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Student Perspective: Homecoming
By Erin Rogers '08
STAFF WRITER

As a member of the Alumnae Association Board’s Student Relations Committee, I find it particularly gratifying to hear fellow students and friends tell me how much they enjoyed Homecoming Weekend.

Almost as soon as classes had begun, our team of students—known as SRC—hit the ground running to ensure that this year’s Homecoming Weekend would be an even greater success than last year’s. As a committee, we are a small group of students who work towards enhancing and strengthening relations between alumnae and students. For us, Homecoming is a busy season.

Spirits were high during the Pink and Green Parties held at the SBC Farmhouse, home of Louise Sweicki Zingaro ‘80, Director of the Alumnae Association. Hosted by Linda DeVogt ‘86, President of the Alumnae Association, and SRC, these parties are held on two separate nights for the Pink Team’s sister classes of 2008 and 2010 and the Green Team’s sister classes of 2007 and 2009.

Not only do these parties serve as a fantastic way for the sister classes to get together, but they provide a place like home to gather with friends over some “fantastic food,” in the words of Brandon Ayers Agnew ‘08. She added, “It was a great way to meet classmates in a setting outside the classroom.”

The Alumnae Office even supplied the students with pink and green pins with the text, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!” Traditionally, the team whose color is most represented by both graduates and undergraduates at Homecoming wins a Pizza Party at the Farmhouse after Homecoming. This year, the Pink Team won for the second time.

With wonderful outcomes, all of the weekend’s publicized events were well-attended by students. Convocation and the traditional Founder’s Day ceremonies of Friday afternoon gave a splendid start to a weekend celebrating the achievements of Sweet Briar and its graduates.

This year students were able to delight in the extraordinary experience of attending Igor Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale, staged in the Murchison Lane Auditorium of the Babcock Fine Arts Center. The theatrical work featured faculty actors William Kershner, Loretta Wittman, and John Goulde, as well as faculty dancers Ella and Mark Magruder and student, Betty Skeen ‘07.

They were joined by a chamber ensemble conducted by Dean Jonathan Green. Every aspect of the performances—in music, dance, and spoken dialogue—were expressed with great vivacity and distinction.

The evening continued, following the performance as many students and alums gathered in Prothro Dining Hall for “Reflections”, an alumnae panel discussion focusing on the traditions and life of the campus in years past.

“I have to say that the traditions panel was one of my favorite parts of the weekend,” stated Katie Beth Ryan ‘08. “It was great to just relax in Prothro and laugh along with the alums as they told hilarious stories from their time at Sweet Briar.”

Another highlight of the weekend was the Boxed Lunch Picnic at the Boathouse and the Third Annual Engineering Program Cardboard Boat Regatta, which jointly drew a significant crowd on the banks of the Sweet Briar Lake.

One attendee, Caroline Chappell ‘09 said, “This year was different from last year’s regatta because we had an environmental team competing just for fun.” A member of the “environmental cheer squad”, Caroline noted that although the team’s boat, the SS Granola, was only made for fun, they were able to make it to the finish line without sinking. Additionally, she said, “It was also fun to dress up Dr. Alexander’s dog, Legend, as our mascot.” School spirit continued through Saturday afternoon and Sunday for the varsity and alumnae athletic games at the soccer and field hockey fields. Tennis player Michelle Raymond’`09 said, “I definitely enjoyed looking out into the crowd and seeing a vast array of pink and green. It was great having spectators from all classes, both past and present. It really boosted the morale of the students on the court and field.”

At one point during the Varsity Soccer Game on Saturday afternoon, a group of alumnae and students arranged themselves to form the number “87” for a colorful picture on the side of Babcock Athletic Field to celebrate 87% alumnae participation in the Capital Campaign.

The last event of Saturday’s schedule was, perhaps, the greatest highlight of Homecoming 2006. The evening was of great proportion and definitely exceeded the expectations of many.

Amanda Wisz ‘08 said, “I’ve never been to such a large-scale event. I really appreciated the fact that it was an event in which the students, alumnae, and faculty could take part.” It was an extraordinary experience to have such a large part of the Sweet Briar community in one place, for such an occasion.

Caroline Chappell ‘09, also an attendee, felt that the Gala was very extravagant and beautifully done. “You could really tell that every detail of the event was planned seamlessly. The food was delicious and the band was delightful—it got everyone up on their feet.”

Amanda Strickland ‘09, who works as a student assistant in the Alumnae Office said “I loved helping out because I was able to see things develop from start to finish. The weekend over all was just fantastic. I think everyone who participated worked really hard – which is why everything went so well.”

The weekend’s events concluded on Sunday with the Thanksgiving Chapel Service in the morning with President Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, and in the afternoon with the alumnae soccer and field hockey games.

Homecoming is one of the greatest opportunities Sweet Briar offers to enable students and alumnae to come together—to meet, to converse, to share ideas and make connections. Alumnae are able to find a renewed sense of what is to be a Sweet Briar College student today through the perspectives of current undergraduates. Students, in turn, have a chance to appreciate the ways in which one can continue to be an active member of the Sweet Briar community as a graduate.