News

Homecoming Fail: After Only 9 RSVPs, ECC Homecoming Launch Party Scrapped

Shantel Lewis, Editor-in-Chief

May 4, 2026

[FILE PHOTO] Students at Elgin Community College’s Women’s History Month Fair getting to meet women owned businesses at the Jobe Lounge on March 24th, 2026.

ECC officials have cancelled the homecoming launch party that was scheduled for Thursday due to low interest. However, they are proceeding with fall homecoming plans.

“Given that we only have nine people who have RSVP’d for the May 7 Homecoming Launch Party (and only two of those were non-Planning Committee members) we have decided to cancel the event,” said Manager of Alumni, Bonita Goist via email.

The party was scheduled for May 7 in Jobe Lounge and was meant to gain student and alumni excitement for Homecoming weekend, which is scheduled for September.

“I was very unaware that ECC organized and was set to launch an event of that nature,” said Yurisy Martinez, an ECC student who is graduating in a couple of weeks.

She said “the school and students lack a greater sense of community.”

The ECC Foundation Alumni Association held their first planning meeting Feb. 20 of this year. The homecoming would be ECC’s first ever in over three decades.

Goist reported to the Observer earlier last month, she was aware that it’s uncommon for a two-year college to host a homecoming, but that she hoped it would serve as a way to celebrate the 77 years ECC has been open. She also detailed her desire to host an event that would bring ECC’s past and present students together.

According to ECC’s web page on StudyUSA.com, the school has over 66,000 alumni students. The ECC Alumni landing page also encourages past graduates to “share your journey, milestones, and reflections with us—your story may motivate the next generation of Spartans!”

“Given the variance in age, identity, and interest, it makes sense that no one would want to participate in a homecoming,” Martinez said.

Despite the launch party being cancelled, Goist is optimistic that the official homecoming scheduled for September will be a success.

“I do not believe this is any reflection on the excitement over Homecoming,” Goist said. “We knew going into this that May is a very busy time of year and that is what people are telling us as their reason for not being able to attend.”

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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]

Maria Salgado, Staff photographer

This is Salgado’s second year at ECC pursuing an associate in arts with a concentration in Psychology. This is her first time serving on the Observer staff. Salgado joined because she wants to gain experience in journalism and gain insight on how to transmit emotions and stories through photography. Salgado is interested in covering social issues. She hopes to convey important messages and issues through appealing photography so her peers can be motivated to stay informed and engage with social issues. Salgado’s personal motto is “Be the change you want to see.” Contact Information: [email protected]