BOONE, N.C. — Since March, Appalachian State University has restyled campus events to help slow COVID-19 spread — September's homecoming celebration was no exception. Mountaineers rose to the challenge, reimagining App State traditions and instituting new events during the university’s homecoming festivities last week.
“Like everything, our celebrations look different this year — with all of the events reimagined to accommodate safety guidelines,” said App State Chancellor Sheri Everts. “I am especially proud of the way our students modeled COVID-19 prevention and safety by maintaining distance and wearing face coverings.”
Events that took place in person in past years became virtual events. Student groups submitted videos of themselves playing the kazoo — a Mountaineer tradition — and ran the ’NEERly Naked Mile at their own pace, on their own time. The university held a Mountaineer Spirit Day on Sanford Mall, complete with physically distanced T-shirt tie-dying and a coloring contest, and hosted a drive-in screening of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” View the winning student organizations here.
Each event was designed with a focus on keeping the campus community as safe as possible while still providing Mountaineers opportunities to show their black and gold pride and connect with their peers.
Homecoming Week culminated with an App State football victory against Arkansas State. The annual crowning of Top of the Rock, which typically takes place during halftime, was prerecorded in Founders Plaza earlier in the week and played on Kidd Brewer Stadium’s big screen during the game.
The photos below highlight some of the top moments during App State’s first largely virtual Homecoming.
Appalachian State University students wear face coverings during Mountaineer Spirit Day, held Oct. 20 on Sanford Mall as part of the university’s homecoming celebrations. Photo by Marie Freeman
Mountaineer Spirit Day on Appalachian State University’s Sanford Mall featured T-shirt tie-dying stations, pictured, and other activities such as a coloring contest — all part of the university’s homecoming celebrations. Photo by Marie Freeman
Appalachian State University students participated in a coloring contest on Sanford Mall during Homecoming Week 2020. Photo by Marie Freeman
During Mountaineer Spirit Day, part of Appalachian State University’s homecoming celebrations, students, including the one pictured, tie-dyed T-shirts on Sanford Mall. Photo by Marie Freeman
As part of its homecoming celebrations, Appalachian State University hosted a drive-in screening of “Guardians of the Galaxy” on campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Alexandra LaRocca, a senior communication studies major from Raleigh, was crowned Appalachian State University’s 2020 Top of the Rock by university mascot Yosef as App State Chancellor Sheri Everts, far left in background, looked on. The ceremony was prerecorded in Founders Plaza during Homecoming Week and then screened during the homecoming football game Oct. 22. Photo by Marie Freeman
Sydney Stoter was a member of Appalachian State University’s 2020 Homecoming Court. Stoter, of Califon, New Jersey, is a senior communication sciences and disorders major with minors in Spanish and American Sign Language. She is also an Appalachian Student Ambassador. Photo by Marie Freeman
Sophia Lang was a member of Appalachian State University’s 2020 Homecoming Court. Lang, of Matthews, is a senior management major with a minor in human resource management. She is a member of App State’s Honors College and Delta Zeta sorority. Photo by Marie Freeman
J.T. Warren was a member of Appalachian State University’s 2020 Homecoming Court. Warren is a senior marketing major from Winston-Salem and serves as an Appalachian Student Ambassador. Photo by Marie Freeman
Jessie Rio Benitez was a member of Appalachian State University’s 2020 Homecoming Court. Benitez, a senior from Greensboro, is double majoring in political science and criminal justice and is involved with International Appalachian and the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board for Diversity Recruitment and Retention. Photo by Marie Freeman
Caroline Annas was a member of Appalachian State University’s 2020 Homecoming Court. Annas is a senior public health major and exercise science minor from Lexington and a member of App State’s Sigma Kappa sorority. Photo by Marie Freeman
Anisha Sharma was a member of Appalachian State University’s 2020 Homecoming Court. Sharma, a senior from Summerfield double majoring in sustainable development and sustainable technology, is a member of App State’s Honors College and is involved with the university’s Renewable Energy Initiative. Photo by Marie Freeman
Aaron Carpenter was a member of Appalachian State University’s 2020 Homecoming Court. Carpenter, a senior from Burlington, is double majoring in biology and psychology and is a founding member of App State’s Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Photo by Marie Freeman
Alexandra LaRocca was named Appalachian State University’s 2020 Top of the Rock during the university’s homecoming celebrations. A senior communication studies major from Raleigh, LaRocca is a member of App State’s Alpha Delta Pi sorority and serves as chief marketing and communications officer for App State’s Student Government Association. She is also vice president of communication for App State’s Panhellenic Council. Photo by Marie Freeman
Appalachian State University won its homecoming football game against Arkansas State University Oct. 22, with spectators in the stands of Kidd Brewer Stadium for the first time in the 2020 season. All spectators had to abide by safety precautions, including wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance. Photo by Marie Freeman
Appalachian State University won its homecoming football game against Arkansas State University Oct. 22, with spectators in the stands of Kidd Brewer Stadium for the first time in the 2020 season. All spectators had to abide by safety precautions, including wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance. Photo by Marie Freeman
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About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
