Homecoming for alumni and families is here! The whole weekend is packed with festivities. However, September 25th, is the main event. Dean is excited to welcome guests for this weekend’s activities. For the safety of Dean students and their guests, all homecoming activities will be held outside except for the Women’s Volleyball game Friday evening. In addition, only Dean students, faculty, and staff will be allowed in the Smith Dining Center throughout the weekend. Masks are strongly encouraged when at the field and outdoors. However, the indoor mask mandate is still in effect. Children under 12 are allowed to attend all Homecoming Athletic Contests. For more information, please visit dean.edu.
The fun festivities begin Friday afternoon! We kick off homecoming weekend at noon with a virtual Homecoming/5K kickoff on the Dean social media outlets. Later at 4:00pm, the field hockey team will be taking on Colby-Sawyer College at Grant Field. Finally, the women’s volleyball team will be playing Elms College at 7:00pm in Pieri Gymnasium. No spectators are allowed.
Saturday is packed with activities. The day’s events begin at 8:30am with the Homecoming Check-In and information area outside the Campus Center. Also, at the same time Katie Fernanes will be hosting a virtual yoga and meditation class. More information can be found on today@dean. Following yoga, the alumni lacrosse game will be held on Grant Field at 9:00am. Alumni must register online to play. From 9:30 to 10:30am, Dr. Rob Lawson will be conducting a historic campus tour departing from the check-in tent outside the campus center. Starting at 10:15am, the super fan shuttle to the Longley Athletic Fields Complex will depart from the campus center parking lot and the Dean Hall parking lot. The shuttle departs every 15 minutes. Students and guests are encouraged to take the shuttle due to the limited parking at Longley Field. The football team will be taking on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 12:00pm. The game features the ceremonial coin toss, performances by the Dean College Dance Teams, and the Butchie Williams, ’75 Award at the conclusion of the Game. Starting at 11:00am and continuing throughout the game there will be a game day cookout and a 21+ tent for attendees who are of age. In addition to the game day cookout, there will be the Bulldog Fan Zone. The fan zone has fall activities for all, a giant chair to take photos, and the pop-up bookstore packed with Dean apparel.
The Homecoming fun does not end on Saturday! On Sunday from 10:00am to 2:00pm in the Campus Center parking lot there will be the Dean College and Franklin Rotary Car Show. Masks are required to attend. At 12:00pm the Women’s soccer team plays Anna Maria College at Grant Field. To conclude the weekend’s activities, the Men’s soccer team also takes on Anna Maria College at 1:00pm at Longley Field.