Touring the campus, reliving the glory days, and reuniting with friends are only some of the reasons alumni returned to their old stomping grounds for Homecoming weekend.
Starting Thursday, Oct. 20, students, staff, faculty and alumni gathered on campus for various Homecoming events including class reunions, group photos, faculty activities and challenges, and varsity games. 聽
See also: Homecoming in photos (photo essay)
Carving out traditions
As part of this year鈥檚 Homecoming events, the Faculty of Dentistry hosted its second annual pumpkin carving contest. Over 260 dentistry alumni, students, faculty, staff, patients, and members of the Dal community stopped in to cast their vote for their favourite pumpkin.
Thomas Boran, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, arrived late afternoon and admittedly had a tough time deciding between which of the pumpkins would be in his top three.
鈥淚t鈥檚 truly amazing what they鈥檝e done!鈥� he said. 鈥淭he fact that more than half the pumpkins have our 100th anniversary theme incorporated is really quite special.鈥�
He notes that many full- and part-time professors in Dentistry are also alumni. He attributes this to the fact that Dentistry is like a 鈥榝amily鈥� where once students see the enthusiasm of the professors, they鈥檙e inspired to come back and teach.
鈥淎s soon as a student walks in our door, we welcome them as colleagues,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e show them the same professionalism they show us.鈥�
Sixteen hand-crafted pumpkins, donated by Superstore, were entered in the contest from different dentistry departments, dentistry and dental hygiene student groups, and alumni who now have their own practices.
At the end of the day, when all the ballots were counted, prizes went to:
Top Alumni: Dr. Paul Bourque Inc (runner up: Halifax Periodontal Associates)
Top Department: Dental Lab (runner up: Dean's Office)
Top Student (and Grand Prize winner): DDS2 (runner up: BDH)
OktoberFASS
Alumni from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences gathered on Friday for their signature reception for Homecoming 2011. Complete with traditional German attire, cuisine, music, and beverages, alumni joined current students, staff and faculty for apple strudel, Weisswurst (a white sausage associated with Oktoberfest), Frikadellen (traditional German meat balls served cold) and a chance to see what鈥檚 been happening at Dal since they鈥檝e left.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see all the changes,鈥� saed Marian Chisholm (BA鈥�84). 鈥淚 love the new variety of food options on campus and what鈥檚 been done to the campus with all the new buildings going up 鈥� it鈥檚 pretty incredible.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to meet up with old friends you don鈥檛 get to see that often,鈥� explained Maura Payne (BA鈥�61). 鈥淎nd I really like all the new architecture.鈥�
鈥淭here have obviously been a lot of changes to the university since I was here last,鈥� said Carol Bradley (BA鈥�61). 鈥淐o-ed residences being the biggest one!鈥� she laughed.
Cheering on the black and gold
On Saturday, alumni showed their support for the Dal Tigers football team as they took on the UNB Fredericton Red Bombers at Wickwire field at. Students, past and present, along with other members of the Dal community lined up to get in, decked out in their standard black and gold attire.
The newest AV俱乐部 tradition, the Lobster Tailgate party, began shortly before the football game where people arrived starting at noon to get their lobster and sides and enjoy live music by Caledonia.
鈥淧eople that I spoke to were pleased with the event and excited to see the level of school spirit among the students,鈥� said Allison Skelding, Alumni Officer, Alumni Engagement. 鈥淭he volunteers were all extremely helpful and in good spirits and also enjoyed their lobster. Everyone was wearing their bib and digging right into the lobster, so it seemed to be a very satisfied group.鈥�
That spirit carried onto the field itself, as the Tigers beat the Red Bombers 27 to 7.
Other Homecoming events included the Faculty of Management鈥檚 Zero Footprint Rally, the Alumni Medical School Tour & Tea, and the Department of Psychology Undergraduate Awards Day. AV俱乐部 also took part in the first Halifax Light the Night walk, for the Leukemia and Lymphona Society of Canada.
Homecoming's platinum sponsors were TD Insurance Meloche Monnex and MBNA.
For more of the sights of Homecoming, check out our photo essay.