The following story originally appeared as an online exclusive for the W&M Alumni Magazine. – Ed.
In 1926, William & Mary held its first “Home Coming Day,” as coined by the university’s alumni office. A century later, more than 4,200 alumni and friends returned to Williamsburg to celebrate one of the William & Mary community’s favorite traditions: Homecoming & Reunion Weekend. Alumni, students and friends enjoyed the full slate of events, with the gorgeous fall weather as the ideal backdrop.
Members of reunion classes reconnected with old friends, families flocked to the parade and thousands of football fans packed Zable Stadium for the Tribe’s Homecoming game. By the time festivities wrapped up with the Saturday Night Bash, the William & Mary Alumni Association and campus partners had hosted more than 100 lively events, reminding W&M alumni that there’s no place like Williamsburg. See highlights from select events below and check out additional photos — including each reunion class photo — at homecoming.wm.edu/photos.
Celebrating 100 Years of William & Mary Theatre
Homecoming wasn’t the only William & Mary centennial to celebrate. Thursday night, 400 alumni, students, staff and faculty of all generations registered to come together in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall to mark 100 years of W&M Theatre. At the event planned by Kay Rouse Lark ’76, Professor Emerita of Theatre Tric Wesp ’76 and others, current students and theatre alumni performed beloved musical selections throughout the decades. The show began with a reading of written remarks from Glenn Close ’74, D.A. ’89, H.F. ’19 in the theatre bearing her name. She expressed thanks to the department that helped shape her: “I am full of gratitude and nostalgia and, most of all … LOVE. To the William & Mary Theatre! To 100 years of excellence! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!”
Cheers to Your Senior Year
Gates Dedication
Supporters of the Robert M. Gates Hall project, including members of the W&M Foundation and W&M Real Estate Foundation, gathered on Oct. 22 to dedicate this new interdisciplinary hub for research and teaching that addresses critical global challenges. Thanks to a $30 million lead gift from an alumna and former W&M Foundation trustee who wishes to remain anonymous — and to the generosity of many other donors — the former Brown Hall has been renovated, expanded and renamed in honor of former U.S. Secretary of Defense and current William & Mary Chancellor Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98.
Gates Hall will be home to several centers and institutes engaged in international development, conservation, national security, foreign policy and statecraft: AidData, the Global Research Institute, Institute for Integrative Conservation, Robert M. Gates Global Policy Center, Robert M. Gates Initiative in American Statecraft and Whole of Government Center of Excellence.
Gates said it is fitting that the building is opening during William & Mary’s Year of Civic Leadership. “William & Mary and its students, faculty and graduates have played a formative role in the life of the American republic,” he said. The university’s emphasis on civic leadership, combined with the opening of Gates Hall, “makes manifest that this university will continue to play a leading role in charting America’s future — just as it did in 1776 and has done since.”
Homecoming Parade
This year, the new Parade Kickoff Celebration brought the W&M community together on the Alumni House Lawn for free food, music and green & gold giveaways.
Emmy-winning songwriter and event designer Bill Schermerhorn ’82 is very familiar with parades from his many years as creative director of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Friday afternoon, he saw the Homecoming Parade from a different perspective: leading the way as grand marshal.
Richmond Road was filled with Tribe pride as more than 60 student and alumni groups marched, danced, cheered and performed along the parade route. The W&M Alumni Association generously awarded cash prizes to winning entries as judged by VIPs representing various parts of the W&M community, including Roxane O. Adler Hickey M.Ed. ’02, Ed.D. ’23, the assistant provost for leadership and academic engagement at W&M’s Washington Center; Hodan Seager ’18, secretary of the William & Mary Alumni Association Board; William Henderson ’26, a member of W&M’s Annual Giving Board; and Michele Mixner DeWitt, city manager of the City of Williamsburg. Announcer Jacob A. Miller ’18 provided entertaining insights into each group as they made their way past the judges’ stand.
Sigma Chi and Kappa Alpha Theta won the student float category, saluting alumni who made the journey back home to Williamsburg. Their spin on Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of “The Odyssey” was complete with costumed warriors emerging from a Trojan horse.
In the student performing group category, Griffin Bhangra’s energetic routine tied for the top spot with the Chinese Student Organization’s traditional watersleeves dance and tiger dance. The Baptist Collegiate Ministry topped the student walking group category, highlighting their “Grilled Cheeses for Jesus” event on the last day of classes.
On the alumni side, the Olde Guarde took home the gold with their traditional “chair brigade” performance, while the Class of 1986 was also recognized for their vehicle decked out in green & gold.
Scholarships Luncheon
This year’s Scholarships Luncheon, which connects those who support scholarships with those who receive them, featured moving personal stories from Chancellor Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98, alumni and students. They were powerful reminders that scholarships do far more than open doors for students to attend William & Mary — donor support empowers students to thrive, lead and engage fully in the immersive and transformative learning experience. Max D. Wang ’28 told how internships allow students to imagine new possibilities for themselves and others as they explore career paths with alumni mentors. Brianna Walker ’27 explained how a scholarship meant she could return to West Virginia over the summer to help those recovering from addiction in her community. First-generation student Tim Marker ’28 thanked donors for supporting his return to William & Mary when he had to pause his education after personal hardships.
“This generation is entering a world that is changing quickly,” said W&M Foundation Chair Darpan Kapadia ’95. “They need our community behind them. Thank you for the confidence you place in them, and for investing in the people they will become and the contributions they will make.”
Class Reunions
Reunions are a particularly special time to return to campus for Homecoming, as class events for the 5th-45th reunions take place all weekend long (50th, 55th and 60th reunions are celebrated in the spring during Traditions Weekend). New this year, classmates gathered for lively reunion receptions on both Friday and Saturday nights in the Sunken Garden and the Alumni House. Reunion committees comprised of class members shaped a unique experience for each reception.
At Cheers to Five Years, members of the Class of 2021 visited their favorite spots around Williamsburg to relive campus memories over snacks and drinks. Their night concluded in the Sunken Garden with a champagne toast.
Alumni Association Group Gatherings
Throughout the weekend, Alumni Association affinity and identity groups gathered to celebrate belonging, reconnect and share updates. Friday morning, members of the Olde Guarde — those whose undergraduate classes graduated 50 years ago or more — attended the annual Olde Guarde Brunch. Adler Hickey, the chair of W&M’s Year of Civic Leadership, and several students spoke about their experience using the university-wide Better Arguments framework.
Other groups reuniting during the weekend included the Order of the White Jacket, which honored scholarship recipients at a reception Thursday afternoon. Friday night, members of the Asian Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern (APIM) Alumni Association, the Crim Dell Association, Familia and the Hulon Willis Association came together to celebrate in the PBK Atrium for the Mosaic Homecoming Reception. Saturday morning, the Association of 1775 and W&M VET hosted the W&M Military and Veterans Breakfast.
Sunset Ceremony
The Sunset Ceremony provided an opportunity for our community to honor the more than 400 alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university whose passing was reported over the last year. At this beautiful and solemn memorial service, President Katherine Rowe and the Rev. Lisa Green ’83, P ’10 offered words of solace, the W&M choir performed “Shenandoah” and attendees lit candles to symbolize the impact each person made on the university community. A copy of the program is available on the Sunset Ceremony webpage and a recording will be posted there after Nov. 1.
Friday Night Foodie Fest
Friday Night Foodie Fest rounded out the evening in the big tent in the Sunken Garden. Hundreds of guests sampled drinks and bites from over two dozen of the best local eateries, bakeries, breweries and distilleries — from spicy tacos to decadent cookies to golden meads — while enjoying the smooth sounds of the Wham Bam Big Band.
Presidential Conversation
In a Saturday morning conversation with President Katherine A. Rowe, Chancellor Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98 returned to a question that has shaped the university since its founding: What role does the Alma Mater of the Nation play in preparing the next generation of leaders? The new Gates Initiative in American Statecraft is uniquely positioned to provide an answer.
While military strength remains important, Gates said the outcome of future competition with nations such as China may depend largely on the effective use of soft power. The key is to help students understand how those tools work together and how they can be applied to advance American interests and values.
“How do you reimagine statecraft?” Gates asked. “Increasingly, no single discipline is enough.” He said students must learn beyond disciplinary silos, so the initiative will emphasize experiential learning, collaborating and practical problem-solving rather than traditional classroom instruction.
Watch the video of the conversation.
Tailgate and Family Carnival
Families and football fans descended on the Sunken Garden Saturday afternoon for a spirited showing of gameday spirit and Tribe pride. Guests had their pick of a range of food trucks, while kids played carnival games and sported face paint. All-alumni band The Dimeslots broke out some old-school rock-and-roll tunes to keep the vibes high.
Reunion classes got together for their class photos during the tailgate. Visit homecoming.wm.edu/photos to view and download.
Football
On a picture-perfect fall day, William & Mary took on Georgetown in a Patriot League clash in front of a nearly-capacity crowd of 12,369. The Tribe dropped a heartbreaker to the Hoyas, 28-27. Read more from W&M Athletics.
At halftime, President Katherine Rowe, First Gentleman Bruce Jacobson and Matt Brandon ’92, CEO of the W&M Alumni Association and associate vice president for alumni engagement, presented Schermerhorn with the Grand Marshal Award. Class ambassadors from reunion classes and representatives from the winners of the Fraternity and Sorority Challenge — Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Pi Beta Phi — were also celebrated during halftime. Alumni in reunion years collectively raised over $73 million in support of W&M this year, and more than 5,700 members of fraternities and sororities gave to the university.
Saturday Night Bash
More than 650 people wrapped up this milestone weekend with a party in the Sunken Garden main tent. Local band The New Royals brought energy to the dance floor, while alumni from across the years reconnected and enjoyed late-night bites and beverages.
The dates for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2027 will be released soon — stay tuned! View the calendar of upcoming alumni engagement events to stay connected in the meantime.
Editor’s note: The W&M community learned over Homecoming & Reunion Weekend that a deck collapsed at an off-campus private residence, injuring a number of students. Thankfully, there were no life-threatening injuries. The university is providing ongoing support for students affected by the collapse.
Brendan Doyle, University Marketing, Senior Associate Director of University News