ADA, Okla. – East Central University hosted its annual Homecoming weekend, held Oct. 4-5. Hundreds of alumni and community members attended a variety of events and festivities that took place across campus.
“It was a great weekend full of activities for everyone,” said ECU President Wendell Godwin. “I love hearing from our alumni about their experiences on campus and seeing them come together with our students today. Thanks to everyone who made Homecoming special again in 2024!”
The weekend began with the annual ECU Alumni Golf Tournament on Friday morning. ECU alumni and supporters gathered for a morning of friendly competition, with first place going to The Body Shoppe, Trevor Rose and Blake Lawhorn.
To close out Friday evening, the Alumni Association and the Black Alumni Association (BAA) hosted the annual ECU Alumni Gala Dinner and Dance. Several honors were presented, including Dakota Cole and Srijita Ghosh being named Rising ECU Tiger Distinguished Alumni, and Casey Mankin being recognized as a Rising ECU Tiger.
Farrell Large and Larry Large received the prestigious Milam Award, and several BAA Scholarship winners were honored, including Cuisheena Rollins, Lane Watts and Jessica Parker who received the Dr. Donnie Nero Scholarship, and Kady Tibbs and Edward Pointer, who received the O.W. Lee Scholarship.
Saturday morning kicked off with the return of the traditional Homecoming 5K, which saw more than 65 entries show up to show their support for the event’s grand return.
The Homecoming 5K was followed by the 3rd Annual ECU Men’s Basketball Pancake Breakfast fundraiser and the Annual Golden Tigers Brunch, which celebrated the ECU Class of 1974. Both events exceeded expectations in attendance.
The traditional Homecoming Parade began at 12:30 p.m. on Main Street in Ada and travelled to ECU’s Centennial Plaza. There were more than 40 entries in the parade, including ECU student organizations, local businesses and a wide range of community groups and clubs that came out in major support of the university with floats and decorations designed to showcase ECU “Through the Decades.”
ECU Tiger Athletics had an exciting Homecoming Day as the ECU Women’s Soccer Team faced off against Southern Nazarene University Storm and secured a 3-2 win on the Tiger Soccer Field.
Following that, the ECU Tiger Football team faced the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils at Koi Ishto Stadium, walking away with a 42-17 victory and marking an exciting win for Tiger Football fans.
To conclude the festivities, Tanner Collins and Lauren HerrNeckar were crowned the new ECU Homecoming King and Queen for 2024-25.