Traditions, honors, athletic victories and of course, great food and fellowship are the backdrop against which Olivet Nazarene University’s Homecoming Weekend 2022 came to life. The campus was alive with energy and activities through more than 50 unique events organized by director of Alumni Relations, Erinn Proehl ’13/’19 MBA.
On Thursday evening, ONU Theatre premiered the production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, based on the novel by C.S. Lewis. Following tradition on Thursday evening, the Alumni Board served breakfast to the student body in Ludwig Center at the Throwback Thursday Student Pancake Feed.
During the Homecoming chapel service on Friday morning, Young Alumni Award recipients, Daley (Schimmelpfennig) Morera ’15 and Addison Newell ’15, were recognized and gave testimony to the role of faith in their professional careers.
In the latter half of the service, senior Maddi Reddy of Bourbonnais, Illinois, was crowned Homecoming Queen and senior Roman Schwarz of Kansas City, Missouri, was crowned King as part of the 67th annual coronation ceremony. Members of the Homecoming Court also included Ben Brown, Savanna Driskell, Elyse Eenigenburg, Brock Kant, Jude Morris, Claire Mountain, Hannah Perry and Noah Sears.
In the afternoon, the quad was full of students in purple & gold, enjoying food trucks and outdoor games. Following the women’s basketball game and the men’s team victory, the night concluded with the Taste of Olivet dessert reception in Chalfant Hall.
On Saturday, the classes of 2017, 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, 1992, 1987, 1982, 1977, 1972 and purple & gold grads (anyone who graduated prior to ’72) gathered in the morning to celebrate their undergraduate reunions.
The afternoon featured a tough loss for ONU football and a fantastic win from the men’s soccer team.
In the evening, many guests attended the School of Music Concert, featuring alumni soloists and a reunion concert of Orpheus Choir, led by Dr. Jeff Bell ’81. Throughout the weekend, there were multiple opportunities to take in a show at Strickler Planetarium and to see the fall play.
The weekend concluded on Sunday morning with the President’s Prayer Breakfast. Throughout the morning guests enjoyed the music of Proclamation Gospel Choir, directed by Dr. Marvin Jones.
During the breakfast, the Ministerial “O” Award recipient, Dr. Don Reddick ’79, and Lay ‘O’ Award recipients, Dr. Stephen Yoon ’99 and Joy (Mercer) Yoon ’99 gave testimonies of how Olivet shaped their respective careers.
To conclude the event, First Lady Tammy (Salyer) Chenoweth ’89 gave a prayer of thanksgiving.
For more information on campus events, visit Olivet.edu/events.
Published 11/08/2022
LB
