Oct. 2022 is Mav Month, and the main celebration will be the annual homecoming celebration, with fun festivities from the 24 to the 29.
Homecoming is a cherished and traditional celebration of the school and a time to celebrate all the alumni of Colorado Mesa University (CMU).
Alongside homecoming, Parent’s Weekend will take place from the 28 through the 30. Parent’s Weekend is an annual opportunity for Mavs to show off CMU to their parents with activities and fun.
“I think homecoming week is kind of under-hyped for what it is. Homecoming week is a week where students, parents, community, staff and faculty all get together and show why they’re proud to be a Maverick,” Director of External Relations for the Associated Student Government (ASG) Gabe Simon said.
One of the first events to look forward to is the ASG carnival. Here, students, alumni and parents can play games and win prizes at booths hosted by all the clubs and organizations on campus. This year’s free homecoming shirt will also be distributed at the event.
Later that night, the annual bonfire will kick off at 8 p.m. The Homecoming Honorees will ignite the traditional bonfire and there will be live entertainment to kick off the weekend.
“I think the big-hitting events will be our big victory dinner on Friday night, the parade on Saturday and the football game, of course, which is really big. But what’s [also] happening is that there are a lot more groups organically having reunions and trying to find ways to reconnect with their constituents,” said Director of Alumni Relations Jared Meier.
Additionally, there will be plenty of events for the honorees of homecoming–the alumni. All these events will be hosted by the minds behind the month’s events, the alumni association.
On Saturday at 10 a.m. the Homecoming parade will commence. All the organizations and clubs will participate with floats decorated to this year’s superhero theme. Everyone from the CMU Marching Band to Rowdy the bull will walk all of Main Street, handing out candy and showing off their Mesa pride.
Later that day the football game and tailgate will happen at Stocker Stadium. Students and faculty alike can look forward to watching the Mesa Mavericks face off with Colorado State University Pueblo.
None of the homecoming events would be possible without the help of the alumni association, ASG, student life and all the other organizations around campus that each help with the theme.
“We want this thing to be big, loud, and bold–and you know, the school spirit is really riveting because that sets a tone for people to take back to their communities,” Meier said.
Don’t let the month or week go by without attending as many homecoming events as possible, as there are plenty to participate in.