Bringing it Home

One alumnus said the synergy and transformation he witnessed on CSU’s campus shattered any expectations he had. He’s not alone though. Ask around and you’ll hear a common refrain: “Wow.”

It was the sort of energy that pulsed through campus during our Homecoming celebration, a shared awe among alumni heeding our call to “bring it home.”

We’re glad they did.

From the kick-off event at Progressive Field for a Cleveland Indians game to a fascinating walk through time down Cleveland’s historic Millionaire’s Row to the ever-popular Homecoming parade and Vikefest, we waved the green and white banner high and proud on a campus awash with Viking Pride.

Alumni, faculty and staff gathered at campus favorite Elements Bistro for a morning pick-me-up. Urban alumni reconnected, reflecting on the impact of the Levin College, while the Monte Ahuja College of Business offered grads tips on how to double job interviews through the power of social media.

“Each year I’m blown away,” said Brian Breittholz, executive director of the CSU Alumni Association.

“The power and unity of this community is incredible, and the week of Homecoming is one of those moments when that is front and center. It really is one of my favorite times of the year.”

Graduates from 1966-1967 celebrated their golden anniversary and reminisced about a very different CSU and bygone era.

Alan Wragg, BBA ’66, expressed gratitude for his education and its impact on his career, which included 14 years at Time Inc. in senior sales management roles at Sports Illustrated and LIFE magazines. “CSU is extremely important to my life,” he said.

And the exceptional Distinguished Alumni Awards gala reminded us again the extraordinary impact this community continues to make on the city of Cleveland and world at large. “It was a highlight of my life – one that I will remember with pleasure always,” said George W. Jackson, this year’s honoree from the College of Graduates Studies.

“I look forward with enthusiasm to some form of participation with CSU and being in your company once more.” We hope you share similar sentiments. What a great week of laughter, fun and celebration. Thank you, Vikings, for coming back home. We hope to see you again really soon.

View a collection of photos from the week