By Mason Bender ‘28, staff writer
Homecoming at LVC is more than just a football game; this year, LVC’s Homecoming design will highlight its community through one of the campus’s familiar furry friends-- Henry.
For many students, alumni, faculty and community members, Henry has become a distinguished figure of everyday life here on campus. Henry has a habit of walking up to anyone looking for a few pets, creating small but memorable moments of connection throughout the LVC community.
This year’s Homecoming design was created with Henry in mind as a way to represent thec ampus as welcoming and to showcase how the connected community makes LVC feel like home to anyone.
For Grace Kauffman, the junior class president in student government, the goal of this year’s design was to make sure Homecoming represented more than just the football game.
“For our group, we wanted to keep in mind that Homecoming is not just about football," she said. "Homecoming is about the LVC community, a place for alumni, families and current students to gather and connect while all cheering, ‘Go Dutchmen!’”
Kauffman and others in student government have played a major role in bringing this year’s Homecoming together by organizing the pep rally and the Dutchman Dance-off and crowning the Homecoming Court.
“My job is to identify what needs to be done and make sure we get it done,” Kauffman said. “We have all been working hard to make Homecoming happen for LVC.”
The idea to feature Henry came from junior class secretary Jillian Boyer, who saw Henry as the perfect representation of what our campus community is like.
“My main inspiration was to create something that felt instantly recognizable and comforting,” Boyer said. “He’s a four-legged member of our community who has captured the hearts of students, faculty and staff; so I wanted this year’s homecoming design to reflect that same warm, welcoming energy of Henry’s that always brings everyone together.”
This year’s Homecoming design will mark a significant change from previous Homecoming themes and ideas. Before, designs primarily focused on football or the college itself. While football will remain an important part of Homecoming, this year’s design aims to showcase more of what makes LVC unique beyond the game.