KU concludes 104th Homecoming celebration

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas celebrated its 104th Homecoming Oct. 16-22. The annual event was organized by the KU Alumni Association and a student-led Homecoming steering committee, which was directed by Katie Gerard, a Hanover senior in supply chain management. She worked with Alumni Association adviser Jacey Krehbiel, assistant director of alumni programs. Homecoming sponsors were Crown Automotive, Coca Cola and Kansas Athletics.

The theme for this year’s event was “Rock Chalk Super Hawk.” Students and alumni participated in several activities throughout the week, including competitions, community service opportunities and reunions. Members of the KU and Lawrence communities collected more than a ton of nonperishable food items for Just Food of Douglas County during the Stuff the Bus competition. They also donated more than 1,000 books for the Lawrence for Literacy Children’s Book Drive, which was sponsored by the Homecoming steering committee and the United Way of Douglas County.

The Homecoming parade was Oct. 21 on Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence and featured Bob Davis, the former play-by-play voice of Kansas Jayhawk football and men’s basketball, and 2016 Olympic gold medalist and former KU track and field sprinter Kyle Clemons as grand marshals. A pep rally at Eighth and New Hampshire streets followed the parade. The weeklong celebration culminated with a KU football game against Oklahoma State University Saturday, Oct. 22, in Memorial Stadium.

The 2016 Homecoming event and award winners:

ExCEL Awards

Jordan Hildenbrand, a senior from Blue Springs, Missouri, majoring in chemical engineering

Abdoulie Njai, a senior from Wichita majoring in human biology

Jennifer Alderdice Homecoming Award

Sarah Pickert, a junior from Wichita majoring in visual communication in graphic design

Rich and Judy Billings Spirit of 1912 Award

Linda Ellis Sims, 1979 School of Engineering alumna from Independence, Missouri

Overall Winners

Greek Life

1st place: Alpha Delta Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Delta Lambda Phi

2nd place: Delta Delta Delta, Theta Chi, Alpha Kappa Lambda

3rd place: Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Beta Sigma Psi

Student Life

1st place: Omega Phi Alpha, Beta Upsilon Chi

2nd place: KU School of Engineering

3rd place: Student Union Activities, The Big Event, KJHK

For more information and a complete list of competition winners, visit homecoming.ku.edu.

About the KU Alumni Association

Through the support of members and donors, the KU Alumni Association advocates for the University of Kansas, communicates with Jayhawks in all media, recruits students and volunteers, serves the KU community and unites Jayhawks. For more information, visit kualumni.org.