Homecoming

Homecoming 2020

Central made every attempt to have Homecoming activities for students this year, but it just wasn’t the same without our alumni. Students still managed to paint windows on the Square. The football team played, and the marching band performed. And we continued the Homecoming royalty tradition. We hope to see EVERYONE next year.

Zeta Psi Lambda won this year’s window decorating contest on the Fayette Square with their work at The Attic.

Stasia Sherman, director of alumni engagement, and Dr. Bill Sheehan, vice president for advancement and alumni relations, purchased gift cards from Fayette business owner Leremie Shaffer (top) and Amanda Dodson Brand, ’10, (right).

Alumni Step Up To Support Business Community, Students

When the pandemic caused the cancellation of an in-person Homecoming this fall at Central Methodist University, alumni across the country were forced to change plans. The typical crowd of 3,500 people in Fayette didn’t materialize.

Not only did it mute the weekend, but it hit the pocketbook of Fayette businesses. So CMU and its alumni base stepped up to help out.

A unique fundraising campaign was developed to benefit students as well as the hard-hit business community, said Bill Sheehan, ’84, vice president of advancement and alumni relations.

“Some of these businesses lost thousands,” Sheehan said. “An alum pointed out the impact and asked if we could do something.”

Mike Dimond, ’85, executive director of Fayette Main Street, Inc., said the economic climate has been difficult on the Fayette square, and this effort was a big boost.

“It means a lot,” Dimond said. “This is truly what it means to be community— supporting one another. It was a great gesture of support. Homecoming is a time they all count on.”

Sheehan sought donations from alumni, and CMU’s advancement office would then take the funds and purchase gift cards for needy students and for student rewards and incentives.

Lasting from Sept. 19-28, the campaign was a big hit.

“We raised $6,500,” Sheehan said. “We had gifts from $20 all the way up to $1,000. And, true to the spirit of Central, every decade from the 1950s forward was involved.”

Sheehan, who purchased the gift cards from a variety of Fayette businesses, said the proprietors were appreciative.