Homecoming and Family Weekend 2012 Wrap-up: Family, Friends, Fall and Fun!

Autumn was in the air as Curry College welcomed alumni, families, friends and fans back to campus for the annual Homecoming and Family Weekend, from September 21-23.  Visitors were treated to a bevy of events and activities, including a special Friday Night Lights football game, a fall festival, an improv show, a fun run, and much more!

Friday Night Victory!

The weekend kicked off (literally)with a matchup between the Colonels football squad and the visiting M.I.T. Engineers on a crisp, fall night under the lights of Katz field.  Dozens of families took part in pre-game festivities, including the Chili and Chowder Cook-off competitions. John Donahue, father of Curry student Cori Donahue (Class of 2016) took honors in the chili category, while Deidre Ventura, mother of Curry football player Dylan Spence (Class of 2016), won the prize for best chowder.

• Photo Gallery:  Friday Night Lights at Curry College 
• Homecoming and Family Weekend on Facebook:  Check out photos, video and more!

The game itself was an instant classic, featuring loads of drama and multiple lead changes.  Late in the game the visitors had a chance to run out the clock for the victory, but the Colonels stopped them and drove down the field, eventually scoring the game-winning touchdown on a picture-perfect, 23-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Fruwirth to Rob Bambini with mere seconds left on the clock (full recap).

Athletic Director Vinnie Eruzione was ecstatic, "The Homecoming crowd for Friday night was electrified and definitely played a major role in our football team's come-from-behind win.  When the last drive started, it was our fans who helped guide our team to the winning touchdown!"

• Watch: Curry Football Beats M.I.T. on last minute touchdown

For the first time ever, the game was streamed live online.  Over a dozen communication students, supervised by department co-chair, Professor Jerry Gibbs, with the help of Milton Access Television, broadcast the game to hundreds of loyal supporters across the country.

"Pulling off a telecast of this magnitude involves a lot of people, in a coordinated team effort.  These students tested all of their communication skills...a true working reality of what they've learned in their 'Fundamentals of Communication' class," said Gibbs.

Friday night's schedule also included a reception for alums of the football program, a Shabbat service and kosher dinner in the Student Center and a special event for alumni, hosted by the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Coalition and Raising Awareness through Group Education (R.A.G.E.) Peer Educators.

A Festive Saturday

Saturday morning, families of current students had a chance to meet up with faculty members for a delicious breakfast in the Student Center. Afterwards, many darted off to attend a slew of academic, alumni and campus life forums hosted by Curry faculty, alumni and students.

These presentations included:

• 'A Lifelong Partnership' - hosted by Career Services
• 'Getting Involved' - with Student Affairs
• 'From Caretaking to Coaching:  Transition Reality Check' - featuring Professors Vicki Nelson and Lynn Abrahams
• 'Curry in 3D' - with Professor Gibbs 
• 'Triangle of Success' - with Academic Affairs and Student Affairs

This year's breakout sessions also included the first meeting of the Blue Hills Book Club. First-Year Studies program Professor Carrie Cokely facilitated the club's inaugural reading and discussion which featured It Happened on the Way to War by Rye Barcott.

• Read More about the First-Year Common Read Series Featuring It Happened on the Way to War author by Ry Barcott
  

One of the highlights of the day was the Fall Fun Fest, held outside the Student Center in Westhaver Park, timed perfectly as a cool and cloudy morning transformed into a gorgeous, sunny, autumn afternoon.  The festival included tractor-pulled hayrides, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, a dress-up photo booth and lots of fall-themed food and drink.

• Photo Gallery:  Family/Faculty Breakfast, Fall Fun Fest, Breakout Sessions, Soccer Games, Improv
  

The festival also included performances from the Curry Dance Team, Multi Essence and live music, featuring Curry Athletics Hall-of-Famer, Lisa Bello '04 and her band.

"I was honored to be asked to perform for my alma mater. The campus has changed but the sense of community has not. I was very pleased with the changes and overwhelmed by the love I received from the new students and their parents. Performing at Homecoming was quite a positive experience for me," said Bello.

"We were excited to see all of the families who participated in the Fall Fun Fest activities. It was the perfect day," added Sarah Bordeleau, Associate Director of Student Activities.

• Listen:  Lisa Bello and Band at Curry College

Afternoon events included Men's and Women's Soccer and Women's Tennis (results), while over at the Alumni House, reunions of the classes of '87 and '92 were in full swing.  The night was capped off by a hilarious improv show in the Keith Auditorium.

• Photo Gallery:  Alumni Reunions

Sunday is Fun Run Day

The weekend concluded with the 2^nd Annual Colonels Fun Run to benefit the Mosi Tatupu Memorial Scholarship Fund.  Dozens of alumni and friends (and even family dogs) participated in the 2-mile campus run to honor the late, former Curry football coach and New England Patriots fullback.

• Photo Gallery:  Colonels Fun Run

First place went to Joseph Gill, 2nd place was captured by alum Jim Lindelof '06, and a 3rd place tie went to Matt Faidell and Max Whiffen.

"It was wonderful to see so many alumni and parents enjoying the weekend on our campus," said Chris Lawson, Curry's Chief Development Officer.

"I received great feedback from our alumni about the physical transformation of Curry over the past decade and our parents really appreciated the engagement with our faculty. Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better weekend."

Curry College would like to thank the following departments/organizations for making Homecoming 2012 such a successful endeavor:  Buildings & Grounds, Student Affairs, Student Activities, Academic Affairs, the Student Center, Public Safety, WMLN, Sodexo, Institutional Advancement, Athletics, Milton Access Television, Lisa Bello '04 and band and all of the faculty members who took part in the Family/Faculty Breakfast.  Also, thanks go out to the following individuals for their participation in Saturday's breakout sessions: Maureen Ashburn, Carrie Cokely, Erik Muurisepp, Sarah Bordeleau, Lynn Zlotkowski, Allison O'Connor, Jerry Gibbs, Vicki Nelson and Lynn Abrahams.