Homecoming 2019 Witnesses Record Crowds at a Variety of Activities

Westminster College witnessed record crowds at Homecoming 2019, where students, visiting high schoolers and their families, alumni, faculty and staff came together as a community for a wide variety of festivities. View photos of the event here.

Activities began with a giant bonfire on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Wetterau Gym parking lot, complete with mechanical hog rides and a pretzel bar.

On Oct. 18, Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Katie Hoff gave an inspiring presentation at noon in Coulter Science Center. Her talk was a keynote address designed to celebrate 40 years of women on campus. Read more about Hoff’s “Relentless Leadership” speech here.

Other homecoming activities on Oct. 18 included a parade that began and ended on The Hill at Lamkin Drive with a pep rally, music and refreshments.

On Oct. 19, Enrollment Services hosted a Welcome to Westminster Event, where a number of high school students and their families spent time touring the campus and taking part in the homecoming festivities.

Kristina Bright, Director of Admissions Marketing and Communications, says feedback about the event was extremely positive. “Families really enjoyed their time at the visit, and the students learned a lot about the College.” Bright says. “The families I visited with were truly excited to be here and had a great time.”

Other Welcome to Westminster events are planned for Nov. 9, Feb. 17 and March 7.

Prospective students joined the Westminster community at the tailgate, which saw record numbers of at least 200 people and featured the Remastered Disaster band headed up by alumnus Eric Woytus, ’19 ΦΔΘ.

“It was fabulous to see alumni, prospective and current students enjoying a beautiful afternoon together,” says Sarah Munns, Director of Alumni Engagement.

Athletic Director Matt Mitchell, center, announced the 2019 Hall of Fame inductees. From left: Gary Schmidt, ’69; Andrew Jett, ’12; Former Tennis and Soccer Coach Jamie Vargas; Mitchell; Chris Marshall, ’03; Val Leppert, ’05; and Kent Mueller., ’62

Following the tailgate event, the Blue Jays football team played Martin Luther College of New Ulm, MN. A short ceremony during halftime celebrated the 2019 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees, and Yusuf Nuur, ’20, and Emily McCann, ’20 ΚΑΘ, were crowned Homecoming King and Queen 2019.

Unfortunately, the Blue Jays fell to Martin Luther, 24 to 14, but overall the score did not dampen the mood of the festivities.

Other events included a Blue Jays volleyball game and men’s and women’s soccer games against Blackburn College of Carlinville, IL, as well as an alumni football get-together at 1851 Underground Tap & Grill at 111 E. Fifth St. in Fulton.

Make plans to attend Homecoming Weekend 2020. For more information, contact alumni@westminster-mo.edu.