5X celebrated Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 18, with a Kent State Golden Flashes win of 39-17 over the Army Black Knights. Kent State alumni, students, faculty, staff and the community came together to celebrate the Homecoming theme of “Kent State Pride is Worldwide.”
“The theme reflects Kent State’s global presence,” said Joy Wesoloski, Kent State’s assistant director of alumni relations and Homecoming committee chair. “With our alumni and students coming from more than 100 countries, blue and gold pride is felt across the world. The new and traditional Homecoming events this year will offer opportunities for all Golden Flashes to participate and find ways to show off their Kent State spirit.”
The festivities began at 8 a.m. with the traditional 14th annual Bowman Cup 5K Race followed by a complimentary continental breakfast and parade viewing party at 10 a.m. at the Williamson Alumni Center at 1200 E. Main St. in Kent.
The Homecoming parade stepped off at 11 a.m. down Main Street with entries from campus organizations and the community that reflected the Homecoming theme. Tracy McCool, a 1994 Kent State graduate and the evening anchor at WJW Fox 8 News in Cleveland, served as the Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal.
A new event – called the Kent State Spirit Party – took place on the grounds of the alumni center at 12:30 p.m. following the parade. The spirit party offered stations for Kent State fans to make posters for the football game, color their hair blue and gold, and get face tattoos. Two party trucks featuring video games, photo booths and karaoke were present along with cornhole boards, snacks, hot chocolate and beer. Lolly the Trolley was also on hand to take interested individuals on tours of downtown.
“This spirit party is an event for the whole family to enjoy together,” Wesoloski said. “A lot of activities will be going on after the parade, including open houses at different university departments, building tours and a faculty lecture, so everyone should be able to find something to do before going to the Homecoming football game.”
The Kent State Golden Flashes battled and won 39-17 against the Army Black Knights at Dix Stadium. Kent State head football coach Paul Haynes presented the game ball to Kent State President Beverly Warren, who was celebrating her first Kent State Homecoming. The 2014 Homecoming King and Queen were crowned during halftime. Kent State students Christopher Woods and Taylor Winter were named the 2014 Kent State Homecoming King and Queen. Kent State fans were asked to show their support by wearing blue and gold to the game. The official 2014 Homecoming T-shirt is available at the University Bookstore in the Kent Student Center.