Radford campus community gathers for festive weekend
Radford University rolled out the red carpet of welcome to Radford alumni Oct.6-8 for its annual Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.
The campus community also welcomed Radford student families with Family Weekend.
To launch the festive weekend, President Brian O. Hemphill delivered the university’s first-ever State of the University Address at which he declared, “Without question, the State of the University is strong, and our recent progress and resounding success would not be possible without the unwavering support and continued dedication of our students, faculty, staff and alumni.”
On Moffett Lawn, the Alumni Village, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance, featured reunion gatherings at which students and alumni gathered to enjoy a lacrosse match, music and the annual Greek Life chariot races. On Heth Lawn, campus visitors browsed craft and food stands while listening to live bluegrass music.
In Preston Auditorium, guests took in the Fall Dance Fest’ 17 and in Pridemore Playhouse, they enjoyed “Crimes of the Heart, a gothic comedy. The annual Family Weekend Dog show displayed the Highlander family’s canine contingent on the Bonnie Plaza with 20 pet-person teams and more looking on.
“I love Radford in the fall. It is always so beautiful,” said Sherry Fisher ’85, a regular Homecoming visitor. “Seeing people I haven’t seen for a while is a pleasure.”
Will Iandola ’82 agreed with Fisher on the campus beauty, and added, “The campus is still so inviting. For me, it is a place where I found my professional skill set. Those opportunities at a young age are so important and it is nice to see that they are still happening here.”
Michelle and Radford freshman Zoe Catori, mother and daughter, were taking it all in. After some shopping and meals together, Michelle sized up her daughter’s first weeks of the Radford experience, “She is happy and I am so glad to see her.”
Scott Dawson ’91 remains close to the Radford family. He said he makes the Homecoming trip whenever he can and that was on Moffett Lawn for his niece’s graduation last spring. His weekend visit to Radford also gave him a chance look in on another niece whom he helped move in August as a freshman.
“Today, it’s about seeing the other guys from the fraternity (Phi Kappa Sigma), eating at Macado’s, sharing some stories and having a good time,” he said.
Dawson and his brothers had reason to be proud. The fraternity paced the Greek Life Challenge in which the fraternity and sorority community raised more than $11,000 in four weeks.
The active brothers of Phi Kappa Sigma rallied 63 donors to raise more than $4,000. The current chapter of Phi Kap brothers were unanimous in their support to achieve the 100 percent-giving level.
Taylor Bell, chapter president, said, “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make sure our chapter continues to be seen in a positive light. This was an opportunity for us to leave our footprint at Radford University.”
Dante Washington, a Radford Athletics Hall of Famer and former All-American soccer player at Radford, reflected on the Radford culture as he talked about his former coach Don Staley, who joined him in the Hall of Fame with his induction on Friday.
“He deeply cared about us as people, students and athletes. It was moving to see so many men and women show their love for someone who was so instrumental in our lives,” Washington said.