Celebrating the spirit of tradition and togetherness, Slippery Rock University is throwing it back for this year’s Homecoming festivities. With the theme “A Very Vintage Homecoming,” SRU’s Oct. 16-18 events will serve as a heartfelt tribute to the memories that unite generations of Rock alumni as they return to campus to celebrate where it all began.
“We are excited to welcome our alumni back to celebrate our annual Homecoming festivities,” said Kelly Bailey, SRU director of alumni engagement. “Our theme is a nod to the rich history of tradition that embodies our University. We encourage alumni to pull out their dink beanie caps, cage gear and favorite SRU spirit wear and join us for a great weekend on campus!”
The Homecoming pep rally will kick things off from 12:30-1:30 p.m., Oct. 16, on The Quad. The rally will include performances by the SRU Marching Pride and Rock cheerleaders, as well as the annual coaches’ speech and the presentation of the 2025 Rock Royalty.
Oct. 17 will feature multiple alumni and campus events. The full list of events and links for registration can be found on the Rock Alumni website.
The Homecoming parade starts at 10 a.m. on Oct. 18 at the intersection of Main Street and Route 108. It will then follow Main Street to Morrow Way and end at the intersection of Morrow Way and Campus Drive.
Later on Oct. 18, The Rock football team will host Indiana University of Pennsylvania at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium at 1 p.m. and will feature the crowning of the Homecoming Royalty at halftime and special on-field recognition ceremonies.
The University’s tailgating policy can be found online. Further information about SRU Homecoming sporting events can be found on the Rock Athletics Website.
Other alumni events include (some events require tickets or registration –– see the SRUAA webpage for more information):
- Alumni Employee Breakfast, Oct. 17, 9-10:30 a.m., in the Alumni House for SRU alumni who are also University employees.
- Archives Homecoming Display, Oct. 17, all day in the Bailey Library. Archives will offer a display of videos of Homecoming celebrations from past years.
- Time Capsule Opening and Reveal, Oct. 17, noon to 1 p.m. in the Aebersold Recreation Center. A celebration of 25 years of Campus Recreation’s home in the ARC with the opening of the time capsule which was placed during the building’s construction in 2000.
- SRU Communication and Media Symposium and Communication Media Hall of Fame and Alumni Mixer, Oct. 17, in the Smith Student Center. Communications and media alumni will have an open symposium at noon for students and guests where they will discuss their career journeys and current issues facing professionals. From 2:30-4:30 p.m., there will be a ceremony and mixer to celebrate current and incoming SRU Communication and Media Hall of Fame inductees and award winners. Complete biographies of the inductees are available on the SRUAA website. The inductees and honorees include:
- Brian Grystar, ’00, video photographer, editor and media manager at KDKA-TV, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Deanna Tomaselli, ’06, vice president of client services at The Motherhood.
- Chelsey Rovesti, ’10, senior marketing manager at Infectious Disease. Connect
- Joseph Harry, SRU associate professor emeritus of strategic communication and media, with the Founder’s Award.
- Distinguished Alumni Dinner, Oct. 17, 5-8 p.m., in the Alumni House. The Office of Alumni Engagement and the SRU Alumni Associate will be recognizing Distinguished Alumni who have reached the highest level of accomplishment. Complete biographies of the awardees are available on the SRUAA website. This year’s honorees are:
- April Cunningham, ’97, chief journey officer of The Journey Strategy, LLC.
- Nichole Geraci, ’04M, president and chief executive officer for Armstrong County Memorial Hospital.
- Jennifer Walters, ’89, chief financial officer at Trib Total Media, Inc.
- H. Keith Warcup, ’75, retired chief executive officer at SRU Federal Credit Union, who is being recognized for the SRUAA’s Past President Service Award.
- Homecoming Comedy Show, Featuring Jordan Conley, Oct. 17, 8 p.m., in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. Students and alumni are invited to kick Homecoming Weekend off with laughter! Jordan Conley of “America’s Got Talent” Season 17 brings fast-paced, high-energy comedy that’s not just for adults, it’s for the whole family.
- Muffins and Mimosas, Oct. 18, 8:30-9:45 a.m. in the Alumni house. Alumni are invited to join us for Muffins and Mimosas prior to the start of the annual parade.
- SRUAA Tailgate Tent, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Scarnati Band Field. Join the SRU Alumni Association for the annual tailgate tent, the best party of the year. This year we are offering express registration – skip the long registration lines by pre-registering.
- Rock Baseball Alumni Picnic, Oct. 18, noon, at Critchfield Park. Tailgate lunch for alumni, family, and friends. Features alumni batting practice and open field.
A list of Homecoming events for SRU students is available on CORE, the University’s online platform for student organizations and events.
More information about Homecoming is available on the Alumni Association website, or by contacting the Office of Alumni Engagement at 724.738.2018 or alumni@sru.edu.
