Week of activities for KU Homecoming begins Oct. 14

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas will host its 112th Homecoming, sponsored by Central Bank, Oct. 14-20, culminating in the KU football game against Houston on Oct. 19 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Jayhawks Through the Eras,” welcoming Jayhawks of all generations back to KU for this proud tradition.

The full 2024 schedule of activities can be found on the KU Alumni Association’s Homecoming website. Events include:

Oct. 14, 8 a.m.: Homecoming banners displayed by student organizations throughout the Lawrence campus, including the Jayhawk Welcome Center and Kansas Memorial Union.

Oct. 16, 11 a.m.: Chalk N’ Rock on Wescoe Beach, where student organizations will chalk up to celebrate this year’s Homecoming theme.

Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m.: Kansas Volleyball vs. Kansas State at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

Oct. 17, 10 p.m.: Late Night at the Lanes at Royal Crest Lanes, 933 Iowa St. Enjoy a night of glow-in-the-dark bowling, free for students and alumni.

Oct. 18, 4 p.m.: KU Alumni Welcome at the Jayhawk Welcome Center, where all KU alumni and their families are welcome to stop by for free food, drinks, games, giveaways and more.

Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m.: Homecoming Happy Hour at the Hawks Nest in the Kansas Union, where KU alumni and community members can visit the Kansas Union’s very own bar.

Oct 18, 5:30 p.m.: KU Black Alumni Network’s Homecoming Networking Mixer in Kansas City, where alumni can mingle and create new connections.

Oct. 18, 6 p.m.: Late Night in the Phog featuring Lil John at Allen Fieldhouse.

Oct. 18, 6:10 p.m.: KU School of Law Reunion at the Oread Hotel, 1200 Oread Ave., for the classes of 1979, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2014.

Oct. 19, 2:30 p.m.: Kansas Football vs. Houston at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, where the Homecoming Award winners will be announced.

During the Oct. 19 football game, KU will announce the winners of the 2024 Konica Minolta Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Award and the Jennifer Alderdice Homecoming Award. Nominees for the ExCEL Award were selected based on their leadership, communication skills, involvement at KU and in the Lawrence community, academic scholarship, and ability to work with a variety of students and organizations. The Jennifer Alderdice Homecoming Award recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding loyalty and dedication to the university.

The selection committee included representatives from the KU Alumni Association, Kansas Memorial Union/Union Programs, Center for Service Learning, the Homecoming Steering Committee and KU alumni volunteers. Fourteen student finalists have been selected from the pool of applicants for this year’s awards:

Excellence in Community, Education, & Leadership (ExCEL) Award Finalists

• Aarush Sehgal, a senior in molecular, cellular & developmental biology from Chandigarh, India.
• Anna Cashatt, a senior in political science and communication studies from Kansas City, Missouri.
• Bailey Oxborrow, a junior in sport management with a minor in business from Reno, Nevada.
• Cooper Curtin, a senior in finance with a minor in Spanish and certificate in entrepreneurship from Centennial, Colorado.
• Donna Kraja, a junior in accounting and international business from Bar, Montenegro.
• Emma Saville, a senior in multimedia journalism with a minor in photography from Mulvane.
• Kayja Bruno, a senior in microbiology with a minor in psychology from Cleveland, Ohio
• Rita Pham, a senior in political science and East Asian languages & cultures from Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Jennifer Alderdice Award Finalists

• Ariana Siddique, a junior in molecular, cellular & developmental biology with a minor in Spanish from Overland Park.
• Eden Westfahl, a senior in political science and sociology from Manhattan.
• Hailey Meggers, a senior in biochemistry with a minor in business from Hutchinson.
• Laia Hernandez, a junior in biochemistry from Barcelona, Spain.
• Maryann Melendrez Cuadros, a junior in chemical engineering with a minor in biomedical engineering from Arequipa, Peru.
• Shayna Weinstein, a junior in computer engineering from Vernon Hills, Illinois.

Homecoming T-Shirt

Each year, the KU Alumni Association and KU Bookstore partner to create a T-shirt that represents the Homecoming theme. To learn more about the 2024 Homecoming T-Shirt, visit the bookstore’s website.

This year’s Homecoming celebration is sponsored by Central Bank, with presenting partners Konica Minolta, KU Bookstore, Pepsi Zero Sugar and The University of Kansas Health System. Additional support comes from Active & Fit Direct, Jostens, Wendy’s, the Jayhawk License Plate program and Flying Jayhawks.

The Alumni Association will continue to update its Homecoming website as more information on the week’s activities becomes available.

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 the KU Alumni Association website.