Vulcan Fest

Grads and guests enjoy expanded Homecoming weekend

Skies were cloudy but smiles were bright as Cal U celebrated Homecoming 2018 and Vulcan Fest Weekend.

Organized in collaboration with the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, the expanded festivities brought alumni to The Meadows, one of the county’s tourism hot-spots, and introduced the University to newcomers who arrived for a weekend of Vulcans football, food and music.

On Friday night, a reception and house-rockin’ concert by Joe Grushecky ’71 marked the 135th anniversary of the Alumni Association.

On Saturday, alumni mingled over brunch at the Kara Alumni House. Along Third Street, kids tumbled in a bounce-house and skated on a portable roller rink. Then students and families gathered for the Homecoming parade, with “Decades”-themed floats, 13 high school bands, and longtime mathematics and computer science professor George Novak ’55 as grand marshal.

Next, the action moved to Roadman Park, where food trucks, tailgates and music created a festival atmosphere outside Adamson Stadium. After an afternoon of Vulcans football, country music fans enjoyed performances by local favorite Chris Higbee and Grammy Award winners Lonestar.

Amid the festivities, a group of softball alumni and their families, about 55 in all, gathered around a fire pit at Roadman Park.

“Most of us hadn’t been together for years,” says Keri Weaver ’97, who helped to organize the reunion. “But it’s like we never left. We pick up right where we left off.”

FLOAT AWARDS

1st - Welcome to Woodstock by Alpha Kappa Lambda, Delta Zeta
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2nd - Throwback to the '80s by Theta Xi, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Phi Alpha
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3rd - Back to the Future by Acacia, Alpha Sigma Alpha
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Spirit Award - Throwback to the '70s by FIJI, Alpha Sigma Tau


HIGH SCHOOL BAND AWARDS

1st - Ringgold High School
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2nd - Carmichaels High School
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3rd - Peters Township High School