Point Loma Nazarene University’s annual Homecoming tradition brings together alumni, current students, families and staff for two days to participate in 25 events centered around community. This weekend, Feb. 20-21, serves as an opportunity for the PLNU community to bond over the fact that they share the same home.
Zachary Bates, executive director of alumni, parent and donor engagement, described Homecoming as “a celebration of coming together as PLNU’s past, present and future.”
What started as small reunion-style gatherings for alumni to see their old classmates and have dinner together has expanded into an annual weekend that blends alumni events with student-centered campus traditions.
“We bring all [alumni] home, effectively, to celebrate alongside other campus communities to share stories, laugh and bask in what makes PLNU so special,” Bates said.
He added that the weekend creates space for alumni to see what campus life looks like for current students, while students gain the opportunity to ask graduates for advice about faith, careers and life beyond college.
This year, the weekend is expected to have over 500-800 alumni guests, in addition to 200-300 current students.
Melissa Chapman, PLNU’s advancement event manager, said the coordination staff is intentional about bringing more current students into Homecoming. To do so, Musoffee, a once-a-month event featuring student bands, will be held in the Greek Amphitheatre.
According to Chapman, moving this event to the Greek will expand the concept into a larger concert for more people to enjoy. This year’s lineup features three current student bands and an alumni artist, with performers selected from reunion classes, Chapman said. The event will also include a churro cart and coffee truck serving custom drinks.
Piper Gilbert, a third-year organizational communication major, is a singer for The Paisleys and has been performing with her band in Musoffee for the past three years. A professional production company will handle sound and staging, providing equipment that isn’t normally available during a typical Musoffee performance. With access to higher-level audio support, the band has chosen bigger, more layered songs that take advantage of the expanded setup.
Gilbert’s goal is “to bring the audience a good time,” she said. “We want to play songs that make people want to dance. We also want to play songs that are familiar to all generations.”
Bates said he hopes attendees will walk away with the impression that PLNU is a “Christ-centered community” with a “Jesus-first attitude displayed by the staff and students they interact with.”
“I hope they walk away going, ‘I want to come back and I want to continue being a part of this,’” Bates said.
