Cheerful Crowds Brave Rain to See Old Friends

Lane Lovegrove, the Tau Kappa Epsilon staff adviser and operations manager of the Social & Behavioral Research Lab, celebrated Homecoming with his fraternity brothers.

If you missed the good times and good friends at Winthrop’s Homecoming in February, you soon will have another chance to have fun and connect. The first fall Homecoming is around the corner.

Homecoming in the winter sometimes has proven to be risky business, as occasional snow, strong winds and freezing temperatures have put a damper on activities. This year was no different, as rain was an unwelcome guest at some tailgating parties. View photos from Spring 2009 Homecoming.

Alumni Executive Director Debbie Garrick `87, `89, said moving Homecoming from the winter to the fall should help take Mother Nature out of the planning.

The fall Homecoming is set for Nov. 14 during the start of the men’s basketball season.

So what happened during this latest Homecoming?

A budding music star emerged. Daniel Davis, a sophomore from North Charleston, S.C., is a violinist who turned heads at a packed Tillman Auditorium during the talent show. He recently appeared on ETV’s Connections “South Carolina Has Talent” to show off his modern strings, which he backs with hip-hop or R&B. Listen to Davis’ arrangements.

Nearly 400 alumni registered for Homecoming, many headed to fraternity, sorority or affinity group gatherings. This was the first reunion for the mass communication department, where faculty members and 40 graduates attended a brunch. Mario Washington `02, program director for Our Three Sons Broadcasting and speaker for the event, honored faculty member Bill Fisher, who stepped down from teaching media law. Meanwhile, the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority celebrated its 30th anniversary reunion with a tea and dinner.

Also, Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. took the top spots at the NPHC Step Show, which was held after the Eagles blistered Coastal Carolina in the second half for a 70-50 win in men’s basketball.

To get more details about Homecoming this fall, check the alumni site periodically.