The African American Alumni Association has planned a wide array of events for Homecoming Weekend, co-sponsored by several organizations on campus, including Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the Black Student Association and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
One notable event is a step show National Pan Hellenic Council organizations are participating in at Legends Oct. 11 at 8 p.m.
“I believe the purpose of AAAA hosting their own homecoming events is to allow African American alumni to engage in events that center around our culture, such as the NPHC Step Show,” said Aisha Cotton, senior child development major and chair of the BSA. “As black students we are excited about meeting past alumni and sharing our experiences together.”
Another standout from the AAAA homecoming events schedule is a tailgate fish fry and picnic on Duck Pond Field at 11 a.m. Oct. 11. The picnic is co-sponsored by Kappa Alpha Psi.
Luiji Massanga, senior electronic media and broadcasting major and member of Kappa Alpha Psi, said he hopes to extend knowledge of the AAAA to the campus as well as to surrounding areas, through participation in their homecoming events.
“It is important for Kappa Alpha Psi to work with the AAAA in order to develop and further what the community of African American students before us have done on the campus,” Massanga said. “I hope to see an increase in the diversity on the campus due to it.”
Other events include a midnight gospel choir celebration Oct. 10 in Rosen Concert Hall, an AAAA reception and also an AAAA party, both co-sponsored by Omega Psi Phi. There is also an Alumni Association Appalachian Friends Breakfast and a homecoming church service, according to www.alumni.appstate.edu.
“We come together in efforts to give back to Appalachian and provide a fun family-oriented atmosphere, in order to have alumni and undergraduates interacting with each other as a whole, building relationships and just having a great time during homecoming,” said Kenley Joseph, president of Kappa Alpha Psi and vice president of programming for the NPHC. “I hope to see a positive environment during homecoming, where alumni and undergraduates come together and build relationships and memories that will keep them coming back to Appalachian every year.”
Story: Nicole Caporaso, News Reporter