“We’re all in this together” was a familiar refrain during 2020. It was also a sentiment shared by recipients of the College’s annual Alumni Impact Awards, one of the highlights of Homecoming weekend in October. The awards ceremony was recorded in advance and shown online on the Friday evening of the big weekend, which had a theme of “Homecoming @ Home” due to the pandemic. Other virtual Homecoming activities included a 5K run; an informative session on Scotch whiskey; an outdoor chapel service; “coffee chats” with current and emeriti faculty; a roundtable discussion about diversity and inclusion; and a “Best of Game Day” program with Fighting Scots football coaches. Homecoming court members included, from left, prince Mason Sanford, queen Abierre Minor and princess Miracle Sims.
As was the case with several campus traditions, an in-person Homecoming celebration took a one-year hiatus, but the big weekend returned Oct. 22-24 with all its usual trappings, including fireworks at the Friday night Spirit Shout (pictured), a Saturday morning parade down Broadway and a Fighting Scots football victory, part of their 8-2 season. Several award ceremonies were held, including Illinois State Sen. Mattie Hunter ’76 and Dr. Frederick Kaskel ’67 being inducted into the Hall of Achievement, the highest honor that Monmouth bestows upon its graduates.