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SLU’s Billikens, Alumni to Celebrate as ‘OneSLU’ Virtually for Homecoming 2020

09/18/2020

Saint Louis University’s 2020 Homecoming may be virtual, but there is still a full slate of fun to help current, past and future Billikens celebrate this fall.

Fireworks go off near the spire of St. Francis Xavier College Church.

Fireworks light up the sky near the spire of St. Francis Xavier College Church at a past SLU celebration. SLU photo

With the shift online, the University has innovated on tradition, creating a schedule packed with free, accessible events geared to all ages.

While traditionally Homecoming brings the campus community, alumni and friends of the University together for a series of on-campus events, SLU’s celebrations are going online this year in order to safeguard against the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“In a typical year, the goal of the weekend is to bring members of the campus community together to celebrate the University, showcase campus spaces, highlight our expert faculty and foster a sense of connectedness through in-person events and celebrations,” Annelise Pivin, director of alumni engagement, said.

“This summer, it became clear that hosting 40 events in-person wasn't feasible and our team and partners from across the University retooled many events and converted them to virtual opportunities and experiences," she continued. "And while the weekend looks different, the spirit of the weekend is very much still there – and our Billiken family from coast to coast can celebrate SLU from the comfort of their own homes.”

This year’s theme, “Homecoming at Home,” emphasizes the idea of “OneSLU,” as coined by University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., in response to the SLU community’s interconnectedness and grounding in Jesuit values as women and men for and with others during the painful separation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pivin explained.

It is a key feature of this year’s Homecoming T-shirt and memorabilia. T-shirts purchased by noon on Monday, Sept. 21, will be shipped with the goal of being received by Saturday, Sept. 25. A percentage of the sale also supports a OneSLU gift fund.

This year’s events run from Friday, Sept. 25 through Saturday, Sept. 26.

Plan Your Homecoming 2020 Fun

Friday, Sept. 25
  • Kick off the weekend with “The Tradition of Homecoming at SLU” webinar, featuring John Waide, University archivist emeritus, and Cailin Stamm, of the University Archives  at noon.
  • Dive into innovative faculty research with “Finding Immunity: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine at Saint Louis University,” at 4 p.m.
  • Get a taste of the area’s newest attractions in “St. Louis Virtual Night at the Aquarium,” at 6:15 p.m.
  • Enjoy a nosh at “Garden to Table at Home,” at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26
  • Get ready to “Hustle for your Health” in a Virtual 5K. The results are due Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9:30 a.m.
  • Be part of SLU history and attend the virtual ISE Building Dedication at 10 a.m.
  • Test your gaming skills at the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tournament at 2 p.m.
  • Pick your favorite pint and belly up to your personal bar at the Virtual Beer Tasting, featuring faculty from the Brewing Science and Operations Certificate Program at 5 p.m.
  • Round out your celebrations with Homecoming’s Saturday Night Celebration at 7 p.m.

How Do I Join the Fun?

Learn More and Register

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers nearly 13,000 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University’s diverse community of scholars is SLU’s service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.