Beyond celebration, UNLV Homecoming is a rallying point
The University of Las Vegas, Nevada Homecoming evokes a feeling of connection and community, instilling lasting pride in its university community.
Every fall, colleges around the nation compete in one of the most popular pastimes: American Football. Saturdays are for college football becomes more than a slogan. It becomes a way of life.
American college football is broadcast on multiple outlets including FOX, ABC, NBC, ESPN, and CBS. Students clad in their school colors with painted faces, and stomachs, cheer on the teams on the field, hoping to grace the jumbotron just once. The individual disappears in a sea of color, creating something bigger than themselves. Besides the championships, there is one game that is a must-win: Homecoming.
“You always have to hope your team wins,” said Brianna Thornton, a sophomore transfer student. “At least homecoming.”
In college, school spirit reaches new heights. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is no exception. There are a few things that make UNLV special. Alumni involvement, school sponsored events, and a winning 2023 football season.
Beginning in elementary school, students are not only encouraged but even expected to be involved in school spirit events. Such events continue into high school, college, and the workplace. There are many different reasons why a school has inclusive, on-campus events. These events provide the opportunity to increase skills in math, science, and interpersonal communication.
They are especially important for incoming freshman and transfer students who need to build a community in a new place. UNLV students come from all over the world, and starting over can be difficult for even the most outgoing person. The school provides these opportunities for students to get out of their dorms and get involved within their community. They help create a sense of belonging to something greater.
School pride runs deep in the collegiate community. School rivalries are taken very seriously. Some of the most well-known rivalries include Army versus Navy, University of Michigan and Ohio State University and Alabama and Auburn. Even later into life, people tout the colors of their university, give back to their college, and continue to support their sports teams. Sometimes the rivalry is so strong that people who didn’t attend either college pick a side.
UNLV has a Division I football team, and the colors scarlet and grey abound the city. The UNLV Rebels play at Allegiant Stadium, so there are advertisements for the next home game on the large screens that face the freeway. The matches are advertised on the radio, television, billboards, and online. With the UNLV win against Hawaii in September, the Rebels’ pride grew just in time for Homecoming Week.
The UNLV Homecoming Week took place Oct. 16–21, 2023, with school spirit events including window painting, a variety show, a festival, and other events culminating in the Homecoming Football game where UNLV faced the Colorado State Rams.
UNLV defeated the Colorado Rams, bringing their record to 6 and 1. They are also third in the 2023 Mountain West standings. The UNLV Rebels are having an outstanding year, with the win making them bowl eligible. For the first time since 2013, the Rebels are on national radars. This winning season has sparked more pride among students.
Other homecoming events at UNLV include office decorating contests, Rebel Royalty reminiscent of high school Prom Court, pep rally, variety show and the school’s Most Spirited Rebel with the winner receiving a $500 scholarship.
Homecoming is something that is uniquely American. Celina Bruer, a study abroad student visiting from Germany, did not know what to she was getting into when she first came to the homecoming festival.
“I don’t know what I was expecting,” she said. “It’s overwhelming.”
The homecoming festival and parade saw over 5,000 people visiting the university for games, music, food, and carnival rides. People were decked out in scarlet and grey UNLV Rebels’ attire. The golf cart parade featured entries from different departments across the university along with sorority and fraternity entrants. Scarlet convertibles paraded the Homecoming Court, and candy and costume jewelry were tossed into the crowd. Students brought their friends and family. There were kids, parents, and grandparents sharing pride in the university. It was a family affair.
“I didn’t expect that many rides and that many people,” Bruer said. “Actually, I thought it was for students but when I entered, obviously not all of them are students. I didn’t know it was for family.”
The beer garden featured a stage with live music, neon lit tables and chairs, food, and a dance floor while the alumni amphitheater had a DJ. Students packed themselves in to listen to the DJ and dance. Each department had their own booth as well, with the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs broadcasting live on the college radio station, 91.5 KUNV. The William F. Harrah College of Hospitality had a makeshift haunted house.
Participation in school spirit does not end at graduation, either. UNLV has over 140,000 alumni with 85,000 of them living and working in Las Vegas. UNLV has an extensive alumni program, including mentorships, awards ceremonies, and alumni tailgates at football games.
“62% of UNLV alumni are here in Southern Nevada,” Blake Douglas, Co-Chair Rebel Homecoming Committee and Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement, said. “Graduates make the Strip work.”
UNLV is unique in that it has one of the top five hospitality schools in the nation. Las Vegas is a city built on hospitality, employing over 280,000 hospitality workers. The Las Vegas Strip is only a mere 1.6 miles west of the university. With 62% of alumni working and living so close to the school, it’s easy for them to stay involved in the college.
The Alumni Association provides services and benefits including discounts on further education classes, dining, and hotel stays. The university also holds special events for alumni including tailgates at the football games, the UNLV Alumni Day of Service, and the Alumni Awards handed out the week of Homecoming. This year,19 recipients won awards with the Patrick T. Smith Achievement in Service going to Greg McKinley, and the Fred C. Albrecht Outstanding Alumnus to Russel A. Kost III.
While homecoming might be the oldest standing tradition in university history, it also is one of the most important.
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