Students and alumni gravitate to alma mater during Homecoming

Katie Hampton, Reporter|October 25, 2022

  • A Washburn cheerleader gets a lift while marching and celebrating. The cheer team performed many entertaining routines for attendees at the tailgate.

    photo by Tiana Smith

  • The dance team smiles brightly and performs a routine at the tailgate. They provided lots of entertainment along with the marching band, color guard and cheer team.

    photo by Tiana Smith

  • Mr. Ichabod leads a small parade before the football game. The dance team, cheer team, color guard and marching band performed for all tailgate attendees.

    photo by Tiana Smith

  • Members of Alpha Delta Levi Habiger, Ethan Matthias, Bryan Wyckoff and Westen Smith chat at their fraternity table during the tailgate. The event was full of many sororities and fraternities who also participated in activities.

    photo by Tiana Smith

  • Christian Challenge staff member Chloe Langworthy smiles at the camera while holding her daughter Charlotte Langworthy. People of all ages attended the tailgate to celebrate Homecoming and support the Washburn Ichabods.

    photo by Tiana Smith

  • Matthew Nyquist, assistant professor of mass media, plays a game of catch with his daughter Evie Nyquist. The tailgate had attendees of all ages with lots of families participating.

    photo by Tiana Smith

  • Issiah Thurman (left), sophomore in music education, and George Burdick (right), sophomore in political science and philosophy, talk while standing by the Washburn Hispanic American Leadership Organization’s sign on the Union lawn. Many organizations had creative signs lining the sidewalk at the tailgate.

    photo by Tiana Smith

  • Sigma Phi Epsilon members Drew Nelson (left) and Matt Kuglin (right) play a game of catch near the tailgate. There were plenty of activities to participate in including bean-bag toss, grilling and much more.

    photo by Tiana Smith

  • Freshman mass media major Eli McDaniel and freshmen psychology majors Carter Hiebert and Mayah Mumpower happily pose for a picture. Many friends attended the Homecoming tailgate to celebrate Washburn together.

    photo by Tiana Smith
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Washburn University celebrated Homecoming week Oct. 19-22. This year’s theme was “Out of this World” and the student body did not disappoint. Many organizations and students went above and beyond during the Homecoming events and tailgate.

Homecoming is one of the most exciting times on campus. It gives students and alumni a chance to celebrate Washburn for everything it has done for them. During the week of Homecoming, the university offers fun events for students to show off their team spirit and prepare to get rowdy during the football game Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.

Saturday started off with a parade that was directly followed by a tailgate. Many organizations participated in the tailgating festivities, while the Ichabod football players prepared for game day and the marching band practiced for their opening performance. There was music and laughter all day, from the beginning when clubs started setting up their tents until the end when the Ichabods took home the “W.”

“I was primarily tailgating with Delta Gamma, which I am a member of, and we came together to invite the alums because that’s what Homecoming is about and it was really cool to see friends old and new across organization and within our own,” said Chloe Chaffin, junior in English secondary education and political science. “It was the best tailgating experience I’ve ever had.”

Student organizations like Phi Delta Theta, Washburn Student Government Association, Alpha Delta, Leadership Institute, Kappa Sigma, Delta Gamma and many others participated in the tailgate by grilling out and playing cornhole with fellow students. One of the most popular aspects of the Homecoming tailgate is that all the organizations came together to show their Washburn pride and celebrate the school.

Shayden Hanes, president of WSGA and senior in international business and marketing, thoroughly enjoyed Homecoming and was pleased with the turnout.

“Homecoming went over really well this year. It’s really fun to come together as a student body and celebrate our love for Washburn,” Hanes said.

To end the day on a high note, the Washburn Ichabods won the football game against the University of Central Oklahoma with an astounding 37-9 final score. All Washburn lovers, old and new, were able to spend the week honoring their alma mater and relishing in its success.

Edited by Alijah McCracken, Glorianna Noland