A picture-perfect Homecoming

W&M Life

The following originally appeared on the website for the W&M Alumni Magazine. - Ed.

The weather was quintessential fall - cool and sunny with the leaves just beginning to turn. Green & gold adorned alumni of all ages, who brought their families, friends and plenty of Tribe pride. Laughter and cheers rang out across campus as the William & Mary community reconnected and celebrated the university they call home. Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2025 was here!

About 4,000 alumni and other members of the W&M community returned to campus for the festivities, which included more than 120 events hosted by the W&M Alumni Association and university partners. See highlights from signature events below. Additional photos, including each reunion class photo, are posted at homecoming.wm.edu/photos.

Homecoming Parade

Grand Marshal Jane Batten HON '17, L.H.D. '19 led this year's parade of student organizations, alumni groups and special guests.

The women's basketball team held the Homecoming banner, in recognition of the team's success last season. On Saturday, the team was honored with a ring ceremony and banner raising in Kaplan arena.

Jacob A. Miller '18 provided entertaining commentary, and the W&M Alumni Association awarded cash prizes to student groups based on expert judging by Erin Dickerson Davis, women's basketball head coach; Monica Burgos Flores '20, member of the W&M Young Guarde Council; Doug Pons, mayor of the City of Williamsburg; Jason Ross '95, former lead singer and songwriter of the rock band Seven Mary Three; and Bill Schermerhorn '82, member of the W&M Alumni Association board of directors.

(Photo by Katie Warner)

One brave student in a toga represented the Philosophy Club on his own, earning him top prize in the walking groups category. Other winners included Club Ultimate Frisbee and Delta Gamma x SAE.

(Photo by Alfred Herczeg)

The W&M Choir embraced a Shrek theme for their float, complete with costumes and a castle. They joined Sigma Chi Zeta Upsilon and Club Sailing for best floats.

(Photo by Katie Warner)

Other groups danced and even fenced down Richmond Road. The Olde Guarde even brought their own folding chairs to sit on along the way. Performing group winners were Syndicate Hip Hop Dance Team, Griffin Bhangra and the Chinese Student Organization.

Friday Night Foodie Fest

(Photos by Katie Warner)

At this elevated tasting experience, more than 25 local establishments provided a selection of tasty small plates and desserts, plus samples of wine, beer, mead and coffee.

Gatherings for alumni organizations

On Friday morning, the Olde Guarde gathered to meet military and veteran students and hear from Kathleen Jabs, special assistant to the president of W&M for military and veteran affairs. The Olde Guarde, which includes all alumni whose class graduated 50 years ago or more, will next gather for a postgame mixer on Nov. 22 and then at Traditions Weekend, April 24-26, 2025.

Other groups that met for receptions included the Order of the White Jacket, APIM Association (Asian-Pacific Islander-Middle Eastern), the Crim Dell Association (LGBTQ+), the Hulon Willis Association (Black and African descent) and Familia (Latino/a/e). The Association of 1775 hosted a breakfast in honor of W&M military and veterans.

Cheers to Your Senior Year

(Photo by Timothy Sofranko)

Graduating students also got a taste of Homecoming in the big white tent with Cheers to Your Senior Year. The first 100 students to check in and show they had registered for One Network, W&M's professional networking platform, received a disposable camera to document the event. Photos will be available to the Class of 2026 on One Network for free download.

Scholarships Luncheon

(Photo by Capture Photography)

This year's invite-only event, which brings together scholarship donors and their student recipients, highlighted students whose research in environmental sustainability was made possible through scholarship support. Cindia Romero Araujo '26, Michael Foley '26 and Mary Laun '27, who is a Stravitz Scholar, shared their W&M experiences in a conversation moderated by Derek Aday, dean of W&M's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences and director of W&M's Virginia Insitute of Marine Science. Jonathan Powell '27, a Posse Scholar, closed the luncheon with powerful words of advice for students and thanks for donors.

Sunset Ceremony

At this twilight memorial service, held this year on the Colonial Williamsburg side of the Wren Building due to the Wrenovation project, the university community honored the 400 alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the university whose passing was reported over the past year. President Katherine A. Rowe and the Rev. Lisa Green '83, P '10 were among those who provided remarks, and the ceremony included selections performed by the W&M Choir, the lighting of candles and the ringing of the Wren Bell. A copy of the program is available on the Sunset Ceremony webpage and a recording will be posted there after Nov. 1.

Presidential Conversation

(Photo by Katie Warner)

William & Mary's 2025 Presidential Conversation brought together alumni leaders to discuss solutions for healing the planet while helping humans thrive. To honor the Year of the Environment, the conversation centered on pressing issues in conservation and sustainability.

Panelists Bobby Clontz '89, Darpan Kapadia '95, Emilio Luz-Ricca '23 and Cayley Santella '25 discussed their efforts in wildfire resilience, sustainable energy, biodiversity data science and ecosystem restoration. Their stories illustrated how progress for people and the planet can go hand in hand.

Read more from W&M News.

Class Reunions

(Photo by Stephen Salpukas)

This year's reunions were more customized than ever before. Members of the First Three - the classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025 - had a special lounge with snacks and giveaways when they checked in for Homecoming. The Class of 2020 embarked on a trip through Williamsburg to eat and drink at favorite local hangouts, followed by a champagne toast in the Sunken Garden.

(Photo by Tim Sofranko)

The Class of 2000 celebrated 25 years at the newly expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art. Other classes reconnected under the white tents in the Sunken Garden or at the Alumni House. Next year, 55th and 60th reunions will be celebrated April 24-26 during Traditions Weekend, which also includes the 50th reunion.

Homecoming tailgate & family carnival

(Photo by Tim Sofranko)

The family carnival was back on the Sunken Garden this year with face painting, balloon animals, cotton candy, kettle corn and lawn games. Food trucks provided a range of eating options while the Dimeslots performed in the big white tent.

Meanwhile, the parking lot outside Zable Stadium and the Alumni House lawn were nonstop parties with tailgaters of all ages. The Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement also hosted a sold-out tailgate at the Cohen Career Center.

(Photo by Skip Rowland '83)

Reunion classes gathered for their class photos Saturday afternoon. Visit homecoming.wm.edu/photos to download.

Football game

(Photo by Jim Agnew)

The William & Mary football team earned an impressive, hard-fought 26-21 comeback victory against Elon. Although W&M (4-3, 3-1) trailed 14-3 late in the second quarter, it charged back with 23 consecutive points en route to securing the important conference victory. Read more from Tribe Athletics.

Halftime & annual giving reception

During halftime, class ambassadors from the reunion classes of 1980-2020 were honored on the field for their peer-to-peer outreach to classmates. Collectively, reunion classes (including the 50th reunion) raised over $101 million for William & Mary! Also recognized on the field were members of Theta Delta Chi and Gamma Phi Beta, the winners of this year's Fraternity & Sorority Challenge. More than 6,200 alumni from fraternities and sororities gave to W&M this year, raising $62 million for William & Mary.

Class ambassadors and Greek ambassadors also enjoyed a reception on Friday night at The Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheatre at Lake Matoaka for annual giving volunteers.

Saturday Night Bash

(Photo by Tim Sofranko)

The weekend concluded with the signature dance party under the big white tent and alumni making plans to keep in touch until we gather again for Homecoming next year.

Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2026 dates will be announced after the football schedule is released. View the calendar of upcoming alumni engagement events.

Claire De Lisle, University Marketing

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