The University of Northern Colorado is commemorating a major milestone this year, celebrating a century of traditions, competitions, community, laughter and coming home.  

This year’s celebration marks the 100th Homecoming for the university and features a week of activities and events, Oct. 9-15. Although the days of getting dressed to the nines to attend the football game or participating in the annual Hellzabruin talent show have evolved into different celebrations as student interests have changed, the central theme and tradition of community coming together and welcoming alumni back to campus is ever-present and timeless.  

As Lyndsey Crum, ’05, assistant vice president for Alumni Relations emphasizes, Homecoming is so much more than just a week of events. 

“Homecoming is the university’s tradition of celebrating our community. When we invite alumni to return to UNC and encourage current students to celebrate the community they share together every day,” said Crum.  

“And for the alumni who live far from the borders of campus, Homecoming is an open invitation and reminder that Once a Bear, Always a Bear. Of course, Greeley and northern Colorado would not be Bear Country if not for the thousands of alumni who remain in our local community, including the many alumni working with the Greeley-Evans School District, the City of Greeley, Banner Health, UC Health and businesses across the region.” 

From the very first Homecoming, alumni have been welcomed back to campus with open arms. That message was especially meaningful in 1945 for the university’s “Welcome Back Vets” Homecoming celebration. As the student newspaper The Mirror, explained, behind the theme lies the loyalty, pride and love that the students held for their fellow Bears who were returning from World War 2. 

“Today, Homecoming is defined in its literal meaning—our boys have come home! Home from the wars! . . . Some will never come home. Let us not forget those men who aren’t with us today,” read the newspaper. “To you vets who can be with us we say, ‘Welcome Back, Vets’! It’s due to you that we may celebrate a 1945 Homecoming!” 

It was only one year after the inception of Homecoming that a lesser-known tradition grew its roots, too.

In 1956, a new tradition was born from students collecting brooms to set on fire and walk through the streets with after Hellzabruin. The Broom Parade culminated with the lighting of the bonfire. Out of this broom collection grew the Broom King and Queen. When first-year students became responsible for collecting brooms for the parade. They decided to have some fun with it and stir up a little friendly competition. 

Unfortunately, somewhere between 1956 and now, the Broom Parade, and with it the tradition of crowning the Broom King and Queen, ended. Whether because brooms are typically made of plastic now, a lack of interest or the danger of students parading through the streets with blazing broomsticks, the end of the Broom Parade is unknown. What hasn’t changed though is the lighting of the bonfire. Today, the bonfire is coupled with a fireworks display and a performance from UNC’s Pride of the Rockies Marching Band held the Friday night before the football game.  

Flashing forward to this year, UNC's 100th Homecoming is a culmination of a century’s worth of these traditions and the rich history of welcoming students, families, alumni and friends back to campus. To mark the occasion, the university is collecting as many alumni memories as possible to be a part of its Alumni Oral History Project. All alumni are invited and encouraged to share their fondest memories, favorite traditions and cherished stories from their time on campus. By next year’s Homecoming, there will be a compilation of alumni stories showcasing the treasured stories of alumni. 

Chris Cobb, ’03, M.A. ’09, Ph.D. ’14, executive director of Student Engagement is excited at the prospect of all the memories that will be made at this year’s Homecoming events. 

“I'm really excited about all the things we have to offer for Homecoming week because we have 20 or more events that will really get alumni and families involved, and not to mention students, of course,” said Cobb. 

All alumni, families and friends are welcome and encouraged to join in the Homecoming celebrations this year. Reminisce on their time on campus and the events they took part in as a student, and maybe even watch current students put a modern spin on those same events. For all we know, attendees could be watching a new UNC tradition take shape. 

– written by Tamsin Fleming