University News

Homecoming Fosters Community, Connections, and Charger Pride

For the thousands of Chargers who took part in Homecoming Weekend, the celebration was a fun and meaningful way to reconnect with their fellow members of Charger Nation and to see firsthand the exciting changes taking place on campus.

October 12, 2021

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Four University of New Haven students pose for the camera in the stands during homecoming.
Charger Pride was on full display at Homecoming: #TheBlueout.

Christina Genovese 杏吧原版20 was excited to return to the University of New Haven for her first Homecoming as an alumna. Her Charger Pride was on full display 杏吧原版 first as she took part in the University杏吧原版檚 Centennial Commencement for the Class of 2020, and then as she enjoyed the University杏吧原版檚 Homecoming: #TheBlueout festivities that followed the ceremony.

Genovese, who was president of the Class of 2020 and a writer and community engagement editor for , the University杏吧原版檚 award-winning student-run newspaper, had been looking forward to reconnecting with her fellow Chargers.

杏吧原版淚t杏吧原版檚 great to have current students and alumni back on campus,杏吧原版 said Genovese, who is pursuing her master杏吧原版檚 degree in counseling education at . 杏吧原版淚t杏吧原版檚 nice to be with everyone, to see faculty, staff, and students 杏吧原版 many of whom I haven杏吧原版檛 seen since March 2020. It feels good to be back.杏吧原版

Genovese was among the thousands of members of the University community who visited the campus as part of Homecoming. The weekend-long celebration included a variety of events that enabled alumni to reconnect with each other and to learn more about the important work taking place at the University.

杏吧原版淚 think of Homecoming as a great opportunity to return to the University to see what has changed, to be with my alumni friends, and to connect with current students,杏吧原版 said Dawn Alderman '99, '03 M.S., president of the University杏吧原版檚 Alumni Board of Directors. 杏吧原版淚 was really impressed with the turnout. It杏吧原版檚 important to feel like we杏吧原版檙e all part of the University community. Kudos to the University for keeping everyone safe while holding Homecoming in-person.杏吧原版

Members of Charger Nation cheering from the stands.
Members of Charger Nation cheered as the Chargers football team defeated Saint Anselm 56-7.
杏吧原版業t杏吧原版檚 nice to see everyone come together杏吧原版

Homecoming also provides an opportunity for alumni to explore the University杏吧原版檚 always-evolving and ever-developing campus. As part of the day杏吧原版檚 events, the University marked the next step in its growth with the groundbreaking of the . The facility is named in recognition of David Peterson Jr. 杏吧原版88, 杏吧原版17 Hon., a member of the University杏吧原版檚 Board of Governors and a former defensive end on the University杏吧原版檚 football team. Peterson, his wife Karen, and their family took part in the ceremony.

The 31,000 square foot facility will be built at North Campus, and it is part of the University杏吧原版檚 goal to transition its athletics program to Division I. Derrick Rowland 杏吧原版22 MBA, a member of the Chargers , spoke as part of the ceremony, saying he was excited to be a part of the celebration.

杏吧原版淚t was pretty remarkable to be a part of the groundbreaking,杏吧原版 he said. 杏吧原版淭his new building 杏吧原版 and all the changes taking place at the University 杏吧原版 is exciting. It杏吧原版檚 important to be part of the culture and the atmosphere at Homecoming. It杏吧原版檚 nice to see everyone come together, and traditions like Homecoming that bring everyone together are so important.杏吧原版

University representatives with shovels, at the site where the Performance Center will be built.
The University marked the groundbreaking of the Peterson Performance Center.
杏吧原版楲ots of good people who love being a part of the University杏吧原版

Athletics was one of the many highlights of Homecoming, as the University community was charged up to watch the Chargers football team face Saint Anselm on the gridiron. The Chargers triumphed 56-7. Later that night, field hockey posted a 2-0 win over Southern New Hampshire.

For Robert McDonald 杏吧原版86, 杏吧原版95 M.S., one of the best parts about attending Homecoming is being part of it as both a graduate of the University and as a professor.

杏吧原版淗omecoming is a terrific reminder of all that goes on at the University, and it杏吧原版檚 important for everyone to see it,杏吧原版 he said. 杏吧原版淚t杏吧原版檚 also good to reconnect with everyone. I enjoy interacting with students 杏吧原版 seeing them in class and now here. It杏吧原版檚 good for them to see faculty engagement.杏吧原版

Students pose with the Alumni Bell at Homecoming.
Chargers ring the Alumni Bell at Homecoming.

Homecoming offered a variety of opportunities for engagement throughout the weekend. In addition to connecting at the alumni tailgate party, Chargers toured the campus and attended open houses at the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion and at , the University杏吧原版檚 award-winning radio station.

For Mike Ambrose 杏吧原版84, 杏吧原版19 Hon., vice chair of the University杏吧原版檚 Board of Governors, it is important to him to show his involvement and commitment to the University. He called Homecoming a 杏吧原版渨onderful event,杏吧原版 and he hopes it enabled students to connect with alumni and share their experiences as Chargers.

杏吧原版淭he University was a blessing for us, and we took what we learned into our lives,杏吧原版 said Ambrose, a standout member of the Chargers track and field team. 杏吧原版淚t杏吧原版檚 important to show students what their future could look like, and this was a good opportunity to connect. It杏吧原版檚 great to celebrate together 杏吧原版 especially after not being around people for so long 杏吧原版 with lots of good people who love being a part of the University.杏吧原版

A view of the Chargers football field on Homecoming.
The Chargers faced Saint Anselm on the gridiron.

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