Homecoming at ONU

This past Saturday, I had an amazing time celebrating homecoming at Ohio Northern University (ONU), participating in various events and reconnecting with old friends and alumni. The day was filled with tradition, excitement and community spirit, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the parade to the football game and the post-game celebrations, the entire day was a perfect way to start my weekend.

My morning began with the ONU homecoming parade, where I decided to multitask and complete a live-tweeting assignment while enjoying the festivities. You can follow along with the content that I posted on X @ameliaburger27! I must say it was a little hard to fully enjoy all of it while I was live tweeting the event, but I was still able to get it done. It was my first time attending the homecoming parade and I was thrilled to see the lineup of featured groups. The parade started with police and public safety leading the ONU marching band down Main Street. I always love hearing the band play at various events—it really sets the tone for the celebration.

Next up were some of my favorite parts of the parade, including ONU’s president, Melissa Baumann, members of the homecoming court and my personal favorite, Klondike. Campus organizations like Polar Paws and various fraternities and sororities followed, allowing me to see many of my friends. The parade concluded with the Ada Fire Department and their trucks, making for a strong finish to the parade. It was short and sweet, but I loved seeing all the participants showcasing what they were involved in.

After the parade, my friends and their family joined me at my house to relax and get ready for the rest of the day. Once we were set, we headed to the activities tent. This was one of my favorite parts of the day because I got to catch up with even more friends and explore the different campus organizations. We walked around, collected free items and learned about new groups on campus. It was fun and a great way to connect with people before heading to the football game.

We made sure to get to the stadium early to grab good seats for the game. Luckily, we snagged a prime spot in the middle row at the 50-yard line, giving us a perfect view of the game. Before the game began, President Baumann handed out awards to a couple alumni for their outstanding achievements post-graduation. The atmosphere was electric, especially when the marching band performed the national anthem, joined by band alumni. The game started off hot as we scored two touchdowns within the first 10 minutes!

The weather was also ideal, not too hot or cold, making it the perfect afternoon for football. During halftime, I stayed to watch the band’s performance and waited for the announcement of the homecoming royalty. I had several friends on the court, so it didn’t matter who won I was just excited for them all!

After the game, we capped off the day with a post-game cookout at my house. There was a variety of delicious food, and we enjoyed a great meal while watching other college football games. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable homecoming weekend. Being surrounded by friends, family, and the ONU community made this homecoming one for the books.