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Bishop Blowout

Homecoming & Family Weekend Unites Alumni, Families, Friends

More than 1,100 alumni, families, and friends celebrated Homecoming & Family Weekend Oct. 7-8 at Ohio Wesleyan University. The weekend included big wins over Denison with a Battling Bishop football victory of 41-7 and a field hockey win of 3-0.

On Friday, a highlight of the weekend was the rededication of Slocum Hall following an $11.25-million, donor-funded renovation. As it reopens, Slocum serves as the Admission Welcome Center and Home of the OWU Connection. Randy Gardner, Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, attended the rededication to offer remarks during the standing-room-only ceremony.

Also on Friday was the addition of a new event—Pints with Profs—an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with favorite OWU professors or staff. BishopFest followed, an all-community celebration of Bishops including food, friendship, and festivities.

A Parent & Family Coffee & Connections meet-and-greet kicked off Saturday morning as well as a Parents Leadership Council (PLC) meeting.

The “W” Association held its Hall of Fame Induction and Team of Distinction Ceremony on Saturday morning. Eight new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame and the 2011 men’s soccer and 1967 football teams were honored as Teams of Distinction. Inductees were recognized during halftime of the Homecoming football game.

Other Saturday highlights included the Parade of Bishops followed by the tailgate and affinity huddles near Selby Stadium, which offered a chance for alumni, family, and friends to enjoy various food trucks and mingle with each other before the football game.

Homecoming & Family Weekend also celebrated Fraternity & Sorority Life by presenting the David Hamilton Smith Greek Alumni Awards to Denise Sabo Brenner ’00, Delta Zeta, and Bob Gordon ’88, Chi Phi. Several other affinity group gatherings were held during the weekend including an alumni soccer game, men’s lacrosse family gathering, House of Black Culture Reception, Phi Psi Dinner, Alpha Sig Bust, and various fraternity and sorority open houses. 

Another accomplished Bishop, Herbert DuPont, M.D. 61, was celebrated on Thursday afternoon when he was presented with Ohio Wesleyan’s highest honor, an honorary doctor of science degree. As a physician, medical researcher, educator, and investigator, DuPont has made numerous contributions to the fields of medicine and science, most notably in infectious diseases and travel medicine.

Ohio Wesleyan also honored several alumni during memorial bench dedications: Nancy Morgan Giles ’60, Ali Kahle ’81, and Doug Kennedy ’77.

Check out our photo albums for more pictures from 2022’s Homecoming & Family Weekend!