By Koffi Kenneth Kouadio, Contributing Writer
On Saturday, November 6th, 2021, a rally was organized for Saint Leo University alumni during the Homecoming weekend. At this event, former Saint Leo students got together in remembrance of the good old college days. It was a fulfilling and joyful atmosphere where alumni and current students had the chance to meet and reunite.
Former, current, and even potential future Saint Leo students were all gathered behind the cafeteria in small groups, where they talked and enjoyed the chilly weather. Throughout the space were different vendor stands where guests could purchase Saint Leo gear as souvenirs, play different games, eat food, and even get alcohol beverages if they were over 21 years old.
Smith, accompanied by his wife Mary, enjoyed the cold beer and conversation as he caught up with old friends. Smith was a business administration major during his time at Saint Leo and graduated with the class of 1971.
“We are here for our 50-year reunion. Unbelievable,” Smith said. “All the new buildings are fantastic.”
He explained that coming back to Saint Leo for this reunion was mainly to see familiar faces he went to college with, and he especially looked forward to seeing what his classmates did with their lives.
Smith also reflected on how proud he was to have been part of the school, and to have been a student back in the day. He was grateful to be able to come back as an alumnus with his wife and it was a true blessing, according to him.
Saint Leo has had a long-standing partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the team’s cheerleaders made a guest appearance at the event. They performed an impressive dance routine while people applauded and encouraged them.
The rally could not be complete without an appearance by the Homecoming king and queen. The pair, Armondo Merrick and Kenrinique Morris, showed up beautifully dressed, and greeted, and saluted everybody. Everyone attempted to get pictures with them.
The Alpha Sigma Fraternity alumni were reminiscing on all their previous accomplishments, and among this crowd was Tom.
Tom was a basketball player who came at Saint Leo on a scholarship, and later became a businessman upon graduation. He owns a tech company and employs engineers for different types of tech innovation projects.
“Our kirk was the visionary of all these buildings around us today,” he said while reminiscing on Saint Leo’s older look. “Our kirk was visionary,” Tom said.
Kirk, originally used to talk about the Church of Scotland, is now used a synonym of church. He was praising the awareness and open mind of their kirk.
Tom turned his high-tech company into a family business ran by his son. He met his wife in his Saint Leo college years.
“My wife and I are going on a safari in South Africa soon,” he said with a smiling face. His main activity is to travel the world with his wife and catch up with old friends at school reunions.
Homecoming has always been an occasion for alumni to reunite for another dance. The 50th year reunion for the alumni of Saint Leo was a moment for them to see the progress of their classmates, catch up with them, and also realize the different changes in their school. They are eagerly looking forward to the next reunion.
