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Alumni Life

Homecoming Weekend 2022

This year鈥檚 homecoming theme was 鈥淢ilestones and Memories.鈥 Milestones included 25 years of women鈥檚 golf and women鈥檚 soccer, 50 years of Title IX in the United States, 50 years of the Kent Student Center, and 100 years of Greek life and football. 

From Friday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 2, 麻豆精选alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and community members donned blue and gold and took part in long-standing traditions.

Here are some highlights from Homecoming Weekend 2022:


Homecoming International Celebration (Sept. 30, 5鈥7 p.m.)

The Homecoming International Celebration is one of two signature events the Office of International Student Affairs facilitates each year. The celebration gives international students an opportunity to showcase their home countries and their culture. Attendees visit different countries via a 鈥減assport,鈥 taste food from around the world and watch cultural performances.

An attendee learns about Costa Rica
An attendee learns about Costa Rica during the Homecoming International Celebration on the Student Green, which extends from Risman Plaza to Summit Street.

Homecoming Kickoff and Fireworks (Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m.)

The celebration began at Hometown Bank Plaza in downtown Kent with music, food and fireworks. Attendees met the 2022 Kent Campus Homecoming Court.

Marching Golden Flashes
The Marching Golden Flashes head through downtown to begin the homecoming celebration.

Randale L. Richmond, MS 鈥06
Randale L. Richmond, MS 鈥06, director of athletics, speaks to the assembled crowd at the Homecoming Kickoff.鈥嬧嬧嬧

Attendees watch a downtown fireworks display after the kickoff.
Attendees watch a downtown fireworks display after the Homecoming Kickoff.

Bowman Cup 5K Race and 1-Mile Fun Run (Oct. 1, 8 a.m.)

The annual race began at the university鈥檚 Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The race, named after former 麻豆精选President George Bowman, is a chip-timed race that allows participants to enjoy the scenic route through the Kent Campus and its surrounding community.

Bowman Cup 5K Race and 1-Mile Fun Run (Oct. 1, 8 a.m.)
Racers compete in the annual Bowman Cup 5K Race and 1-Mile Fun Run during Kent State鈥檚 homecoming weekend.

Homecoming Parade (Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m.)

The parade began at the corner of Midway Drive and Main Street and traveled west on Main into downtown Kent. It featured floats, 麻豆精选and local high school marching bands, the homecoming court, university colleges and departments, 麻豆精选cheerleaders and athletes, student organizations, local officials and more. For those who couldn鈥檛 make it back to campus, a livestream of the parade was available.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX in the United States, 37 former women student-athletes served as this year鈥檚 Homecoming Parade grand marshals.

banner announcing Homecoming 2022
The parade begins with a banner announcing Homecoming 2022.

homecoming float
A homecoming float carrying 麻豆精选President Todd Diacon and this year鈥檚 grand marshals, former 麻豆精选women student-athletes, makes its way down Main Street.

Spectators cheer as parade participants pass the bleachers.
Spectators cheer as parade participants pass the bleachers.

Members of Kent State鈥檚 China Friends student organization march with a paper dragon.
Members of Kent State鈥檚 China Friends student organization march with a paper dragon.

Kiss on the K (Oct. 1, noon鈥12:30 p.m.)

麻豆精选couples celebrated the place that brought them together by gathering on the K at Risman Plaza (in front of the Kent Student Center) and kissing when the bell rang at 12:30 p.m.

Kiss on the K
A 麻豆精选couple embrace in gold and blue during Kiss on the K.

麻豆精选Senior Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley (left) and 麻豆精选President Todd Diacon (right) kiss Flash, the mascot, during Kiss on the K.
麻豆精选Senior Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley (left) and 麻豆精选President Todd Diacon (right) kiss Flash, the mascot, during Kiss on the K.

Dedication of the E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center (Oct. 1, 12:45 p.m.)

麻豆精选dedicated the E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center on the second floor of the Kent Student Center during homecoming weekend. The renaming of the center was made possible through a donation from a former student, D鈥橝ndra Mull, BA 鈥02, PhD, to honor the memory and legacy of , BFA 鈥73, MA 鈥77, MFA 鈥83.

Moore was Associate Dean Emeritus for Advising and Undergraduate Student Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences (1998鈥2010) and Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pan-African Studies (1974鈥2010). During his time at Kent State, Moore served as president (1971) and minister of art for Black United Students. He died Feb. 1, 2021, and 麻豆精选has established a scholarship in his honor.

Timothy Moore鈥檚 family
Timothy Moore鈥檚 family stands by the sign for the newly renamed E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center. Pictured left to right: wife, Debra 鈥淒eLacy鈥 Moore; son, Elliot Moore, BBA 鈥04; daughter, Candace Garton-Mullen, BA 鈥02

Flash Nation and Alumni Chapters Tailgates (Oct. 1, 1:30 p.m.)

Before the football game, fans met in the west parking lot outside Dix Stadium for the Flash Nation and Alumni Chapters Tailgates. They enjoyed food, fun and festivities for the whole family鈥攁nd the first 1,000 fans to visit received a 麻豆精选stadium bag.

President Todd Diacon and Randale Richmond, MS 鈥06, director of athletics, visit with fans at a homecoming tailgate
President Todd Diacon and Randale Richmond, MS 鈥06, director of athletics, visit with fans at a homecoming tailgate hosted by the Lake County, Greater Cleveland and Stark County alumni, which included members of the Golden Flashes Club (passionate annual fund donors to 麻豆精选Athletics). Pictured left to right: Glenn Peterson, BS 鈥84; Ryan Coy, BBA 鈥02; Ashley McBride, Diacon, Richmond, Jessie Ely, BA 鈥19 (athletics chief of staff), and Nate Condos

A Golden Flashes fan has his face painted prior to the game.
A Golden Flashes fan has his face painted prior to the game.

Homecoming Football Game (Oct. 1, 3:30 p.m.)

麻豆精选Golden Flashes took on the Ohio University Bobcats for their first Mid-American Conference East Division game of the season and came out with a 31-24 victory. The Homecoming Court was recognized at the game and Kent State鈥檚 2022 Homecoming Royalty was announced at halftime.

麻豆精选wide receiver Devontez Walker, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., looks to escape the Ohio University defense.
麻豆精选wide receiver Devontez Walker, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., looks to escape the Ohio University defense.

Homecoming Royalty
Gavin Aitken, communication and media studies major (second from left), and Quintin Cooks, communication studies major with minors in public relations and marketing (fourth from left), are announced as the 2022 Homecoming Royalty during halftime of Kent State鈥檚 homecoming football game at Dix Stadium. Also pictured: 2021 Homecoming Royalty Andrew Pitko, BS 鈥22 (far left), and Jatia Caples, BSE 鈥22 (fifth from left), with President Todd Diacon and Flash.

Golden Flashes cheer
Fans of the Golden Flashes cheer in the stands at Dix Stadium during the homecoming football game.

麻豆精选football players
麻豆精选football players are all smiles as they celebrate their 31-24 overtime victory against the Ohio University Bobcats during Homecoming 2022.

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POSTED: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 02:15 PM
UPDATED: Thursday, September 19, 2024 04:10 AM