Homecoming at Springfield College is a busy weekend for students, faculty, student-athletes and alumni. For returning alumni, this weekend is full of opportunities to re-engage with the campus they once roamed. Whether they are returning Communications/Sports Journalism students or Athletic Training students, there is something for each alumnus who wants to come back to Alden Street. This upcoming weekend will include events such as the Alumni Awards Ceremony and Reception; the Annual Alumni vs. Students Rope Pull during halftime of the football game on Saturday; and the book launch by professor and author Marty Dobrow, all on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Springfield College’s alum, Maria Crawford ‘91 is now the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for the institution. Crawford has been in this position for 16 years, and it has provided her with many opportunities.
“It has been a wonderful opportunity to get to meet so many amazing alumni and students who then become our young alumni over the years,” Crawford said, “Of all the opportunities, I would say, is continuing to develop those relationships over the years, which has been very meaningful to me.”
This year’s homecoming weekend is anticipated to be a little busier than in years past.
Before officially kicking off the weekend, the Arts & Humanities Speaker Series Lecture will be held on Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Field House. This year, Springfield College is hosting Ruth E. Carter, a Springfield native and two-time Academy Award winner. Registrations and walk-ins are welcome at this event.
Crawford states that the celebration of 50 years of Athletic Training, which will be held at Fuller Arts on Friday, Oct.16, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is going to be a very important event, with a special program. This event will be led by Alumnus Tom Buckley ‘95 and Brian Pietrosimone ‘05, who will be lecturing on the lasting impacts of concussions and knee injuries, offering 4 continuing education units (CEUs) and breakout sessions led by the college’s Athletic Training faculty. This lecture will include special guests such as Charlie Redmond ’68, G’71; Mary Barnum, G’90; Barclay Dugger, G’96; Wayne Rodrigues, G’85; Jeanne O’Brien ’86, G’92; and Sue Guyer, DPE’03.
On the same day, workshops will be held by Guyer, DPE, who is the Dean of the School of Physical Education, Performance and Sport Leadership, along with faculty Kate Dadio and Brett Winston G’14, PhD’19. This event will be held in the Brown Cooper Health Sciences Center Lab, Athletic Training Lab and the Rehab Room.
Later, the Physician Assistant Studies 30th Anniversary Celebration will take place at the Brown Cooper Health Sciences Center. This is open to alumni, students, and faculty. Looking forward to the evening, there is the Class of 1965 mid-reunion off campus, then the President’s Reception in the Health Science building that recognizes the college’s leading donors with President Mary-Beth A. Cooper and other members of the Board of Trustees. The last event on Friday is the Homecoming kickoff on East Campus for the members of the Class of 1974.
The busiest day of Homecoming weekend is Saturday. On the 17, with athletic events, reunion planning, Homecoming Tailgates, Presidency Reception, Alumni Council Gathering, Leadership Donor Brunch, the YMCA Alumni Social, Women’s Basketball Gathering, Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Alumni Social, tours of the Health Sciences Center, the Book Launch by Marty Dobrow on his recently authored book: Original City, Original Sin: King, the Klan and the Fight for Civil Rights in St. Augustine, Florida and the Alumni Awards Ceremony and Reception in the Stitzer Welcome Center in Judd Gymnasia.
The last day of Alumni Weekend hosts only one event: the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Open for the institution’s alumni. Alumni, their families and friends can purchase tickets through the Basketball Hall of Fame.
For Crawford, each year of Homecoming weekend has gotten easier, but it comes with its challenges. With new events happening, which can always cause a bump in the road, “I would say overall, it does get a little easier having gone through it for a couple of years.”
On the other hand, the planning for this weekend is something that is no small weight for Crawford; “I will tell you, honestly, I was in the office all three days this past weekend, because there’s always a lot of details, and I have a lot in my head.” Planning a weekend like this revolves around the rewards program and athletic schedules. Planning also includes meetings with committees and subcommittees of the alumni council, campus partners meeting, which involves partners and facilities, public safety, harvest table, East Campus and those who work in the Richard B. Flynn Campus Union. Meaning that the days picked for this event were done intentionally.
With the events going on on Alden Street, the weather is an important factor to consider. Crawford is not only hoping for Springfield College alumni to enjoy themselves this weekend, but she’s hoping for a cold, sunny weekend rather than a rainy, dreary one.