By Gionna Bean, Opinion Editor
The Aquinas College campus was filled to the brim this weekend as students, alumni and families gathered to celebrate Homecoming 2025, a weekend full of tradition, connection and spirited activities.
The central part of homecoming, the Main Stage and Community Welcome event, took place on Saturday, Sept. 20 on the Holmdene lawn. “It’s been fun to see the community come together to form homecoming,” Abby Zelenka, Director of Community Engagement said. “Like Saturday, we had Olly’s donuts come, and I think people really liked that.” Food trucks including ones from Kona Ice, Olly’s donuts and Yesterdog ensured everyone was happy and well-fed during the festivities. The Kidz Zone included a bounce house, yard games and caricatures to keep people entertained.
Couple poses with caricature on Holmdene lawn – Photo by Gionna Bean
This year’s celebration held special significance as it marked the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1975. Reaching this milestone means the class was officially inducted into the Golden Saints, an honor given to alumni celebrating their 50th reunion. “This is actually my first year on the advancement team,” Zelenka said. “Not only is the 1975 class getting inducted into the Golden Saints, but there’s a lot happening, and even members of Domestic Problems are coming back to perform.”
Domestic Problems is a band created by Aquinas alums, Andy Holtgreive and Billy Kenny. Band members include themselves and Job Grotsky, John “Ned” Niedzielski, Matt Fouts and Reggie “R.J.” Ness. It was originally created as a joke for an Aquinas College talent show in the early 1990s. The band now tours around the country and came back to their roots to perform for their fellow Aquinas alumni.
For students, the weekend offered a mix of nostalgia, entertainment and reflection. Junior Reign Lawson experienced Homecoming from a different perspective this year. With it being her first year off the cheer team, she got to see homecoming without having to perform.
“I got to sit with families and talk with friends while watching the game and watching the cheer team and dance team go out and perform,” Lawson said.
She also saw areas where the event could improve. Although Aquinas College offers a beer tent, live music performed by AQ Pep and Jazz Bands and a playground, Lawson feels there are more ways to entertain. “I’ve seen other colleges’ homecomings and other private colleges’ homecomings, and I think there’s just so much more that we could do that would be just way more fun like a little parade or a parade walking the Aquinas mile. Maybe even just more decoration, it’s very bland.”
Aquinas was decked out for homecoming – Photo by Gionna Bean
For others, like sophomore Levi Rigelman, this was the first real taste of Aquinas Homecoming. “Last year, I wasn’t really able to go to homecoming due to things going on in my personal life and with work, so I was excited to experience homecoming, basically, for the first time as opposed to last year,” Rigelman said.
Rigelman got to enjoy the athletic side of Homecoming, sitting with his friends to enjoy the women’s soccer game. It was an entertaining game where the Saints ended their three-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over Madonna.
Whether it was cheering on the Saints, eating donuts, posing for a caricature, or enjoying music from students and alums, Aquinas Homecoming 2025 offered a moment for the community to come together and reconnect.
The Saint 