Students, staff, alumni and faculty united with friends and family members to celebrate Montclair State University’s homecoming despite poor weather conditions.
With events such as student performances at the amphitheater, alumni events, campus tours, the homecoming football game and more, people gathered together to celebrate Homecoming 2024.
Between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., alumni events were throughout the campus beginning with the welcome tent outside of Cole Hall, an alumni barbecue in front of Freeman Hall and an alumni swimming and diving meet at the Panzer Athletic Center Pool.
The Alumni BBQ was filled with graduates from Montclair State enjoying a BBQ lunch with live music, games and an overall celebration of school spirit before the Homecoming football game at 5 p.m.
Rocky the Red Hawk, the university's main mascot, stands at the homecoming football game.
Qadir Branch | The Montclarion Photo credit: Qadir Branch
Gathered together at the Alumni BBQ was the Hispanic/Latinx Alumni Network, Black Alumni Advisory Council, Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), Bloomfield College Alumni Network, Recent Alumni Network and Women’s Initiative Network.
Montclair State senior coordinator for Community College Programs, Academic Affairs and two-time graduate Zabdi Medel entered the Alumni BBQ with co-workers to promote the Hispanic Latinx network.
“I do community college programs and I am also a part of the Hispanic Latinx Alumni Network,” Medel said. “So we promote the Hispanic alumni and, for the future alumni who are graduating, about what we have here at Montclair [State].”
Montclair State alumni Remi Hoff teamed up with Montclair State after gaining a strong connection with Prudential.
“[Prudential has] a great connection with Montclair [State], Hoff said. “Every year we have a student event with them. We thought it’d be a good idea to come out, meet everyone, and bring out the Prudential [Montclair State] group here to network.”
She said she was accompanied by the Prudential Montclair State group and was excited to see how the event would turn out on its own.
At the Amphitheater, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., local bands performed live on 90.3 WMSC, the campus radio station as part of The WMSC Showcase Spectacular. The Programming Board of the Student Government Association (S.G.A.) also presented the Players Variety Show with acting, singing and dancing. There was also the Homecoming Talent Showcase, included with student groups performing skits.
Students stand with Roxy, one of Montclair State's mascot's.
Qadir Branch | The Montclarion Photo credit: Qadir Branch
Greek Life, dance members and cheerleaders gathered together to perform a Homecoming Talent Showcase. Unfortunately, the time was pushed back due to the rain, but that did not stop them from putting on a fascinating performance.
Members from the fraternity Kappa Sigma shared their exhilaration for the show.
Junior Matt Notarmaso said his fraternity was partnered up with the Montclair State Dance team.
“We just want to showcase what we’re about,” Notarmaso said.
Sophomore Joshua Osofisan spoke about his excitement to watch the Montclair State Dance team.
“You got Montclair State Dance team, champion [who are] some of the best dancers in the world on Kappa Sig. They’re some dogs all together and we’re going to put on a show,” Osofisan said.
Along with the fraternities, came the sororities. The Sigma Delta TAU sorority members also shared their preparation for the showcase.
Junior Christina Dahdah said the showcase includes a variety of entertaining abilities.
“What we do in the performance is we all just get together. We’ve been practicing for the past few weeks and we get together and showcase a fun little dance we put together with some skills and tricks. All fun stuff,” Dahdah said.
The Montclair State Dance Company and Montclair State Dance Team were also a massive success in the showcase performance for Homecoming.
Freshman Alessandra Figueroa, alongside junior Isabel DiGennaro said the performance was not something to miss.
“We have a jazz routine and a hip hop routine and it’s pretty fun,” DiGennaro said.
Senior Jessica Santa from the Montclair State Dance team said she was excited to see all of the performances since it’s her last year and be a big part of it.
Alongside Santa, Junior Ava Diorio and junior Angela Westerfield shared a mutual eagerness to get on stage and show their skills in front of friends and family.
“Just being in the showcase, after working really hard together and having them watch us is something we’re excited for,” Diorio said.
With that, Westerfield also shared her insights on the importance of the events at Homecoming.
“We’re excited to celebrate as a team and work with all the organizations here,” Westerfield said. “It’s going to be a good time.”
