Homecoming Weekend Fuels Optimism and Campus Spirit
Games, parties, and adventures brought together generations of Washington alumni, students, and families.
Washington College's campus was fully alive with energy and enthusiasm from Friday, October 24, through Sunday, October 26, as nearly a thousand alumni, students, families, faculty, and staff converged for a vibrant Homecoming Weekend and Fall Family Weekend. The historic campus was abuzz with hundreds taking part in a mix of activities across the academic, athletic, and social spheres, successfully fostering renewed connections across generations of Shoremen and Shorewomen.
The weekend’s festivities began Friday evening with the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, celebrating athletic excellence. The Washington College Athletics Department announced the four members of the 2025 induction class: Conner Blouin '10 (Sailing), Adam Cranford '11 (Men's Tennis), Katherine O'Brien '08 (Volleyball), and Greg Vetter '05 (Men's Lacrosse).
Saturday served as the central day of celebration, with events happening from the athletic fields to the riverfront. The 2nd Annual Party on the Square saw Daly Lawn transform into a festive carnival complete with live music, games, and food trucks. High-spirited competition filled the fields with Homecoming Athletic Games featuring men's and women's soccer, women's rowing, volleyball, and field hockey. Amidst the action, the brothers of Phi Delta Theta hosted their 34th Annual Crab Feast on Daly Lawn—a favorite campus tradition celebrating the Eastern Shore.
Beyond the athletics, the weekend offered unique engagement opportunities. Attendees gathered to mark a new tradition at the Brick Path Ceremony, celebrating the installation of a new campus pathway running from Middle Hall to the Green. Built with bricks generously purchased by alumni, students, families, and friends, the path honors the lasting connections of Wahington’s community. Recent graduates Miranda Parrish ’25 and Stephen Hook ’25 returned to campus to lead the path’s ribbon cutting.
At the Chester River Cruise & Scavenger Hunt guests were invited to board the research vessel Callinectes with the Center for Environment and Society (CES) to learn about the river's sites, the Center’s work, and the surrounding land. An early morning kayak tour was also well attended.
On the academic side, the Summer Science Research Posters display in the McLain Atrium of the Toll Science Center showcased senior science research projects, allowing students to share their original, hands-on work from across the sciences. The Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience offered up a bit of hands-on history as participants cut their own quills, made ink, and sealed their own letters with wax, all using eighteenth-century methods and techniques. With all the activities, many still found time to stop by the 25th Reunion festivities at Watershed Alley in downtown Chestertown, mosey over to Alumni Night at Riley’s Mill Ale Works, or stop in the campus' new watering hole, the Golden Goose Pub, for a pint and collegial connections.
Reflecting on the overwhelming participation and positive atmosphere, the weekend served as a powerful reminder of the strength of the Washington College community.
"The weekend was a great success from start to finish. The turnout was excellent, the energy and enthusiasm with every event I attended was outstanding, and the excitement for next steps for the College was clearly evident. I am even more convinced that we are in a position to move forward, together." - Interim President Bryan Matthews ’75, M’86, P’12
The successful weekend concluded Sunday with a Family Celebration for first-year students that welcomed parents into the heart of their students' new college experience, setting a promising and unified tone for the rest of the academic year.
- Dominique Ellis Falcon