Villanova’s campus welcomed alumni, families and friends, both old and new, this past weekend for Homecoming Weekend, a longstanding tradition for the University and a weekend of beautiful weather and plenty of activities for current and former students.
The weekend was centered around Saturday’s football game against Albany, a 29-16 win, which stretched Villanova’s home winning streak to 20 games. However, outside of the game, the weekend also included a variety of different events for returning Villanovans. Alumni enjoyed checking out recent changes to campus, like the major renovations to the Connelly Center, or the University-wide planned events, such as Saturday’s “Tailgate on the Green and Homecoming Festival.”
Saturday’s game also celebrated “Athletics UNITAS: Community, Culture and Engagement,” an initiative by Villanova Athletics to try and promote mutual collaboration and understanding all across the different areas and facets of campus.
This weekend always marked the first return for the class of 2025 to a place they called home for four years and perhaps seeing former professors or fellow classmates for the first time in five months. However, for many, Villanova meaning “new home” has taken another sentiment for those who graduated and who’ve left campus: forever home.
Class of 2025 graduate and former Villanovan co-Editor-in-Chief, Hannah Sweeney was emotional as she returned to campus for the first time since Commencement last May.
“The best way I can describe this weekend was bittersweet,” Sweeney said. “It was so fun to see everyone and be back on campus, especially because Villanova looks prettiest in the fall.”
The weekend also offered opportunities for past alumni to give back, be it to the major fundraising campaign “Espiritus ‘Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University” or different avenues, like the Wildcat Wardrobe or the Nova Nook, where alumni and families could give “gently used” or new professional attire or essential personal care items, like toiletries or non-perishable food. Direct gifts remain available through the VUEvents webpage for Homecoming.
Other recent graduates, like Gabby Davignon, enjoyed getting a chance to walk the grounds traversed by her class and graduating classes before them again, getting to see friends, both old students and still current students.
“Returning to Villanova as an alum for the first time was a wonderful experience,” Davignon said. “It was great to reconnect with friends and spend time back on Villanova’s campus.”
Sweeney also reflected on coming back to Villanova not as a student, but as an alumna and reuniting with former peers, classmates and friends both here and beyond the confines of 800 East Lancaster Avenue.
“On the other hand it felt nostalgic and a little sad because college is a very fun and unique part of your life,” Sweeney said. “The tailgate was the highlight of my weekend because I got to see so many people I hadn’t seen in a while.”
Beyond the main campus, returning alumni got a chance to socialize at local establishments like Kelly’s, McSorley’s and The Grog, revisiting the good times of their four years as Wildcats or to restaurants at and around the Bryn Mawr area.
Even with the weekend being seemingly a short amount of time, alumni still enjoyed the taste of their former time as Villanova students, reconnecting with the love, passion and warm feelings from their days that made their time all the more special. And for some, like former Villanovan co-Editor-in-Chief Emma Cahill, the feeling was more than simply returning to an institution.
“Even though it was the first time I had been back to campus since graduation, it felt as though I’d never left,” Cahill said. “No matter how much time passes by, Villanova will always feel like home.
