New Orleans, La – Xavier University of Louisiana will welcome back alumni to participate in the annual Homecoming celebration held November 2-6, 2022. This year’s theme, “Masterpiece: The Unparalleled Homecoming Experience,” celebrates Xavier alumni and embraces Xavier’s unique culture.
Scheduled activities include an inaugural Xavier University of Louisiana Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, the joint student/alumni celebration on the yard, a celebratory Homecoming banquet, a special gospel choir reunion concert, the unveiling of Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame wall, and more. The Homecoming celebration will also include current student events such as the club emerald party, a gospel explosion event, a Homecoming concert, the annual student boat ride and multiple other exciting activities.
“Xavier is home. This is the place we met our lifelong friends and began our journey to adulthood. Homecoming is a celebration of that connection as well as a recognition of the foundation our esteemed alumni continue to build upon,” said Kimberly Reese (‘95), Xavier’s associate vice president of Institutional Advancement. “We are so excited to come home to reconnect and reminisce with our found families and friends.”
Tailgate Talk, a Homecoming panel discussion, will be hosted by Xavier alum Blair Dottin-Haley (‘02) and includes “A Different World” stars Karen Charnele Brown and Daryl Bell. Brown and Bell are well-known for their iconic roles as “Kim Reese” and “Ron Johnson” on the sitcom. The event will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 4 p.m. Brown and Bell will also serve as celebrity grand marshals for Xavier’s Homecoming parade celebration, which will occur on Friday, November 4. View the parade route here.
“As I prepare to celebrate 20 years from finishing my studies at Xavier, I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as a conduit to bring such iconic people to celebrate Homecoming with us. The impact of A Different World and the characters of Kimberly Reese and Ron Johnson cannot be overstated,” said Dottin-Haley. “Their characters’ representation of attending and thriving at an HBCU inspired and continues to inspire young people in our community to attend an HBCU and to pursue their dreams in an environment that will understand their needs and offer them vital support.”
Gilead Sciences Inc., a sponsor for this year’s Homecoming celebration, will be on Xavier’s campus during the University’s Homecoming Celebration as part of their seven-city “HBCU Roadshow” tour to advance Black health and equity. Gilead will host several events throughout Xavier’s Homecoming, including career day, a lunch and learn event, and more. Gilead will also offer prize giveaways, food and beverages and have a mobile unit truck on campus during select Homecoming events.
Other sponsors for the event include Capital One, Hill’s Pet, the CDC Foundation - Live to the Beat Initiative, Pernod Ricard, Polk Wealth and the Children’s Dental Group.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a Xavier partner which supports several academic programs at the University, will host a panel discussion featuring multiple esteemed Xavier alumni committed to wellness and health equity. The discussion, “Partners in Equity: Creating Generational Wellness with the Black Community,” will emphasize the importance of addressing health equity in Black communities and will be held on November 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in room 205 of Xavier’s University Center.
Eventgoers will also have a chance to win the Homecoming 50/50 Jackpot Raffle. The raffle winner will walk away with half of the jackpot’s total, with the other half directly benefiting Xavier’s General Fund. Additional Homecoming events will include the Alumni Golf Challenge, the Queen’s Brunch, Student Government Association President’s Brunch, Class Reunion Brunch, and the annual Homecoming parade.
For more information about the Xavier University Homecoming celebration and schedule of events, visit Xavier’s Homecoming website.
About Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana, America’s only historically Black and Catholic University, is ranked among the top three HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) in the nation. Recognized as a national leader in STEM and health sciences, Xavier produces more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in
the United States. Additionally, Xavier’s College of Pharmacy is also among the top producers of African American pharmacists in the country.
Established in 1925, by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as a place for African American and Native Americans to receive quality education, Xavier has since expanded its programs in art, business, education, biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy and political science. More recent additions in robotics, bioinformatics, engineering, data science, neuroscience and genetics, in addition to new STEM-based master’s programs, have provided Xavier students (2815 undergraduates and 787 graduates) an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities and life experiences. Xavier students collaborate with world-renowned faculty, who are experts in their fields, to produce award-winning research and notable work. The winning Xavier formula is to provide students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls, thereby facilitating a more just and humane society for all. For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana, visit us online at www.xula.edu or contact Regi Reyes at (504) 520-5240 or rreyes@xula.edu.
Original source can be found here.
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