Old Time Charm, Big Time Fun at SNHU’s Homecoming

Homecoming weekend is a long-standing tradition that celebrates school spirit, community and the bond between students past and present. This year marked the 13th annual Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Homecoming, where students, alumni, families, employees and the wider community united for a weekend of activities and events with a county fair twist.

A Fair Welcome Home

On Saturday, Oct. 18, SNHU community members gathered for brunch and conversations, and they received a Homecoming welcome from President Lisa Marsh Ryerson, too.

“Homecoming weekend is always one of my favorites of the year,” said Ryerson during her opening remarks. “It’s a time when we pause our busy lives to reconnect, to share stories, laughter and maybe a few nostalgic memories about favorite professors or late-night adventures.”

Also in attendance were members of the Class of 1975, who were celebrating their 50th reunion at SNHU, formerly known as New Hampshire College. A display with old yearbooks, photos and memorabilia was set up by the University Archives for alumni to revisit memories, reflect on their time as students and connect with old classmates.

Richard Moran ’71 recalled his New Hampshire College days when the school was located on Hanover Street in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire. There, he formed lifelong relationships with classmates who helped make the best of his college experience.

“I got involved with the fraternity, and that actually helped me get better grades,” said Moran. “There were people there that I could rely on, and we remain brothers to this day. Two of my fraternity brothers are actually here with me.”

A Fair Share of Service

The Chandler Center hosted its annual Homecoming weekend service project with Rise Against Hunger, a nonprofit organization aimed at increasing access to food and eliminating food insecurity.

To commemorate two decades of community engagement and service, The Chandler Center planned two events with Rise Against Hunger this fall — during which they wanted to package 20,000 meals together.

By the end of the first event, they were more than halfway there. Fifty-two volunteers, consisting of students, alumni and staff, packaged 10,142 meals at Homecoming.

“Rise Against Hunger has been a partner with The Chandler Center for many years," said Kaitlyn Acciardo, program coordinator for The Chandler Center. "It is an event students and alumni remember as high-energy and engaging, with volunteers able to see the impact of their work when they are emailed the locations where the meals are delivered."

Fair Weather, Familiar Faces

Homecoming weekend continued with the annual Street Fair, where clear skies and peak fall foliage were the backdrop for the county-fair-themed event. Guests explored a traveling farm, sampled fare from local food trucks, listened to live music and relaxed in the beer garden. The SNHU cheerleading team took the stage for a performance that drew cheers from the crowd.

“Homecoming is a little bit of a different experience because I still work here as a staff member,” said Jess Gallant ’17 ’20G, who attended the festivities with two fellow alumni, Caroline Fleming ’16 ’20MBA and Vicky Maguire ’17. “But coming for this particular event and weekend feels different — there’s a different vibe in the air. I’m seeing people from my undergraduate experience here, but it’s different in such a good way.”

As the sun set, the crowd moved to the Banquet Hall for a country-style dinner, featuring butter churning and pickling activities. Attendees then bundled up with blankets, s’mores and hot chocolate to watch one of the weekend’s highlights: the Homecoming fireworks display on the Paul J. LeBlanc Hall lawn.

Fairground Fun, Near and Far

While many of the activities happened on campus, SNHU community members from near and far joined in the celebration through regional meet-ups in Vero Beach, Florida, and Denver, Colorado, as well as a variety of virtual and on-demand activities. With virtual events like paint night, the fun run/walk and speed trivia, the Homecoming celebrations were extended to the entire SNHU community.

In keeping with this year’s county fair theme, Annika Firestone ’17 also shared a baking tutorial for Maine blueberry cornbread, adding a homemade touch to the festivities for those celebrating virtually.

Creating a County Fair Homecoming to Remember

Homecoming was made possible through the collaboration of departments across the university, including Student Involvement, Alumni Engagement, Penmen Athletics, Campus Facilities and more.

Guided by the leadership of Meghan Marcucci and Elizabeth LaClair ’08 ’10G, the Homecoming Planning Committee composed a weekend of events and activities for the SNHU community. Marcucci, who joined SNHU in May as the associate director of alumni engagement, got her first taste of the Homecoming experience this year.

“Events like this bring SNHU together in such a fun and celebratory way,” said Marcucci, “I was thrilled to be a part of my first Homecoming and can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year.”

From her student days to her current role as the associate director of Student Involvement, LaClair has watched Homecoming evolve and unite the SNHU community in meaningful ways.

“Homecoming is one of those weekends that reminds you why SNHU feels like home for students, families, faculty, staff and alumni,” said LaClair. “From the country dinner to the laughter at Bingo and the glow of the fire pits, you could feel the sense of community that makes this place so special.”

Katie Dugan '20G is an advancement communications manager and alumna of Southern New Hampshire University, where she completed her master's in communication. Her enthusiasm for storytelling and heart for connection began when she was an assistant editor of The Suffolk Journal, the student newspaper at Suffolk University. She combines professional expertise with her passion for accessible education to bring compelling communication strategies to life. Dugan can be found at any number of concerts, working up a sweat at an indoor cycling class or curled up with her cat, reading a juicy thriller. Connect with her on LinkedIn.