Standing in a circle, 10 Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority members clad in sweat pants, T-shirts and tennis shoes clasped hands and bowed their heads. They said a prayer full of thanks and requests for guidance in schoolwork, persistence and help putting one foot in front of the other.

Homecoming to many is a once-a-year tradition requiring a host of arrangements. Hotels are booked. Cars are rented. Schedules are cleared. And many miles are traveled. But for Ashley Deignan, missing Homecoming has become a tradition in itself. The senior volleyball player from Louisville has gone her entire collegiate career without participating in Western’s Homecoming festivities.

Dorm residents across campus have been hard at work planning for the annual Homecoming hall decoration contest this week. The halls will compete in three separate competitions that include banner and lobby decoration and hanging of the red. They will be judged throughout the week and the winners will be announced at 4 p.

While Homecoming celebrants watch the game, drink alcohol and chat with friends, some Western staff members will take in the spectacle from behind the scenes with mops, tables and trash bags in hand. Homecoming is busy because that’s when several sports seasons mesh, said Judy Craft, a building services assistant supervisor.

Col. Ed Stansbury, a native of Shepardsville, Ky., arrived at Western on a hot August day in 1926. He walked from the train station to the Hill and wasn’t sure it was for him. Now, he said, Western is like his home. Stansbury said he has only missed a few Homecoming games since he retired from the military, and he plans on attending the game this year.

Since 1992, Western has inducted 66 people into its Hall of Distinguished Alumni. The inductees have ranged from former Western presidents to fighter pilots. This year, three more will be added to the list.

The awards are based on outstanding performance and dedication to Western.

Western alumnus, Mark Bradshaw enjoys being a manager of Kroger during the Homecoming season. He sees students and alumni stop in to pick up tail-gating items decked out to support the Hilltoppers. “I enjoy seeing people wearing extra Western stuff and getting extra business,” he said.

As in any massive event, Western’s Homecoming week doesn’t come together by accident. It comes together because Jeff Younglove and his staff have spent weeks planning the logistics behind the countless events. As the director of campus and community events, Younglove directs nearly 200 tables and 1,200 chairs to the receptions, lunches and tailgate parties that make up Homecoming.

Finding a date for Homecoming can be challenging (so I hear). Not everyone has the looks, the moves or the words to find a companion for Saturday’s festivities. Just don’t count the Western football program in that group. It isn’t afraid to take the ugly girl to Homecoming.

The signs are everywhere.
The crisp autumn air. The smoky barbecue grills. And all those red towels.
They all translate into one thing – it’s time for Homecoming.
The week of festivities means a lot to the 20,000 people expected to descend on the Hill this week.