West Virginia University, it’s students and alumni, and the Morgantown community continue to celebrate Homecoming Week 2022.
Thursday featured a blood drive with past Mountaineer mascots.
More than 20 former mascots returned to campus for the Mountaineer Mascot Reunion, a three-day celebration that has taken place every five years since 1992.
The former Mountaineers partnered with the American Red Cross to host the blood drive in the Nutting Gallery of the Erickson Alumni Center. Later in the evening, they participated in a fireside chat, also at the Erickson Alumni Center.
“Homecoming is an opportunity to bring alumni back to Morgantown and let them experience campus in a meaningful way and to create new moments and memories that will last a lifetime,” Kevin Berry, vice president for alumni relations, said in a press release. “We are really excited to continue to add to the Homecoming experience for all those who love WVU.”
Attendees have been reuniting through a combination of in-person and virtual events since Monday. Weekend events will kickoff with the annual Homecoming Parade at 6 p.m. today on High Street, featuring the recipients of the WVU Alumni Association Homecoming and Alumni Service awards.
The university will also name two students Homecoming Royalty during halftime at the noon football game against TCU Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Homecoming Court candidates are Raeanne Beckner, a senior dual journalism and multidisciplinary studies major from Bridgeport; Lillian Bischof, a senior dual chemical engineering and finance major from Wheeling; Sohan Daniel, a senior sport and exercise psychology major from Chantilly, Va.; Morgan Griffith, a graduate student in human resource management from Avon, Conn.; Amaya Jernigan, a senior biology major minoring in addiction studies from Waldorf, Md.; Paige McElroy, a senior advertising and public relations major from Miamisburg, Ohio; Lauren Moore, a graduate student in business data analytics from West Milford; Rylan Nemesh, a senior mining engineering major from Allentown, Pa.; Olivia Steeley, a senior nursing major from Greensburg, Pa.; and Raafay Uqaily, a senior biomedical engineering major from Morgantown.
Students voted for Homecoming Royalty Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Mountaineer Friday” offers food, games, music and a chance to meet some the Mountaineer coaches beginning at 11 a.m. today outside the downtown bookstore.
Alumni, friends and family are invited to stop by Woodburn Circle for homecoming photos from 4-5:30 p.m. today.
Since 1910, the WVU has welcomed alumni, students and community members to come together in the fall for festivities across campus. The tradition of Homecoming weekend started in 1921 and, since 1930, has been observed annually with the exceptions of 1932, 1934 and 2020. In 1932 and 1934, the Great Depression was taking place in the United States. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many football games took place in empty stands while fans watched at home.
