UM-Dearborn Homecoming Week in review

This year’s turnout for the cardboard boat races was the largest it’s been in three years.
(Photo courtesy of Alex Piazza)

By LESLIE WENDLOWSKY, Guest Writer

The past few days have been filled with exciting events for both students and alumni in honor of University of Michigan-Dearborn’s sixth annual homecoming week.

The festivities began on Monday, October 8th with the homecoming kickoff ceremony and ended with the Go Blue tailgate in Ann Arbor for the football game against Illinois on Saturday, October 13th. Students started out their Tuesday morning being served pancakes by Vice Chancellor Henderson for the annual pancake breakfast in the University Center. Later on that afternoon was the fashion show which followed the theme “Through the Decades”.

(Photo courtesy of UM-Dearborn SAO website)

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“The UM-Dearborn bookstore helped sponsor a lot of the present decade apparel and the models provided their own look for whichever decade they pleased,” says Wedad Ibrahim.

Ibrahim along with Rima Rada were the coordinators of the fun and inventive fashion show. Students came ready with props from the decade they were representing along with walking down the runway to 90’s sitcom theme songs, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles or other popular artists.

Wednesday kicked off with the always exciting competition of the cardboard boat races. Each team would have to build a boat using only cardboard and duct tape, race across the Chancellor’s pond, and hope that their boat doesn’t sink into the cold water on a chilly October day. This year’s turnout for the races was the largest it’s been in the three years they’ve been doing it as well.

Alumni and Students went head-to-head later that afternoon in the Maize and Blue Bowl flag-football game. The alumni started out with an early lead, but students came back and finished strong winning against the alumni 43-32!

GALLERY: Maize and Blue Bowl (courtesy of UM-D on Facebook)

On Thursday, there were quite a few events including the Breast Cancer Ball and Alumni hockey game. The Breast Cancer Ball included dinner, fabulous entertainment by the UM-Dearborn Jazz Band, and a guest speaker from the American Cancer Society. Eight dollars out of each ticket was donated to Maize Marchers team for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk which took place on Saturday, and overall $400 raised for Breast Cancer research.

The alumni awards, which took place on Friday, have been a tradition that the school has been carrying on for more than thirty years. At the event, alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to their community or have done something recognizable are honored by UM-Dearborn.

The week ended with the Go Blue tailgate in Ann Arbor and the Homecoming football game against Illinois where all University of Michigan students and alumni celebrated. There was a lot of hard work and fun put into each event. Jon Larson, one of the coordinators of Homecoming week, was very pleased at the outcome.

“I thought it was a great week of UM-Dearborn pride and spirit”, says Larson. “I am very proud of the committee for their hard work and months of planning”. This week really shows how both students and alumni alike can be difference makers, and raise money for a great cause while showing off their UM-Dearborn pride.