Cougar Pride on Display at Kean Homecoming

Kean University students, alumni, faculty, staff and other community members brought the brightness of Kean spirit and pride to a rainy Homecoming on Kean’s Union campus last weekend.

The campus was a sea of Kean sweatshirts, hats and other gear as the crowd enjoyed carnival games, inflatable obstacle courses and bumper cars, photo booths, music, food trucks, and more, both outdoors and in Harwood Arena. Students manned tents with their Greek life organizations and clubs, offering snacks, photo ops and other activities.

“It’s very exciting,” said Sheyla Farfan, a junior from Lakewood studying public health, who was attending her first Homecoming with her Nu Theta Chi sorority sisters. “It’s about unity. It’s called Homecoming for a reason. It’s when we come home to our second home, Kean University.”

Hundreds of Kean alumni came back to campus to reconnect with friends and check in on the latest developments at their alma mater.

“The campus looks good. It looks updated with even more buildings than I remember,” said Justin Quaglieri ’20, of Edison, who has a Kean business management degree and works in the procurement and supply chain field.

His friend, Denis Llagami ’20, ’21 M.S., of Kenilworth, studied accounting at Kean, and was making his second visit to Kean in the last few weeks. He represented his company at a recent Kean career day.

“It’s a full circle moment for me,” Llagami said. “I remember being on the other side just a few years ago. I remember the people who were helpful to me when I was at Kean.” 

An annual tradition at Homecoming is announcing the winners of the Homecoming Royalty, as voted by Kean’s students. This year’s winners were Isabel Evans, a senior from Scotch Plains studying communication - public relations, and Jazaan Walsh, a senior from Bound Brook enrolled studying biology health professions.

The theme of Homecoming this year was Barbie, something that was obvious at the Theta Phi Alpha tent, where a student raced around wearing a pink cape.

“We have props like a superhero cape, a cowboy hat and tiara,” said Lauren G., a senior from Scotch Plains studying chemistry education and a new member educator for the organization. “We want to represent the different roles Barbie has played in the past and hopefully in the future.”

For families, there was an abundance of activities to enjoy. Mensah Peterson, Ed.D., associate vice president for the Division of Student Success and Retention at Kean, brought his young family to the event.

“We got up super early. I think I was more excited than the kids. This is always a great time,” he said.

“I come every year,” said Catherine Colon ’03, ’16 M.A., who lives and teaches in Elizabeth. “I’ve been bringing my kids since they were born to promote how important it is to get a higher education. I have wonderful memories of Kean University.”