Elizabethtown College welcomed students, employees, alumni, families, and friends to campus for the 2023 Homecoming and Family Weekend celebration. Despite the rainy weather, Blue Jays enjoyed this beloved annual tradition, taking full advantage of all the fun events on campus and connecting across the three-day celebratory weekend on Oct. 13 through 15.
“It was wonderful having Blue Jays back on campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend,” Elizabethtown College Director of Alumni Relations, Evan Birch said. “It is a great opportunity for alumni to reconnect with classmates and friends while enjoying all of the cherished traditions and activities that Etown has to offer.”
Highlights from the weekend included:
Homecoming Bingo
A staple at Etown and a beloved student tradition, Blue Jays of all ages gathered in the Bowers Center Fieldhouse on Friday evening to try their luck at winning great prizes during Homecoming Bingo. View photos.
28th Annual Homecoming Float Contest and Student Performance Showcase
With the inclement weather, this year’s in-person Homecoming Parade did not take place in its traditional format for the safety of our student participants and performers.
Instead, floats were showcased and our talented students performed from the Elizabethtown Fairgrounds, while students, employees, alumni, families, and friends showed their support by tuning into the livestream broadcast – courtesy of the College’s TV station, ECTV-40’s student-run broadcast.
Alumni Jerica Shuck ’18 and Anthony Carter ’19 served as Parade Announcers for the livestream.
Best representing this year’s theme of Fairy Tales was the Elizabethtown College Class of 2025 with their winning float, “Jack and the Bird’s Nest,” which was awarded the title from a team of Etown Parade Float Judges that included Associate Professor of Marketing Bryan Greenberg, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Darcey Mills, Title IX Coordinator Gabrielle Reed, and Chaplain and Director of Religious Life, Amy Shorner-Johnson.
Etown’s Homecoming Court featured senior class winners Nic DeMarco ’24 and Bailey Groff ’24. Also appearing on the Court were fellow representatives from the senior class: Maddi Eisenhart ’24, Jackson Lager ’24, Evan Vaughn ’24, and Jesse Piergallini ’24. Juniors included Nick Wiley ’25 and Bryce Hilton ’25, while the sophomore class was represented by Laney Humble ’26 and Alision Carneal ’26, and the first-year class featured Ella Kocher ’27 and Shannon O’Donnell ’27. View photos.
19th Annual Alumni Oktoberfest Party
Featuring famously delicious food, a variety of beverage options, memorable alumni class reunions celebrating class years ending in “3” and “8”, and legendary live music, this year’s Oktoberfest Party was once again a must-attend event for alumni of all ages as more than gathered on Brinser Field. View photos.
Homecoming Fair & Concert starring D-BO!
Etown students and local artisans sold food, t-shirts, arts, knick-knacks, collectibles, and crafts in Thompson Gym on Saturday afternoon while world-renowned musical artist Delonne “D-Bo!” Wilbourn and his band created a one-of-a-kind experience for Homecoming Fair attendees with award-winning original music and cover songs across multiple genres. View photos.
Fall Choral Showcase
On Saturday afternoon, Etown’s talented Concert Choir, Fenice, and the College Community Chorus ensembles performed at the annual Fall Choral Showcase Homecoming Concert in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. View photos.
Alumnus Bhim Thapaliya ’15
12th Annual Homecoming M.V.P. Spectacular
Etown’s student a capella groups Melica, Vocalign, and Phalanx (MVP) harmonized and delighted attendees of the 12th annual Homecoming M.V.P. Spectacular show in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. The event also featured alumni announcers and the conferral of the 2023 Distinguished Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award to alumnus Bhim Thapaliya ’15. View photos.
Athletics Competitions
Three Blue Jay varsity athletics teams competed at home over Homecoming and Family Weekend. Women’s Volleyball started off the action with a 3-2 victory over Catholic on Friday evening in Thompson Gym, while Saturday’s competition saw the Men’sSsoccer team shut out Wilkes by a 3-0 score, followed by Women’s Soccer drawing with Wilkies by a 1-1 tally. Read more about last weekend’s competitions at etownbluejays.com.