Liberty to hold Virtual Homecoming this weekend, with events aimed at helping alumni share their stories

If it weren’t for the COVID-19 pandemic and current state health and safety restrictions, the Liberty University campus would be buzzing with activity this weekend for the annual Homecoming celebration.

In typical years, Liberty has welcomed thousands of guests for a full weekend of family fun, with traditions like the bonfire, football game, tailgating, parade, and many more. This year, Liberty’s Student Activities team, in cooperation with the Alumni Relations Office, has planned a blitz of social media events to engage alumni and help them share their own journeys as Liberty students and Champions for Christ.

All events can be found on the Virtual Homecoming webpage and on Student Activities’ Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. Through Thursday, alumni will have the chance to participate in a photo competition for prizes  — including Airpods Pro — by posting throwback photos from their days at LU, photos sporting Flames gear at home, and photos of families with the most LU grads. Through Wednesday, alumni can submit a video for a virtual guestbook with the chance to win an Apple Watch. The Alumni Relations Office is also hosting three giveaways on their social media accounts and will be posting a video introduction to their team showing how alumni can still take part in the original vision for Liberty University.

On Friday and Saturday, alumni are encouraged to follow Student Activities’ social media accounts to watch Convocation, view the submitted videos, hear special messages from the Alumni Relations and Student Activities staff as well as Flames Football Head Coach Hugh Freeze, and take a virtual campus tour.

Like Homecomings every year at Liberty, current students have not been left out of the fun. They will have the chance to celebrate at the traditional Homecoming bonfire, held on the East Campus Satellite Lot on Friday at 9 p.m. (with limited capacity). Alumni are invited to follow the event on Instagram. On Saturday, fans can show their school spirit by cheering on Flames Football in their game against Louisiana – Monroe (watch a live stream on ESPNU or listen live on The Journey FM.) Liberty Athletics is also set to enshrine six new members into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, and Flames Nation can watch the ceremony live online. This year’s class includes Larry Blair II (men’s basketball), Henry Elliott (men’s track & field), Andrea (Wildrick) Hampson (women’s track & field), Morgan Hout (football head coach), Samuel Johnson (men’s soccer) and Jeff Mincey (baseball).

“Our team has been looking forward to Homecoming 2020 for quite some time,” said Steph Ward, director of Student Activities. “Each year, the university brings our Liberty family together for a weekend of celebration, and with the transition virtually, we still afford ourselves the opportunity to build great community with our alumni as they engage from all over the world. Though we are disappointed that we cannot gather in person, I am hopeful to see so many take part in the events or virtual experiences this weekend! Our university has come together to provide so many digital experiences for our alumni during this unprecedented time, and we couldn’t be more grateful. We’ll miss our alumni this year and we cannot wait to see them on campus for our 50^th Anniversary Homecoming in 2021.”

“Homecoming is always an exciting weekend on campus, as the whole Liberty family has a chance to celebrate together,” added Giuseppe Cucci, director of Alumni Relations. “It is truly a highlight of the school year. Even though this is an unusual year for campus events, the Student Activities team has done a great job giving our alumni a chance to connect virtually and share those special memories. We are already looking forward to next year, when we hope to be able to return to some of the same campus traditions that our alumni and their families enjoy.”