By Joice M. Dunn
The week of Homecoming is upon us and you can feel the excitement in the air as current and former students fill the campus eager to attend all the fun festivities. Homecoming has always been one of the main attractions at the school since football began at Grambling around 1926.
Even with its many name changes, from Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute to Grambling College to Grambling State University, the spirit of Homecoming week has never changed. As in the past, there are plenty of activities planned for this year’s Homecoming and students as well as alumni can’t wait for what’s in store.
“I am beyond excited to celebrate this year’s Homecoming. While the entire week is filled with spirit and tradition, I am especially looking forward to the tailgate and the big Homecoming game,” according to Sarah Sarfowaah, freshman student-parent from Ghana, Africa. She is a nursing student.
“This year the event feels even more special for me, as it is my first Homecoming serving as Miss FCS. Holding this position makes the experience more rewarding and meaningful, and I am proud to represent our school during such an important tradition. I can’t wait to celebrate alongside everyone and make this Homecoming one to remember. Said Kayla Martin, Miss FCS.
“Last year, as a transfer student, Homecoming felt pretty new and unfamiliar to me. I was still adjusting to the campus environment and didn’t really know many people, so I mainly just observed and tried to take everything in,” said Stefon Jackson, graduate student.
This year, although he’s still not super involved in the events, Jackson does feel a lot more comfortable on campus than before. He believes he has a better sense of how things work and feel more settled overall, although he’s not participating as much. It’s definitely a different experience just being more familiar with everything.
“When I’m at homecoming, I feel a warmth in being surrounded by people who matter. The experiences I have there turn into memories that stay close to my heart,” explained Jackson.
“We are happy each year at Homecoming because we get to interact with alumni from around the country, especially those in our majors,” said a pair of graduate students.
“We would like to welcome home all alumni! Please plan to stop by the national office located on R.W.E. Jones Drive. We welcome all to become part of the alumni association ($70/yr). www.gunaa.org and we would love to see you this weekend,” said Dr. Tammy Richardson, National Alumni President (gunaapresident@gmail.com). Richardson is a Dec. 1991College of Business graduate.
Among other planned alumni activities, the University Advancement and Innovation will present “Beyond Breakfast: The Final Quarter,” an event designed for alumni following the game at 9 p.m. in the McCall Dining Hall.
Dr. Suzanne Mayo-Theus contributed to this article.