UMES has Hawkcoming After Next that celebrates homecoming week
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is hosting several events to celebrate Homecoming Week.
Friday was an event called Alumni Central, and it allowed Hawks who called UMES their alma mater to mingle and enjoy themselves.
Many alums came to the rotunda for food, fellowship, and community. Jennifer Wilson graduated in 2005, and says it went like a breeze. “I can’t believe it was 20 years ago. It really goes by so fast.”
She, much like Pamela Anderson, attended and enjoyed themselves. Pamela is a current student, and said UMES reminds her of the South.
“I’m from the South, and I love small communities, and I love the city. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia, and I think being here kind of brings me away from home.”
Hawkcoming after next, held week-long festivities. Events ranged from pep rallies, luncheons, and tailgates. Reginald Harris graduated in the class of 1956, and says the campus was much simpler back then.
“The female dorm was Murphy Hall; the men’s dorm didn’t even have a name. It was dorm number 1 and dorm number 2.”
His friend, Charles Bush, graduated in 1958, and he said the unity isn’t like it used to be. “The unity, we could depend on that. We knew everyone on campus, if you ate, I ate. And I don’t really see that now.”
However, when Bush and Harris attended, UMES was called Maryland State. It’s had many iterations since then, which have shaped Princess Anne, and the entire Eastern Shore.
Hope Green was at Alumni Central, and she is of class of 1995. She told WMDT that seeing the growth over time has been tremendous.
“When I was here in the 90s, a lot of the buildings that are here now weren’t here. So, coming back year after year, and see how the campus has prospered and grown, is simply awesome.”
Adding that the networks built here reach across the United States. Hawks, according to her, are all kin.
“I remember when I was in New York, I was driving on Rockaway Avenue, and I stopped him, pulled up to the side, and honked him down. I said, Hawk pride, and he was like, what? Because who’s doing that in Brooklyn, and he’s like, catch it, and I’m like, what’s up?
Jennifer Wilson, a 2005 graduate, notes that not much has changed in Princess Anne. “The community itself honestly hasn’t changed too much.”
The events are far from over the action will ramp up on Saturday, November 8th,
with the “Destination 1886” parade starting at 9 a.m. on campus.
And the huge Homecoming Tailgate goes into full effect starting at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the Student Cultural Development Center.
