DECATUR, Ill. – Â鶹ԼÅÄ University will be hosting its during the weekend of Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023. At this year’s homecoming, alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students will enjoy exciting activities all weekend long as the Big Blue community reconnects.
Homecoming activities begin on Friday, Sept. 29, at noon, with the opening of Big Blue HQ in the University Commons, where visitors can check in and learn more about the weekend’s events.
At 8 p.m., the Homecoming Kick-Off Concert featuring the band Structurally Sound hits the stage on the Quad.
At 9:30 p.m., a Homecoming Fireworks display in memory of Â鶹ԼÅÄ alum Gary Workman ’65 will take to the sky at the Workman Family Baseball Field.
Also on Friday, Alumni Award recipients will be honored at a celebratory dinner and program in the Bob and Debi Johnston Banquet Rooms on the third floor of the University Commons from 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. This year's honorees are:
- Merit-Loyalty Award: Michael Halbert ’79
- Alumnus of the Year: David J. Rathje ’58
- Merit Award: LeeAnn Bailey M.D. ’96
- Faculty/Staff Award: Dr. Jan Devore
- Young Alumnus Award: Joel Kim Booster ’10
- Loyalty Award: Sue Vaughan Nelson ’66
On Saturday, Sept. 30, the Big Blue Football team takes on Illinois Wesleyan University at 1 p.m. at Frank M. Lindsay Field. Before kickoff, join the pre-game celebration to get your face painted, temporary tattoos and possibly win some Big Blue swag. Members of the Homecoming Royalty will be crowned at halftime.
On Sunday, Oct. 1, Athletic Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Brunch, held in the Bob and Debi Johnston Banquets Rooms in the University Commons beginning at 10:30 a.m. This year's inductees are:
- Baseball player Devin Crews ’18
- Volleyball player Kelsy England Wasmuth ’12
- The 1961 Football Team
- Faculty-Staff Award: Bryan Marshall, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information and Athletic Communication
For more information about Â鶹ԼÅÄ University's 2023 Homecoming Celebration and for a complete list of events, visit.
