Monarch Pride on Display at Homecoming

Spirit and engagement are at the heart of Monarch Nation and nowhere was that more evident than our recent Homecoming.

Countless people have told me how much they enjoyed the Homecoming Parade, the Kaufman Mall Tailgate Fanfest and the football game. School spirit is always high at special events here on campus, but the atmosphere at this year's homecoming celebration seems to have risen to a new level.

I was thrilled to see several generations of alumni coming together to have fun and to strengthen their ties with their alma mater. Members of the Class of '61, celebrating their 50th anniversary, got special attention, and from the smiles on their faces you have to believe they loved every minute of the celebration.

There was some something for everyone in the homecoming schedule: a comedy show at Webb Center, the Monarch Pride Day presentation of the Homecoming Court, step show at the Ted, Women's Leadership Series breakfast, Powderpuff Championship, Black Alumni Chapter social, concert at the Ted by J. Cole & Big Sean with Kids These Days, Student Recreation Center open house and Hall of Fame Lunch.

But I especially enjoyed the Alumni Honors Dinner, where we presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to six Old Dominion graduates whose accomplishments are testament to commitment, hard work and the advantage of an Old Dominion University education.

Those recognized were Wendy Bahr '83, a Cisco executive; Navy Cmdr. Benito E. Baylosis '87; Jeff Cogen '79, chief executive officer of the Nashville Predators hockey team; Jeffrey A. Cotter '85, founder and president of Rainbow World Fund; Wilbert W. "Wil" James Jr. '78, a Toyota executive; and Louis G. Morris '76, president and chief executive officer of Old Point National Bank.

Also at the Alumni Honors Dinner, Louis G. Morris '76, a Hampton Roads financial professional who works tirelessly on behalf of the university, received the Alumni Service Award. The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Anna Tunnicliffe-Funk '05, the legendary Monarch sailing team member who is the skipper for the U.S. Olympic Team.

Finally, I was grateful to the members of the Hampton Roads community, and especially our friends in Town-N-Gown, who were part of our Founders Day Lunch. Among those honored were leaders in neighborhoods near the campus: Ellen Harvey, president of the Lambert's Point Civic League; David O'Dell '82, president of the Larchmont/Edgewater Civic League; and Dale Ryder '81, president of the Highland Park Civic League. I shouldn't forget to thank G. William Whitehurst, ODU's Kaufman Lecturer in Public Affairs, for his eloquent Founders Day tribute to his former colleague, the late Alf Mapp Jr.

But mostly, Old Dominion's Homecoming weekend was an incredible success because of our students, who worked to put together a host of activities, who showed up en masse for our biggest ever parade, who put on school colors and cheered on the Monarchs, who showed the thousands of visitors to campus that ODU is school where Monarch Pride roars!