
Tailgates & Reunion Class Pictures
Before the game, the Dimeslots (founded by members of the Class of 1983) performed in the main tent while alumni, family, friends, students, faculty and staff enjoyed lunch from local food trucks and enjoyed the sunny fall weather in the Sunken Garden. Alumni in reunion years took class photos, which will be available for download.
Batten Celebration
Alumni, donors and other guests celebrated the $100 million landmark gift from Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19 to establish the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences at VIMS. The event was fully immersive, with a stunning 30-foot screen and individual projection domes at each table, showcasing how William & Mary is positioned to forge a future of resilience — safeguarding lives, economies and our most vulnerable coastal communities.
In her remarks, Batten stressed that global change is the greatest challenge of our generation and that everyone needs to be invested in finding solutions.
“It’s no longer just about preserving the environment. It’s about survival,” she said. “The Batten family is proud to be part of this global movement, but we cannot do it alone. I ask each of you to reflect on what role you can play — whether through your time, your resources or your influence — to support the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences and its quest for science-based solutions, here in Virginia and around the world.”
Scholarships Luncheon
The Scholarships Luncheon highlighted the research of Batten School Ph.D. student Grace Molino and alumna Grace M. Dho ’23, whose William & Mary experience was made possible from scholarships. This annual event brings together scholarship donors with student recipients to celebrate the impact of philanthropy at the university.
“Scholarships ensure that W&M can bring together great hearts and minds from all around the world to solve our planet’s most pressing challenges,” said Rowe.
“Our graduates — the students you are investing in — will illuminate a path forward for coastal communities in Virginia, across our nation and around the globe.”
Sunset Ceremony
This time of reunion was tempered with sadness as the community mourned the unexpected death of a student as the weekend began. At the Sunset Ceremony, the university community honored the 400 alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the university who had passed away since last year’s Homecoming. President Katherine A. Rowe and the Rev. Lisa Green ’83, P ’10 were among those who provided remarks, and the ceremony included selections performed by the W&M Choir, the lighting of candles and the ringing of the Wren Bell. A recording of the ceremony will be available on the Sunset Ceremony webpage after Nov. 1.
Student Talkback With Cord Jefferson ’04
Cord Jefferson ’04 met with students and alumni in the classes of 2021-2024 to answer their questions before a screening of his Academy Award-winning film “American Fiction.” The discussion was moderated by William Henderson ’26 and was a collaboration between Students for University Advancement, Student Assembly and AMP.
Gates Hall Groundbreaking
The ceremonial groundbreaking for Robert M. Gates Hall took place at the building previously known as Brown Hall. This is the first academic building in the nation named in honor of Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98, who is the current university chancellor and served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2006-2011. The renovated space will house the Global Research Institute, Institute for Integrative Conservation and Whole of Government Center of Excellence.
“Whatever roles I have been privileged to play in the life of our country, the roots are here, at William & Mary,” said Gates. “This new building, and those who work and study and learn and collaborate here, will provide current and future generations of William & Mary students a place to continue this university’s centuries-long leadership in searching for solutions to the significant problems of our country and our world.”
In her remarks, President Katherine A. Rowe thanked the anonymous alumna for her $30 million gift to make the project possible. She also discussed how Gates Hall will help illuminate the history of the Bray School, which was originally located on that site, and will expand W&M’s reach through interdisciplinary innovation.
Mosaic Receptions
The W&M Alumni Association’s Mosaic groups — the Hulon Willis Association (alumni of Black or African descent); Crim Dell Association: William & Mary LGTBQ+ Alumni, Familia (Latino/a/e) and APIM (Asian-Pacific Islander-Middle Eastern) Association — held a reception in the Alumni House for alumni, students and friends. Before the reception, a special event celebrated the renaming of the Latinx Alumni Association to Familia.
Mosaic also held a tailgate on the Kaplan Arena Lawn before the football game on Saturday, and HWA concluded the weekend with a brunch on Sunday. Other W&M Alumni Association groups to hold special events included the Association of 1775, which hosted the annual W&M Military & Veterans Breakfast, and the Order of the White Jacket, which held its annual membership meeting and scholarships reception.
Friday Night Fest
This year’s Friday Night Fest featured bourbon and oyster tastings, as well as hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, and music from the Wham Bam Little Band, a student-run jazz band. Michael Crowder ’88, chemistry professor at Miami University and bourbon aficionado, shared his expertise about the science behind this beloved beverage.
Presidential Conversation
In this year’s Presidential Conversation, President Katherine A. Rowe and Cord Jefferson ’04 explored how entrepreneurial thinking — including creativity and openness to risk — can play a key role in arts careers. Jefferson discussed his journey from William & Mary to the entertainment industry and how he says connected to W&M.
“One of the things that William & Mary does is it builds strong relationships. There’s people I haven’t seen in 20 years that, it’s just like riding a bicycle. It’s a wonderful, extraordinary thing that I’ve made friends here that are going to stay for the rest of my life,” Jefferson said.
Read more in an article from W&M News. A recording of the event will be available on the Presidential Conversation webpage after Nov. 1.
Class Reunions
Alumni celebrated their 5th through 45th reunions in and around the Sunken Garden with food, drinks and music from their class year. The Young Guarde (Classes of 2015-2024) also enjoyed a Saturday evening reception, following a special party for the most recent graduates.
The Olde Guarde (alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more) reunited the previous day at a Friday brunch featuring special guest Kathleen I. Powell, William & Mary’s chief career officer. The Class of 1969 and the Class of 1964 also celebrated their reunions with receptions and class photos (50th reunions are celebrated during Traditions Weekend in spring).
Law School Alumni Reunion
This year, William & Mary Law School joined in the fun and excitement of the weekend. Coinciding with Homecoming for the first time, Alumni Weekend welcomed more than 270 J.D. alumni back to celebrate reunion milestones, as they reconnected, reminisced and made new memories at William & Mary.
Saturday Night Bash
After a big football win and reunion celebrations, alumni and friends capped off the weekend with the Saturday Night Bash. The nine-piece party band Infusion kept the dancing going late into the night.
Cheers to Your Senior Year
On Sunday, Homecoming came to a close with a special event for the Class of 2025, hosted by the W&M Alumni Association. More than 800 graduating seniors gathered in the Sunken Garden for brunch and to learn more about staying connected with William & Mary as alumni — their first taste of many exciting Homecomings to come.
Find more Homecoming memories on Instagram at @WMAlumni and #wmHomecoming.