UCI Homecoming, organized by the UCI Alumni Association, returned to campus for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on Feb. 11. The event took place in Aldrich Park and included live performances, food, interactive booths and Homecoming Court crowning.
Upon arrival, attendees were given a pamphlet with information about Homecoming, including a scavenger hunt. Attendees could win prizes such as UCI sweaters and key chains depending on the number of tasks completed, such as going to different booths or taking photos at photo-op spots.
The homecoming game took place later that night, where UCI’s men’s basketball team went head-to-head against UC Riverside and won 83-64.
First-year comparative literature student Celine Dahlstrom said she felt excited about the event and was happy to see her friends.
“It’s really fun, and I love that everyone’s families are here and I feel like it’s for everyone,” Dahlstrom said. “My favorite part of the event has been the scavenger hunt.”
UCI Alumni Association events planner Nargis Penjwini said there was some uncertainty about the attendance turnout due to the event being on hiatus for the past couple of years due to COVID-19.
“One of the challenges I would say is just trying to get the word out that we are doing it [homecoming] again in person,” Penjwini said. “We were just thinking, bringing it back, how can we get people excited about it again?”
Penjwini added that UCI Homecoming has grown significantly over the years, with the event originally taking place in a parking lot with alumni.
“Because of the size that it is now, we partner with special events and protocols,” Penjwini said.
Maddy McDonald, a second-year chemistry student and co-director of Dinner with Anteaters, worked with UCI’s Alumni Association to organize the event.
“We’ve been preparing since last quarter actually, so I’d say maybe eight to 10 weeks,” McDonald said. “I think it turned out really well, so I’m excited for the next one.”
Celine Patterson, an alumnus who graduated from UCI in 2019 with a degree in public health policy, heard about the event via emails sent by the Alumni Association. Patterson said the event was “really fun” and was even interested in joining the different alumni chapters, many of which had booths set up.
“I already signed up for the Black Alumni [Chapter] and [want to sign up] if they have an Inland Empire, Orange County Chapter, and then [I’m] doing the Public Health Alumni [Chapter] as well,” Patterson said. “[UCI alumni chapters] have different events and get-togethers and then talk to current students, previous students or students that may be interested in the field or UCI.”
Fourth-year education sciences and psychology student Kaamilah Sha was one of two people crowned Homecoming royalty and described the process of campaigning as “pretty intense.” Sha, as well as three other students who were nominated, went through an interview process with the court’s commissioners before campaigning for votes.
“Not going to lie, I felt like I did a lot of shameless plugging, but it was fun,” Sha said. “Winning to me would just feel like I’ve had no regrets here at UCI — that I’ve done all that I could.”
Fourth-year psychological sciences student Samantha Padua was crowned Homecoming royalty alongside Sha.
Penjwini expressed optimism that UCI Homecoming will return to campus next year.
“Hopefully nothing like COVID-19 will come around again, but barring all of that, definitely,” she said.
Laiyla Santillan is a Campus News staff writer. She can be reached at laiylas@uci.edu.