Raleigh Hightower
Contributing Writer
[email protected]

Despite all the challenges COVID-19 has brought to campus, Homecoming will return in person this semester.

The first Homecoming Parade was held in November of 1941. Since then, Homecoming has been an important Murray State tradition.

Last fall, however, Homecoming plans were forced to be modified because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year’s homecoming celebration consisted of in-person, virtual and hybrid events.

This year, all Homecoming events will be in-person and primarily mask-optional. In addition to the in-person events, some events still will be offered in a hybrid format.

In order to comply with Racer Health and Safety Guidelines, many Homecoming events will be held outdoors. All indoor events will require guests to wear masks. It also has been highly recommended that those returning for Homecoming be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“How we each handle public events during this ongoing pandemic can be a very personal decision, dependent upon vaccination status, age, underlying health conditions and other variables,” said Alumni Relations Director Carrie McGinnis.

This year’s Homecoming events include: “A Taste of the Arts,” sponsored by the college of humanities and fine arts; several reunions such as the 65th Black alumni Reunion, the Golden Reunion and the Football Reunion; “Tent City” and “Racer Run 5k.”

Tent City, a Murray State tradition of over 30 years, will be returning with 33 tents. Last year, Tent City was hosted in a virtual format.

Upwards of 30 alumni reunions also will be on campus for Homecoming. These reunions will include, in addition to the aforementioned reunions, the Alpha Sigma Alpha 75th anniversary and 50th anniversary celebrations for Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Other activities include student activities such as the Homecoming parade, coronation and an Esports tournament.

“Homecoming is a special time where all those that have given their time, talent and treasures to Murray State get to come back to a place they once called home, or maybe even still call home,” said junior Student Government Association senator Conor Washburn.

This year’s Homecoming parade will be joined by grand marshal Nancy Wells Lovett. Ms. Lovett is the great-granddaughter of Murray State University founders Rainey T. Wells and Tennessee Wells.

“We thought hosting the family of our founding families as grand marshal tied in nicely with our theme and serves as a terrific spring-board into our Centennial Celebration in 2022,” McGinnis said.

This year’s homecoming theme is “Years and Counting.” The theme is meant to commemorate the nearly century old history and tradition at Murray State. 

“I say homecoming is better than Christmas! All the gatherings of old and new friends and you don’t have to buy presents,” said Jeanie Morgan, advisor to SGA and student organizations. “Excited doesn’t begin to tell you how excited I am to have an in-person homecoming.”

To learn more about any of the homecoming events, visit the homecoming page on the Murray State website or https://murraystate.edu/homecoming/.