Life & Culture

Homecoming will be revived next fall

Shantel Lewis, Editor-in-Chief

March 10, 2026

[FILE PHOTO] Lady Spartans basketball players Ari Franco, left, and Ari Marchan cheer on the men’s basketball team during their game against Milwaukee Area Technical College on Nov. 3, 2022.

This September, Elgin Community College staff will host its first campus homecoming in decades.

“We haven’t had a homecoming since I believe the 50s,” said Bonita Goist, manager of Alumni and Affinity Relations.

The celebration will include a performance by the Goodly Creatures Theater group on Sept. 19, and a 5k run and walk on Sept. 20, according to ECC’s website. The theme is “Once a Spartan, Always a Spartan.”

“I’m excited,” said Monifah Hill, a first -year ECC student. “I think it would be nice to experience school spirited entertainment like a homecoming. I can’t wait.”

Student Life and the ECC Foundation Alumni Association held a meeting Feb. 20 to plan a week-long string of events filled with Spartan pride. Out of the 26 invited guests, 11 attended the meeting.

During the meeting, attendees gave event ideas including, a flag football game, a carnival, and selling Vintage Spartan gear.

“I think we can do something like a 2k Spartan run,” Goist said. “I think PTK [Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society] did that a while back, and it was really nice.”

Goist was referring to the 2025 Turkey Trot 5k Run/Walk hosted by PTK.

Goist stated she sent surveys to over 1,000 alumni about their interests in a homecoming celebration, and a little more than 150 responded.

Encouraging alumni to return to ECC is the goal of homecoming, according to ECC employees.

Goist mentioned that the desire is for home to become an annual event.

“The goal is to build on top of what we establish, so the homecomings can grow and get better every year,” she said.

According to The American Football Database, homecoming is a long standing tradition, originated by colleges, that welcomes alumni back to its school. Homecoming week is built around one or two central events such as a football game and is often concluded with a dance.

“I’m confused on what a homecoming would even look like because we don’t have a band or football team,” said Selena Chavez, an ECC student and education major.

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About the Contributors

Shantel Lewis, Editor-in-Chief

This is Lewis’ second year at ECC majoring in Education. Lewis joined the Observer because of her love of writing, podcasting and having meaningful conversations. The Observer provides her opportunities to perfect my writing skills, connect with others, and public speaking. Lewis is interested in covering student life as well as what’s going on in the world. She hopes to achieve fluency in AP style writing and graduate with the skills of a remarkable journalist. Her motto is simple and one that she likes to live by and that’s being the change you want to see in the world, and shine bright while you’re doing it. Contact Information: [email protected]

Dominic Di Palermo, Editor-in-Chief

I’m Dominic Di Palermo. I’m the Editor-in-Chief of the Observer. This is my second year at Elgin Community College and my second year with The Observer. I’ve been a photojournalist for four years and a reporter for three. After obtaining an Associate in Arts at ECC I intend to pursue a career in photojournalism.