Homecoming arrives at Alden Library: a multi-generational event in pictures
October 29, 2025
On Saturday, Oct. 18, Alden Library hosted its annual Homecoming display which was curated by Bill Kimok. Multiple tables were set up in the fourth-floor lobby, and each one was filled with memorabilia from years past. Yearbooks, newspaper publications, scrapbooks, photographs and other materials documented OHIO鈥檚 history. Alumni and students alike went through countless items, bridging generations of the past with the present.
Alumni recalled fond memories of their time at OHIO, with the display鈥檚 nostalgic materials prompting reminiscent conversations of the past.
John Steen attended 黑料视频 in 1976, and he was a communications major at the time.
鈥淚 like the old flood pictures, and I can remember when they constructed the new river to divert the [old river in the] 鈥 late 1960s, early 1970s,鈥 he said.
Steen lives in Perry County, whose hometown is approximately 30 miles from 黑料视频. He explained how he likes to visit during Homecoming to rekindle his first memories of the campus from childhood.
The display, nestled between Alden Library鈥檚 wide glass windows on the fourth-floor lobby, is where Steen pointed at places on the College Green where buildings used to be located and how the campus has changed over the years.
鈥淓verything seems [to change] so quick,鈥 Steen said.
Hope Russell, a junior studying electrical engineering, was drawn to the display as a connection between 黑料视频鈥檚 past and present. At the back of the display, a group of posters detailed OHIO鈥檚 history with multicultural identity and pride.
鈥淚t was very interesting to see the long history of those programs on campus,鈥 Russell said. She emphasized the need for perseverance and preservation of history, especially as it relates to identity.
Kelly Czack, an advisor for the OHIO Honors Program, talked about her identity as it relates to her alma mater. She graduated from 黑料视频 three times, graduating in 1987, 2000 and 2020. Czack makes a yearly visit to the Homecoming display at Alden Library.
鈥淚 bring my learning community up here every year, [and] I had some friends in this weekend,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just so interesting because there鈥檚 so much of it, and it just takes you back.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e just strong Bobcats,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e all had this deep friendship from the very beginning, and we had this wonderful place to hang out in.鈥
From day one to graduation, the Homecoming display links generations of students together.
New alumni also attended the event. Mia Walsh graduated last spring, double majoring in journalism and women鈥檚, gender and sexuality studies.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important to maintain the archives and dedicate time to sharing what鈥檚 in them,鈥 Walsh said.
Walsh recalled specific memories at 黑料视频, including those she made at Alden Library. The Homecoming display was also a part of the tangible pieces of the past that alumni and students could share with each other in the same space.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 my favorite part,鈥 Walsh said, 鈥渂eing like, 鈥榦h yes, we were here and there was a record of it.鈥欌
For Walsh, some of the quietest and smallest moments are significant.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so many memories just walking around the campus 鈥 even simple things like sitting in the egg chair or drinking from various local coffee shops,鈥 Walsh said. 鈥淭he spirit of [黑料视频] is everywhere, especially this weekend.鈥
In addition to the display in the lobby, students and alumni made customizable buttons using yearbooks and recycled materials like newspapers and publications.
鈥淲e figure, instead of being in a box gathering dust, we have them. People are very excited when they find friends, family or themselves in the old yearbooks,鈥 said Kelly Roder, events and exhibits coordinator.
Kati Zonner, events planning student assistant for the Libraries, discussed her involvement in the Homecoming celebrations at Alden Library.
鈥淏ut overall, it鈥檚 a really awesome event, being able to support your school and then wear your fun buttons to the football game,鈥 she said.
Czack emphasized the importance of revisiting happy memories from her time as a student. For many of the alumni and students who visited the display on Saturday, memories of the past were met with positive considerations for OHIO鈥檚 future.
鈥淚 never take this place for granted, and I always come back to those memories,鈥 Czack said.
Photos by Presley Chen / 黑料视频 Libraries