Over 600 Alumni attended homecoming the weekend of November 13 through 15.

Glimpses from the 2009 homecoming

These included Alumni from Kentucky, New Hampshire, California, Florida, and India.

This year, alumni from the classes of ’84, ’89, ’99, ’04, and ’09 were celebrated at homecoming. The theme for the 2009 homecoming was "Berea, Berea Beloved."

Homecoming’s notable events included Friday night’s Young Alumni Happy Hour, BereaFEST, the poster competition, the Men and Women’s basketball games on Saturday night, and the King and Queen Coronation Ceremony at half-time. See video below


Student groups received awards for the Homecoming poster contests. First place was rewarded to Students in Free Enterprise. Second place went to Baptist Campus Ministries and third place was given to the Concert Choir.

More than 200 people mingled in the cozy environment of Papaleno's on Friday night. This event centered on old friends reacquainting with one another. Berea alumnus Chris Thomas Hayes, '06, performed live stand-up comedy.

One Alumnus, Wade Francis, flew all the way from Los Angeles to attend homecoming events. Over a slice of Papaleno’s pizza during Happy Hour he explained why he was at Homecoming – to “seize the moment.”

As a student at Berea, Francis worked in the Boone Tavern and as an auditor for Berea College. It was then, Francis said, that he picked up an understanding of business management. Now he is the president of a bank consulting company, Unicom Financial Services, Inc.

On Saturday, BereaFEST was particularly popular this year because of the good weather. Student organizations raised funds by selling food from different world countries. Students for a Free Tibet sold Tibetan dumplings, while the Cosmopolitan Club offered Baklava, a Middle Easter dessert. The sale was accompanied with music and dance performances by groups like the Berea Middle Eastern Dance.

The men's homecoming basketball game on Saturday was one for the record books. Enthusiastic fans cheered on as the Mountaineers completely crushed their competition, Ohio Mansfield.

The team beat five records and tied one record with a score from 1986. These records were as follows: the most points scored in a half time - 76, the most points scored in a game - 151, the most rebounds in a game - 83, the most assists in a game - 33, and the most field goals made in a game - 66. See our special coverage here

During half-time, Christian Motley and Joanna Bennett were announced as the respective King and Queen. Anthony Holmes and Leanna Kaiser were crowned Prince and Princess.

The historic win by the men’s basketball team was accompanied by fervent school spirit among Bereans, making his homecoming doubly special for the alumni and the Berea College community.