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UMBC community, families celebrate Homecoming 2024

a group of umbc alums gathering in the alumni and friends tent during homecoming 2024

Families, friends, furry pals, and Retrievers of all ages returned to UMBC’s campus last week for the 2024 Homecoming celebration. Retrievers were in high spirits as they enjoyed more than 30 events, including UMBC Homecoming staples like the beloved carnival and bonfire, and some attendees kicked off their Halloween festivities with costumes, pumpkins, and fall treats. 

Many people starting to run at the starting line of a 5k race. People are in the motion of running. Two children and an adult playing with pottery and ceramics. One child in the front has her hands in a white bucket. UMBC families and friends partaking in the 2024 Homecoming Family and Friends Weekend activities including the Retriever 5K race which had more than 250 participants, and the carnival celebration. (Photo on the left by Kiirstn Pagan for UMBC)

Robots, pups, and Retriever traditions

In UMBC tradition, the Homecoming celebration had something for everyone. Leading up to main Homecoming weekend, students kicked Homecoming fun into high gear with the return of the student org kickball tournament. UMBC faculty and staff also took part in the fun at the annual faculty-staff social. 

UMBC students on a field playing kickball. there is an orange kickball in the air as one person begins to run. Nine UMBC students wearing orange athletic vests. One student in the center is holder a red kickball. UMBC students kicked off the Homecoming 2024 excitement at the Student Org Kickball Tournament on October 20 at Erickson Field. The first place team (right) were all smiles following their victory. (Photos by Maashal Awan ’25 for UMBC)

A diverse breadth of UMBC’s research and creative achievement was on display at the eighth annual GRIT-X event. First-year computer science student Morgan Robbins attended this year’s GRIT-X with her mother, Nicole Robbins. The pair were impressed by GRIT-X speaker Aryya Gangopadhyay, professor of information systems, and student researchers in UMBC’s Center for Real-time Distributed Sensing and Autonomy (CARDS) who led a demonstration of their autonomous robotics technology.

Researchers on stage with two autonomous robots that look like robot dogs. The researchers have on headgear that they are using the direct the robots. There is a picture of an animated train crash in a tunnel on the walls behind the researchers. Center for Real-time Distributed Sensing and Autonomy student researchers leading the demonstration of their autonomous robots and how the robots are providing crucial support in rescue operations and human-robot teaming.

“I’m interested in autonomous communication, and I like combining computing with helping people,” said Robbins. “This was my first time seeing research talks, and it was great to see the research happening at UMBC.”

During Homecoming and Family Weekend, there were smiles, cheers, and barks all around for the annual Puppy Parade, which featured dozens of animals in wild costumes. Dharma Bhatt ’23, psychology, said he came to Homecoming for one reason: “The puppy parade—entirely the puppy parade.” 

a woman (left) posing with her dog. the dog has its tongue sticking out in glee. two people dresses as winnie the pooh (left) and tigger (right) with their dog dressed as piglet. a person dresses as a knight holding out his had for his dog's paw. the dog is dressed as a knight's horse. the winners of the 2024 UMBC puppy parade. the winners are holding trophies while dressed in a variety of costumes. the dogs are also wearing costumes as well 2024 Puppy Parade participants and winners showing off their Halloween spirit during this year’s Homecoming weekend celebration.

A weekend for family and friends 

Homecoming weekend also featured several get-togethers for various groups across the community, including reunions for UMBC’s “Founding Four” group and members of the university’s Honors College and scholars programs. President Valerie Sheares Ashby took part in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Lambda Phi chapter’s celebration of their 15th reunion. The group helped to raise more than $1,600 for UMBC’s Second Generation Scholarship Fund.

Room full of members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Lambda Phi chapter. Woman in center is smiling and holding a microphone, which is umbc president valerie sheares ashby.President Valerie Sheares Ashby during the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Lambda Phi chapter’s celebration of their 15th reunion.

Jim Lotfi ’89, visual and performing arts, kept the party rocking during the annual Greek alumni reunion party. Lotfi shared that he loves hosting the Greek alumni party, saying that, “It’s a great time for fraternity and sorority members across all organizations to come together and reconnect. This is one of my favorite Homecoming events to participate in.” 

people in a room. one person is standing behind a podium there are two men on far right shaking hands. there are many people sitting in the audience. three umbc alums during the greek alumni party. one person on the right is holding a drink in a glass. seven people smiling for the camera. there are 6 men who are holding up their fraternity's hand sign. one woman in the middle is crouching. five men smiling for the camera. they all have their arms around each other's shoulders. Homecoming 2024 brought together members of several group across UMBC’s community. The Founding Four (top left) came together for their annual reunion. More than 100 attendees reconnected during the Greek Alumni reunion, hosted by alum Jim Lotfi (pictured in the final photo, far right).

In the Alumni and Friends tent on Erickson Field, attendees enjoyed games, food, petting zoo fun, and moments of reconnecting with old classmates and other familiar faces. Senior Emily Trentalance said she attended Homecoming to be able to see friends and professors again. “It’s hard hanging out, especially with your alumni friends when people are busy, so it’s nice to see everyone,” she shares. 

four older people sitting outside of a tent talking. they are sitting on chairs. one person on the right is gesturing with his hands. a group of six people smiling at the camera. there are yellow and white ballons in the baground two people smiling at the camera. the person on the right is holding a mostly white dog with brown ears Retriever connections in the Alumni and Friends tent gathering during Homecoming Family and Friends Weekend.

During this year’s Taste of Maryland Homecoming event, 100 attendees gathered across from UMBC’s Bookstore in The Commons for a crab and assorted buffet feast. Alumni Association President Kevin Yang ’07, computer science and financial economics, and his wife Katelyn Niu ’05, biochemistry, brought their son along for the Homecoming fun. The family enjoyed the endless bushels of crabs with fellow alumni friends. 

a family holding up crabs and smiling. they are sitting at a table that is covered with paper towel holder, a bucket for the crabs, and various crab cracking utensils. a large table of umbc homecoming attendees holding crabs/ they are sitting at a table outfitted with crabs, drinks, utensils, and more. Taste of Maryland attendees enjoying a crab feast.

“There’s nothing like a UMBC celebration, and what better way to reconnect and reminisce with old friends than with crabs,” said Yang. 

four men smiling at the camera. they are all wearing umbc apparel. there are black, yellow, and white balloons behind them Alumni Association president Kevin Yang ’07 (third from left) with fellow UMBC alumni and staff at the Alumni and Friends tent gathering during Homecoming 2024.

As the carnival lit up the night sky, many attendees made their way to the annual Homecoming Tailgate where they cheered on the men’s soccer team in their victory against the University of Vermont. 

three soccer players on a field. two on the left are in white UMBC uniforms and one on the left is in a green uniform. one player is in the motion of kicking, the ball is flying in the air to towards the player in green. The men’s soccer team triumph over the University of Vermont with a 1-0 victory during their Homecoming 2024 match up.

Additional reporting provided by JJ Gee ’25 and Maashal Awan ’25 for UMBC.

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