One of the anticipated annual celebrations at California Lutheran University is the traditional homecoming and family weekend on Oct. 17 -20.

Homecoming weekend allows students and community members to experience an introduction into CLU culture and academic history. There is also an opportunity to meet some of the alumni, attend the festival in Kingsmen Park and visit with parents and relatives.

The gathering will also consist of several events ranging from campus tours, the annual golf tournament and  the homecoming carnival. Students, parents and alumni will be coming from all over the nation to reconnect and familiarize themselves with the traditions and improvements at CLU.

Byron Minnich, a CLU graduate and lifelong community member, shared some of his experiences about the upcoming celebration.

“Since both my parents are CLU alumni, I’ve been attending Homecoming ever since I was a young kid,” Minnich said. “The weekend has always given me a sense of sentimental value and now as a CLU alumni myself, everything just becomes that much more exciting.”

According to Minnich, there are benefits to attending the Homecoming festivities every year.

“I’ve had friends that have even ended up landing jobs just from making their way back to Homecoming and interacting with faculty and other alumni throughout the weekend,” Minnich said.

According to Minnich, the social interactions that take place during homecoming are some of the best. Whether it is through the festival or the alumni basketball game, people are finding ways to reconnect and reminisce over past experiences.

Junior Max Kirkpatrick was also eager to express his excitement about this year’s homecoming festivities.

“I attended the homecoming game and festival when I was a prospective student in high-school and it definitely played a part in my decision making for college. I got the opportunity to meet a lot of cool people as well as get a good feel for what the school was all about,” Kirkpatrick said.

Class reunions also take place every year during homecoming weekend. On Oct. 19, at 4 p.m..,  CLU will be celebrating the classes of 2008, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1978, 1973 and 1968, according to the CLU Alumni website. Members have been invited to attend the festival along with an opportunity to take a class picture in the reunion section of the park located next to the beer garden.

Sophomore Alix Moise, a member of the CLU football team, talked about this year’s homecoming weekend from an athletic perspective.

“We’re always looking to have a good showing on homecoming,” Moise said. “I think we all make it a personal responsibility to sustain our students and remind our alumni of the CLU experience through going out and competing on Saturday.”

According to the CLU website, the game will be at 1 p.m. with more festivities that evening. To see the entire schedule for homecoming weekend, visit http://www.callutheran.edu/alumni/homecoming.

Peter James
Staff Writer
Published Oct. 16, 2013