Bombers on Three

"It represents the momentum and growth of IC Athletics and provides our student-athletes with an exceptional home that matches their dedication."

From left: Susan Bassett '79, Mike Egan '84, Tracy Egan '84, La Jerne Terry Cornish, Aaron Bouyea, and Laine Norton. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

The dedication marked the culmination of long-held hopes realized through focused planning, generosity, and persistence. Alumni Mike Egan '84 and Tracy Egan '84-whose gift made the project possible-were joined by their children and grandchildren for the opening remarks. Alumni and current Bombers later took the first relays on the new surface, and, a few minutes later, past and present Ithaca track athletes gathered in front of the bleachers for a rousing, "Bombers on three!"

After more than a decade, IC's outdoor track and field programs have a home again: a top-flight, iconically blue facility engineered for performance and striking in its design, built for training and competition, with the added benefit of serving campus wellness and community connection.

Aaron Bouyea, director of intercollegiate athletics, described the complex as both a milestone and a promise: "This track gives our student-athletes a place to train, to compete, and to dream, right here on our campus."

The Egans' gift grew from a chance conversation at a 2022 NCAA playoffs football game. After reading about the college's plans to update the football stadium, Mike Egan '84 approached Bassett with a simple question: "Where's the track?" That question led to introductions with then men's track & field head coach Jim Nichols and a partnership with Vice President for Advancement Laine Norton-and Cornish embraced the idea, championing it from the first conversation to the finish line, making the Egan Family Track & Field Complex a reality.

From left: Susan Bassett '79, La Jerne Terry Cornish, and Aaron Bouyea at the dedication of the Susan Bassett '79 Press Box. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

The weekend's dedications began a day earlier with the unveiling of the Susan Bassett '79 Press Box overlooking the track, honoring the recently retired athletics director, whose leadership elevated Bomber athletics to new levels of excellence. President La Jerne Terry Cornish praised both Bassett and donor Bob Berry '70, whose generosity funded the structure, noting Bassett's record of championship titles and her role in raising the visibility and distinction of IC athletics. Cornish lauded their shared commitment to "creating spaces where achievement can be witnessed, celebrated, and remembered."

Bassett reflected on the work that turned a long-discussed idea into a facility the college can be proud of. "When Ithaca College decides to invest, expand, improve, and build," she said, "we do things the right way. A project of this magnitude takes time, careful planning, the right combination of donors, leadership, institutional alignment, and patience."

She wrapped with a familiar refrain: "Lots of sports in action this weekend, so let's hear it-Go Bombers!"

The IC Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony is a Homecoming tradition. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

Friday's Celebration of Scholarships luncheon in Emerson Suites set the tone for the weekend, pairing donors and recipients whose paths reflect the many ways an Ithaca education unfolds. President La Jerne Terry Cornish reminded attendees that "each endowed scholarship … is a promise - that talent, hard work, and potential will always have a place here."

That evening, the college honored the 55th class of the Ithaca College Athletics Hall of Fame at a sold-out induction ceremony, celebrating athletes and teams whose achievements helped define Bomber excellence. Among them was former All-American Emilia Scheemaker '15, holder of IC's indoor and outdoor triple jump records, who returned the next day for the track and field ribbon cutting-a reminder that legacies live on in both record books and the community that gathers to celebrate them.

On Saturday, the Susan DiPace '74 Alumni Panel continued the intergenerational conversations, as alumni described how the knowledge, confidence, and creativity they developed at IC continues to open new directions in their professional and personal lives. to open new directions in their professional and personal lives.

Homecoming 2025 brought together alumni, families, and students for more than two dozen events across campus - from open houses and performances to athletic contests and panels.

• Celebration of Scholarships - Donors and recipients met for conversations that celebrated impact in action.
• Susan DiPace '74 Alumni Panel: Alumni across decades shared how their IC experiences continue to shape their work and lives.
• Athletics Hall of Fame Induction - The 55th class honored the athletes and teams whose excellence built and continued the Bomber legacy.
• Family & Alumni Tailgate - Generations of Bombers gathered outside Butterfield Stadium to reconnect before kickoff of the football game against Union College.
• Park School Journalism Alumni Gathering - Journalism grads reunited with faculty and current students to discuss media careers and emerging storytelling tools.
• IC London Center Reunion - Alumni from the London program reconnected, swapping stories from South Hill to South Kensington.
• Demo Day Preview: Student Innovation Showcase - Attendees got a first look at student startups and prototypes developed through IC's entrepreneurial programs.
• AI Forum: Teaching and Learning in the Age of Artificial Intelligence - Faculty and students explored how generative AI is reshaping creativity, ethics, and learning.
• Performing Arts Showcases - Students in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance filled the weekend with concerts and stage performances.
• Athletic Competitions - Football, volleyball, soccer, and swimming and diving all represented IC in home weekend matchups.

Homecoming 2025 underscored the range of what IC makes possible-and who makes it possible.

Friends gather for the pre-game tailgate. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

From the first whistle to the last horn, Saturday moved at a championship pace. Football dropped a hard-fought 19-14 matchup to Union, while the No. 15 volleyball team notched back-to-back wins, men's soccer battled Clarkson to a draw on Senior Day, and men's and women's swimming and diving kept their strong early-season form with commanding performances. Across every venue, Bomber programs showed depth, grit, and the kind of competitive spirit that defines Homecoming weekend.

Between events, the tailgate lots were packed with alumni tents and parents of current players trading updates between kickoffs. Geoff Green '96, a former Bomber linebacker, was there with his wife Jennifer Green '97, MS '98; their son Jake '27 was later on the field-also at linebacker. The family makes the trip from northern Virginia for every home game. "We love Ithaca," Green said. "There's a resonance about it that if you don't know, it's hard to understand-but once you get here, you know. We love the school, we love the town, we love the people." He nodded toward a cluster of former teammates. "It's the blend where athletics meets music, where my wife was a PT major, and buddies of mine are now on ESPN. There's so much diversity in the direction you can take your life from here-it sits with you your whole life. It's such a thrill to be back."

"Bombers on three!" Track and field athletes past and present celebrate and enjoy the moment. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

Before the weekend closed, the track had its firsts: alumni and students sharing relay lanes, families filling the stands, and generations framed against that unmistakable IC blue.

Cornish's words from the dedication lingered: The facility "represents momentum and growth … a place for learning, for competition, and for wellness." Homecoming 2025 celebrated that momentum-carried now by Bombers past and present, on the track and beyond it.

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Here, ambition meets opportunity. From state-of-the-art athletic facilities to hands-on learning across every field of study, Ithaca students gain the experience, mentorship, and confidence to go farther-wherever their paths lead. Visit campus and learn more.