New and old traditions, plus a dominant gridiron victory, highlighted the day.
Baldwin Wallace University's 2025 Bold & Gold Homecoming celebration delivered perfect autumn weather, an enthusiastic crowd and a commanding football victory as the campus community gathered Saturday, October 25, during the University's 180th anniversary.
Cool, sunny skies set the stage for a day of celebration as University President Lee Fisher and his wife, Peggy Zone Fisher, served as parade Grand Marshals in their first BW Homecoming.
Led by the Marching Yellow Jackets, the parade followed an alternate route, stepping off at 11 a.m. along East Center Street to Beech Street and across Bagley Road to the festival site adjacent to Finnie Stadium.
Parade entries included cool cars, creative floats, BW's beloved Stinger mascot, candy-tossing student groups and members of the Homecoming court.
At noon, a festival in Finnie Stadium's parking lot — a new location for the tailgate celebration and engagement zone — drew a large number of attendees with booths, entertainment, giveaways, games and an assortment of food trucks.
The festivities culminated in a decisive Yellow Jackets victory as BW's football team shut out the Marietta Pioneers 38-0. The crowd that filled the stadium also put their hands together for the crowning of Homecoming royalty, Berta Gashi and Leah Kania, and the introduction of the 2025 BW Athletics Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees:
The six were officially inducted into the Athletics Alumni Hall of Fame during a special ceremony and dinner on Friday.
BW also marked Founder's Day with a luncheon for emeriti faculty and staff on Friday, and a number of affinity reunions took place throughout the Homecoming weekend, including gatherings for military veterans and cheer team members, along with annual events hosted by the Black Alumni Network.
"Homecoming is the ultimate reunion and a time for our extended campus family to come together, no matter how the event details might change through the years," said Tony Peebles, MBA '98, BW director of alumni engagement. "The infectious energy of students and returning alumni creates an unforgettable atmosphere and school spirit."
This year's festivities fell on the 180th year of BW's founding.
