Peace, Love, Cumberlands - University hosting annual homecoming Oct. 25-26

University of the Cumberlands’ homecoming celebrations are set for Friday and Saturday, October 25-26, and this year, it’s all about peace, love, and the University that ties more than 26,000 alumni together.

A special ceremony will be held during the weekend dedicating the newly renovated basketball court to Cumberlands Hall of Fame coach Randy Vernon. Other homecoming events include a Patriot tailgate picnic and football game Saturday night against Campbellsville University, with a firework display immediately following; several catered alumni meals on Friday and Saturday; a block party on Friday night, complete with music, outdoor activities, s’mores and other treats; a Resident Assistant reunion; music and theatre performances; and more! All interested may register at ucumberlands.edu/alumni/homecoming – if you register to attend prior to October 15, you will be given a free Homecoming t-shirt at check-in. 

“It is just wonderful watching people get back together for the first time in a while,” said Erica Harris, Director of Alumni Services. “Everyone gets excited to run into or meet up with old classmates and friends. It’s great! And there is so much happening at homecoming this year, there is something for everybody to enjoy. It’s a great time for them to catch up and spend time sharing memories from their past.”

Cumberlands will be hosting its second annual Pats Serve that Friday as well, a day when Cumberlands students perform service projects across Williamsburg. Last year, students volunteered at Cedaridge Ministries’ recycling plant, completed yard work at local churches, visited residents at the Williamsburg nursing home, and washed windows at City Hall. The University is already accepting requests and ideas from its academic departments for this year’s Pats Serve projects. Any alumni who would enjoy serving the community alongside Cumberlands students that day are welcome to join in the event. Those interested may contact studentservices [at] ucumberlands.edu (studentservices[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu).

This year marks the 50th anniversary for the Class of 1969. For those still reading, here are some of the pop culture take-aways from that year in America:

The average cost of a new house was $15,550, a new car cost about $3,270, and a gallon of gas was a mere 35 cents.

On July 20, Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, uttering the iconic statement, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The landing was viewed on television by an estimated 600 million people worldwide.

Fashion included denim jackets adorned with peace signs, long hair pulled back with colorful headbands, and high-waisted skirts and jeans. (Huh. Seems familiar.)

And finally, the four-day festival held on a New York dairy farm that unified approximately 400,000 music-lovers as electric guitar solos rang through the air… Woodstock.

Ah, the good ol’ days.