Homecoming weekend-the report

Now that Homecoming 2008 has come to an end, I would like to let you know about my highlights.  The weekend started on Friday when I went to one of the local delis with some colleagues (old and new) and some former interns.  We had a great time catching up with stories, new exciting opportunities and changes and just reminiscing about good times.  A good number of our interns are now working with Teach for America, so it was interesting to hear stories about their teaching experience.  My Saturday consited of going to the football game where W&M beat Rhode Island 34-24.  At halftime, I was able to grab a quick bite with a group of friends I had not seen in a few years before I returned to a reception hosted by the Hulon Willis Association.  This branch of the alumni association is for African-American graduates of William and Mary.  The reception was a great site because there were alumni from 77, the 80’s, the 90’s and the 2000’s as well as current students.  Not only was this a time to connect with old familiar faces, but network with older alumni and hear their stories of William and Mary.  As a 2005 graduate, I can say that things have definitely changed for the good since those trailblazers who stepped foot on campus 30 years before me.  After the reception, I attended the Stompfest put on by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Black Student Organization.  The greeks that performed did an excellent job and I definitely enjoyed the show.  After the show there was a series of hugs, smiles, updates, and love spread throughout the Sadler Center.  I then met up with some of my colleagues and fellow graduates where we traded stories, laughs and good company before I crashed late that night.

Homecoming is a little different for me because I never left W&M.  After I graduated, I began working in my current role in the admission office.  So while my W&M experience never really ended, I was happy to see old friends, make new friends and contacts and enjoy my W&M experience truly as an alumnus of the college.

– Randy Tripp