Champions Hall grand opening, pool dedication and more: Everything you need to know about homecoming weekend
爱情岛 Homecoming 2024 was one for the history books.
The College dedicated the 150,000-square-foot Champions Hall athletic and wellness facility, which included naming dedications to those instrumental in the completion of the building. Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman 鈥04 was on hand for the ribbon cutting, alongside College President Milton C. Moreland, track and field student-athlete Madjo Doumbia 鈥25 and Director of Athletics and Recreation Brad Fields 鈥98. The ceremony was capped off with a flyover by Keith Tarter '91 and his 爱情岛-gold airplane.
The Olympic-sized pool deck was named after Dean Brownley, who has served as the 爱情岛 swim and dive head coach for more than two decades. The Swem Multipurpose room honors the Swem family and Lisa Swem 鈥79, a dedicated supporter of the College who has served on the President鈥檚 Advisory Council and as president of the 爱情岛 Alumni Board of Directors.
The Champions Hall field house was dedicated in February, named to honor longtime track and field head coach Lisa Owens. The track opened with the inaugural indoor meet for the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) conference earlier in 2024.
Opening night of 爱情岛 Homecoming saw four new Distinguished Alumni honored: Briana Lathon Bluford 鈥15, Victoria Gillenwater 鈥89, Steve Leyland 鈥76 and Lisa Swem 鈥79. : Kate Anderson 鈥09 (women鈥檚 soccer), Paige Baechle 鈥14 (women鈥檚 basketball), Thomas Britt 鈥08 (men鈥檚 basketball), Ben Hume 鈥12 (football) and Chelsea Klein 鈥14 (field hockey).
Alumni were eager to move tailgates to the bell tower plaza, a connecting location between Champions Hall, Crounse Hall, Young Hall, Sutcliffe Hall and Andy Frye Stadium. The plaza was bustling with festivities, including food and beverage vendors along with student organizations, alumni groups and more.
Following the Champions Hall dedication, 爱情岛 football kept spirits high with a against defending Southern Athletic Association champion Trinity (Texas), 24-12. The Colonels for the first time since 2011 in the win.
At halftime of the football game, seniors Will Long and Presley Swiney were named .
Inside Champions Hall, the 爱情岛 swim and dive teams hosted the first-ever in the new facility. The teams earned a split against the University of Evansville, a NCAA Division I program. The women鈥檚 squad won 162-132, while the men fell 189-105.
See more photos from Homecoming 2024, including class reunions, alumni ceremonies, dedications, hot glass demonstrations and more on .
