Homecoming Welcomes Hundreds of Alumni Back to BVU
Sunny skies, warm temperatures, tailgaters galore greet alumni and friends
Several hundred alumni returned to Buena Vista University for the 2024 Homecoming celebration on Sept. 27-28. Alumni, their friends, and families were treated to a variety of engaging activities that included, but were not limited to the following:
• A BVU Alumni Baseball Golf Tournament welcomed several dozen former baseball players who gathered at the BVU Golf Course at Lake Creek for a four-person scramble.
• A parade held in conjunction with the Storm Lake Community School District, which observed its Homecoming celebration at the same time. BVU’s cheer and dance team, STUNT student-athletes, marching band, softball team, and others greeted parade enthusiasts along the route in saluting members of the 1984 Beaver softball NCAA National Champions who took their place upon the float while celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Beavers’ lone team national title.
• A “Pioneer Panel” featuring six key figures through the years in BVU Women’s Athletics was witnessed by alumni, friends, and Storm Lake-area residents who ranged from middle school students to retirees.
• A BVU Athletics Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony attended by nearly 230 people.
• A Cornerstone Guard brunch in which members of the Class of 1974 returned to campus to celebrate their 50th class anniversary, joined by members of earlier BVU classes.
• Members of the women’s and men’s wrestling programs conducted a morning workout on mats placed at the heart of campus, between Pierce-White Hall and the west entrance of Siebens Forum.
• The men’s tennis team played matches against a number of tennis alumni who returned to campus for action on the Buntrock Tennis Courts.
• An “Alumni Alley” area featuring seven tents overseen by coaches of seven different sports on campus. The baseball tent had a huge crowd that turned out to celebrate the retirement of Assistant Coach Steve Sonka, who logged 18 successful years in working with Coach Steve Eddie and BVU baseball student-athletes.
• Additionally, the usual game-day tailgate zone at J. Leslie Rollins Stadium was teeming with alumni and friends spanning multiple generations who came to campus on a beautiful Saturday in late September to soak up some rays, conversation, and football action on Peterson Field.
For a closer look at photos capturing the spectrum of activities on campus at Homecoming, check this link.