Homecoming on the horizon
In less than a month, Lee University will be hosting one of its biggest events of the year: Homecoming. Many students have witnessed it: the bright yellow umbrellas, the extra traffic, the faces that are foreign to them, yet familiar to the school grounds.
But what exactly is the deal behind Homecoming?
“It’s kind of like the Super Bowl for our department,” said Carman Lastoria, who recently became Director of Donor and Alumni Relations in 2024 and 2025, respectively. “It’s our biggest event of the year, and it’s just wonderful to reconnect with our alumni and invite them to partner with us in building the future for Lee.”
At its heart, Homecoming is a way to honor all stages of life.
“It’s a time to honor the past, to celebrate the present, to dream big for the future,” said Lastoria.
Such an intricate weekend requires careful planning and execution to make sure everything runs smoothly.
“It’s certainly a team effort, a campus-wide effort,” said Lastoria. “We want every event to be done with excellence, with great pride.”
The detail and dedication of Homecoming is not just for alumni to enjoy, however.
“There’s really nothing other than the reunions that are not available to students,” said Kevin Hudson, who has been Director of Campus Recreation since 1995.
In fact, students are encouraged to attend as many events as they’re able.
“We want current students to participate in every aspect of Homecoming,” said President Cook. “We can’t have Homecoming without our current students.”
With such a wide variety of events, students are sure to find something they’d enjoy participating in.
“Homecoing encompasses all of the great aspects of our university,” said Lastoria. “There’s something for everybody over the course of the weekend.”
This year, some major events include an Open House for the new Engineering building, the Traditions of Lee Music Showcase, and of course, the Night of Champions.
The Engineering building’s Open House will officially kick off Homecoming, where alumni and students alike will get the opportunity to appreciate all the effort and dedication that has gone into making the building a reality.
“They can get a guided tour with engineering students and faculty there,” said Lastoria.
“The dedication of the engineering building is going to be a significant moment,” said Hudson. “We’re going to try to have as much student involvement in that as we possibly can, from the service down to the human wall going down to the engineering building and the reception afterwards.”
One of the largest events of the weekend, the Traditions of Lee Music Showcase, represents a longstanding Homecoming tradition that continues to captivate students and alumni alike.
“The Traditions of Lee Music Showcase is always really big,” said Hudson. “Tthere’s a lot of student involvement in that with all the choirs and ensembles.”
“Our Traditions of Lee Music Showcase on Friday night will feature our festival choir: over 250 students will be on stage in the Conn Center singing as a part of that event,” said Lastoria. “That will make for a really, really incredible night.”
The Night of Champions boxing match is perhaps one of Lee’s most unique Homecoming events, and one of its most recent. In its short timespan, however, it has already left its mark.
“The Night of Champions is kind of a unique thing that we do here at Lee that I think our alumni really enjoyed last year, and they’ll enjoy again this year,” said Lastoria. “I think a lot of our alumni really enjoyed coming out and supporting the students that were doing the work in the ring, the students that were boxing.”
The boxing match this year will stand out even more than the last, with brand new exciting elements.
“The boxing event is also going to have some additional elements to it this time around,” Hudson said. “We’ll have some extra tech pieces available to us that we don’t normally have.”
Beyond simply enjoying them, students are also encouraged to approach Homecoming events as a unique way to connect with alumni.
“It’s the best time of the year for our alums to see and meet our current students, so every event is better when current students are there,” said President Cook. “The conversations with alumni are better when current students are there.”
The Clubs and Organizations Booths, for example, provide a great general way for students to connect with alumni.
“That’s where all the booths, club booths, and organizations will be set up… that’s kind of a great central spot.”
Students can also attend academic brunches to be able to connect with specific alumni in their desired field,” Lastoria said.
“I think it’s good for students to see alumni in their particular field and what they’re doing,” Hudson said. “I think that’s a great connection point.”
As Homecoming approaches, students shouldn’t take their involvement lightly.
“I hope that students understand that they have an impact on our alumni and visitors,” said Hudson. “I hope they know it makes a difference when they’re out [there] and they’re being who they are.”
Students and alumni alike can nurture their connections and expect growth and flourishing to result.
“That would be my hope, that our students recognize that there was a foundation that was laid to get us to where we are now as an institution, that our alumni would see our current students and take great pride in where Lee is at currently, and that together we would dream big for the future.”
Students can access the Homecoming schedule here, and register for events here.
Photos by Emma Sargent.
