CU-Lock Haven Celebrates Haven Homecoming 2024

The Lock Haven Alumni Association and Commonwealth University-Lock Haven celebrated its 2024 homecoming festivities from Sept. 25-29, with numerous events organized for students, alumni, faculty, staff and the local community. 

The festivities began on Wednesday, Sept. 25 with Success in 60, an alumni-student speed networking event aimed at providing students an abundance of career knowledge and advice. More than 15 alumni participated in the event, hosting roundtable discussions, meet and greets, conducting mock interviews and sharing professional expertise with more than 40 students.

Later in the evening, Lock Haven’s 13th annual Lawn Party and Golf Cart Parade took place. Dozens of golf carts decorated by campus clubs and organizations, as well as alumni groups like the Lock Haven Alumni Association, made their way down North Fairview Street before transitioning to the Student Recreation Center. Once there, participants enjoyed food, games, music and other fun activities.

Thursday’s action shifted to Main Street in downtown Lock Haven for the joint Keystone Central School District/CU-Lock Haven Parade. This year’s theme was “Through the Decades.”

On the morning of Friday, Sept. 27, the 30th annual Alumni Classic Golf Tournament took place at Clinton Country Club in Mill Hall, while a flower bar bouquet craft-making event was also simultaneously held at the course. The winning foursome of Jason Madigan ’98, David Petruzzi ’88, Andrew Petruzzi ’21 and Nate Orndorf finished at 14 under par.

Friday afternoon, the events shifted back to campus, with an alumni mix & mingle and Greek reunion that included a live deejay and performances by the Bald Eagle Marching Band and Lock Haven cheerleaders. More than 70 alumni met in the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center for a nostalgic evening of reminiscing and togetherness. Simultaneously, alumni from the Class of 1974 also enjoyed their 50th class reunion.

At the same time, in the Parsons Union Building, a Welcome Back Black Alumni event was held with numerous African-American alumni, led by Lock Haven’s first-ever black homecoming queen, Akena “Angel” Better ’98, returning for a mix & mingle with current students.

Saturday’s events kicked off with tailgating in the Hubert Jack Stadium parking lot before the Bald Eagle football team took on Millersville University at 1 p.m. The Bald Eagles trailed throughout the game, before fourth-quarter heroics, and a late passing touchdown gave Lock Haven a 24-23 victory – the team’s first homecoming win since 2016.

Other homecoming athletic events included men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, field hockey and men’s and women’s cross country hosting the Lock Haven Invitational at the Stern Athletic Complex.

Dozens of alumnae also returned to campus on Saturday for softball and field hockey alumnae games on William McCollum and Charlotte Smith fields, respectively. 

Haven Homecoming 2025 dates are set for September 24-28. For more information on Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, visit www.commonwealthu.edu, email admissions@commonwealthu.edu or call 570-484-2011.