W&M homecoming has something for all

Homecoming A member of the College's pep band plays during last year's homecoming game. This year's homecoming will offer something for everyone, including the second annual Saturday Night Bash -- the crown jewel event of Homecoming Weekend 2008. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Homecoming The Tribe football team runs onto the field during last year's homecoming game. This year, the Tribe will take on Rhode Island during homecoming weekend. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Homecoming Laurent Kardatzke ('60) and his wife Anita enjoyed spending time during last year's homecoming weekend talking with his old football buddies. Like Laurent, hundreds of other William and Mary alumni take advantage of homecoming weekend to meet with old classmates and reminisce. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Homecoming Karen Cottrell, executive vice president of the Alumni Association, enjoys time with Tatia Granger, William and Mary ombudsperson, and her daughter Rheis during last year's homecoming weekend. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Homecoming William and Mary's pep band and cheerleaders get the crowd pumped up during last year's homecoming game. The first homecoming football game was played against George Washington University and the Tribe was victorious, winning 14-0 at old Cary Field. Since that first homecoming, the alumni ranks have grown to over 82,000 living alumni and the College has become one of the world's leading public universities and among the best universities in the United States. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Homecoming After last year's incredible success, all alumni from the College of William and Mary are invited to participate in the second annual Saturday Night Bash -- the crown jewel event of Homecoming Weekend 2008. Photo courtesy of the Alumni Association

by Eric Pesola | October 22, 2008

After last year's incredible success, all alumni from the College of William and Mary are invited to participate in the second annual Saturday Night Bash—the crown jewel event of Homecoming Weekend 2008.

This weekend, alumni from around the globe will make their annual pilgrimage back to their alma mater to celebrate and reconnect with their classmates, and get to know their College all over again with events like the annual Homecoming parade, the Homecoming football game—which pits the Tribe against Rhode Island—and much more.

Among those returning from abroad to attend Homecoming and reunion events this weekend is Harshad Daswani, a 1998 graduate, who lives and works in India. If you see Daswani, you might want to ask him how he enjoyed his 11,000-mile journey from Bombay to the College, a place so different from where he lives, but so dear to his heart.

"The classroom experiences gave me the skills I needed to develop myself and my business so that is foremost," says Daswani. "But I miss the people. I am in touch with a large number of professors and friends that I made there.

"I miss the 'silent moments' after a hard study session or a group meeting that ended late, I would like to sit by the Sunken Garden or perhaps near Swem and Barksdale and let the day sink in. I miss Lake Matoaka and the U.C.'s mozzarella sticks—which I ate too much of."

Since the first Homecoming on Oct. 23, 1926, the Alumni Association has hosted the annual reunion for generations of W&M alumni, family and friends. The first Homecoming football game was played against George Washington University and the Tribe was victorious, winning 14-0 at old Cary Field. Since that first Homecoming, the alumni ranks have grown to over 82,000 living alumni and the College has become one of the world's leading public universities and among the best universities in the United States.

The Alumni Association expects thousands of alumni, students, faculty, administrators, parents and friends of the College to participate in this year's 82nd anniversary celebration of Homecoming at William and Mary.