Marietta College Homecoming 2024: A Celebration of Community and Achievement
Marietta College’s 2024 Homecoming, themed “Reaching New Heights,” was a vibrant celebration that brought together over 450 registered alumni and friends to honor the lifetime bonds that make up The Long Blue Line.
The weekend featured a series of events tailored to celebrate milestones and foster connections. The Class of 1974 marked their Golden Reunion with special activities, including a tour of the campus, an exploration of the Legacy Library’s Special Collections, and a reception at the President’s House, culminating in a dinner at The Great Room in Andrews Hall.
Don Ritter ’81 energized the weekend with live music at The Gathering Place, featuring performances by renowned musician Sadie Johnson ’22, the Michael Weber Band, and The TEPs. The Physician Assistant Program celebrated its 20th anniversary, announcing that the Dr. John Grosel Friends and Family Scholarship had reached its funding goal, set to commence disbursement in 2026. During the celebratory dinner, Dr. Gloria Stewart received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to the program.
Throughout the weekend, alumni engaged in a variety of special reunions and gatherings, including the first-ever Pioneers In Print event, which featured faculty, staff, student and alumni authors with their books in the Jack and Betty Prince Forum.
A 1984 Social Hour at the Lafayette Hotel, organized by Renee Bailey Gallagher ’84, offered a nostalgic evening for classmates.
Saturday morning featured an Alumni Rowers Breakfast, a Coffee and Conversation with the Marietta College Board of Trustees, and department-specific reunions for Petroleum Engineering & Geology, Math & Computer Science, and Music.
The MCAA Awards Ceremony recognized outstanding alumni, including Bob Brucken ’56 as the newest inductee into the College’s Hall of Honor, along with Distinguished Alumnae Tara Van Ho ’00 and Jo-Anne Levy-Lamoreaux ’74. Ashley Thomas ’14 and Nicole Hannaway ’16 were honored as Outstanding Young Alumnae, while Christine Zernick Suter ’84 received the Liz Tribett Service Award.
The ceremony also included recognition of the incredible work done by students in the Investigative Studies Program, as well as the achievements of Marietta’s student-athletes, individually and as teams. Two performances by Flood Stage brought the auditorium members to their feet with a standing ovation.
A touching moment occurred when current and alumnae members of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority celebrated the restoration of their historic home with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, embodying the spirit of sisterhood and community. Later, the sisters shared a dinner at The Vault in downtown Marietta.
The Pioneer Tailgate on Saturday drew hundreds, creating an electric atmosphere filled with food, fun, and a wing-eating competition. The Marietta Pioneers football team celebrated a resounding victory over Baldwin Wallace, winning 47-7 and achieving a program-first national ranking (25). The men’s soccer team also showed grit, tying Baldwin Wallace 1-1 in a hard-fought match.
Another highlight was the crowning of Homecoming King and Queen. Joshua Radloff ’25, representing the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, was honored as Homecoming King for his dedication to raising funds for McDonough’s EXCEL Program. Meanwhile, Jordan Cholley ’25, representing the Softball team, was crowned Homecoming Queen for her efforts in fundraising for Sport Management. The Homecoming Court also included Queen candidates: Lexi Beckett ’25 (Newark, Ohio), Maria Cipro ’25 (Medina, Ohio), Madelyn Crawford ’25 (Bellaire, Ohio), Meya Derwacter ’25 (Zanesville, Ohio), Paige Doseck ’25 (Botkins, Ohio), Skylee Lang ’25 (Waterford, Ohio), Kae-Lynn Lowe ’25 (Greensburg, Indiana), Abigail May ’25 (Randolph, Ohio), Alyssa Mays ’25 (Winchester, Ohio), Genavive Olinski ’25 (Columbus, Ohio), Elizabeth Schnegg ’25 (Clarington, Ohio), Abby Scott ’25 (Dillonvale, Ohio), Alexis Sommers ’25 (Nelsonville, Ohio), Jenna Stewart ’25 (St. Clairsville, Ohio), Claire Strickland ’25 (Shadyside, Ohio); and King candidates: Ben Millard ’25 (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), Isaiah Mitchell ’25 (Marietta, Ohio), Jaelon Quiero-Gordon ’25 (Westerville, Ohio), Zach Riffle ’25 (St. Clairsville, Ohio), and Eric Thurman ’25 (Massillon, Ohio).
As the weekend concluded, a farewell breakfast in Gilman allowed alumni to savor the last moments of connection before heading back home. The beautiful fall colors and perfect weather added a picturesque backdrop to an already memorable Homecoming.
Marietta College’s 2024 Homecoming was more than just a series of events; it was a chance for alumni and current students to celebrate the Navy Blue & White and create new memories with old friends. It’s not too late to begin planning for next year, as the tentative date for the 2025 weekend festivities is October 16-19.