{"id":11932,"date":"2021-10-20T16:07:11","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T20:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/?p=11932"},"modified":"2022-02-11T10:08:32","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T15:08:32","slug":"marymount-celebrates-2021-homecoming-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/marymount-celebrates-2021-homecoming-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Marymount celebrates 2021 Homecoming Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Following a year without large-scale, in-person events in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, Marymount University marked the return of its annual Homecoming traditions this past weekend and welcomed Saints alumni and their families back to campus for several days full of events for them to enjoy during the institution’s 2021 Homecoming Weekend.<\/p>\n

From Wednesday evening through Sunday morning, the University held a variety of special activities for Homecoming \u2013 from alumni happy hours to faculty lectures, and from open house tours to student dances.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was wonderful to see so many Saints alumni back on campus to celebrate their achievements and their time here at Marymount during our 2021 Homecoming,\u201d said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. \u201cWe dearly missed experiencing face-to-face interactions, and being able to gather in person again for Homecoming is quite important as we ensure our graduates will remain devoted Saints for life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Homecoming festivities began with the sixth annual Marymount 5K<\/a> at the University\u2019s Ballston campus. Proceeds from the race went towards providing physical therapy services to underserved populations, and allow students to travel to orphanages, nursing homes, long-term care facilities and rehabilitation clinics.<\/p>\n

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Volunteers at the sixth annual Marymount 5K<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u201cOur students and faculty were thrilled to return to an in-person race for our annual 5K, which gives our third-year students \u2013 under the guidance of Dr. Diana Venskus and Dr. Jason Craig \u2013 the opportunity to impact the health and well-being of our global community through service and education,\u201d said Dr. Megan Moran, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy<\/a> at Marymount University. \u201cWe had 95 in-person participants, along with another dozen or so virtual runners, making the race a great success!\u201d<\/p>\n

The following night, Marymount students packed the Converse Family Fieldhouse in the Lee Center to take in the action of Saints Madness, the biggest pep rally of the year as the Marymount Men\u2019s<\/a> and Women\u2019s Basketball teams<\/a> took the court for the first time in the season. It was also a night to honor the achievements of the 2001-02 Women\u2019s Final Four team, whose banner was unveiled during the event to cheering applause from the crowd.<\/p>\n

“Saints Madness was a great event honoring one of MU’s greatest teams while growing excitement on campus for our current teams,” said Jill McCabe, Director of Athletics<\/a> and Assistant Vice President at Marymount University. “The gym was packed and full of energy.\u00a0 The Final Four alums had to be thrilled with the turnout and pride our current students showed for their accomplishment!<\/p>\n

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The 2001-02 Women’s Basketball team during Saints Madness<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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As Homecoming Weekend continued, the historic accomplishments of Marymount Saints athletes were also on display Friday night during the Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at the Westin Arlington Gateway. The awards program honored the newest class of Marymount Hall of Famers \u2013 the 2001-02 Women\u2019s Basketball team as a whole, Bobby Barrett \u201908 (Men\u2019s Swimming), Stephen Milano \u201901 (Men\u2019s Lacrosse) and Cori Carson (Women\u2019s Basketball).<\/p>\n

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The players from Marymount’s Final Four team celebrate during the Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Carson\u2019s Marymount story is an inspirational one. After transferring to the University, she survived liver failure while playing for the Saints and returned to the court after a successful transplant. Despite being given a short life expectancy, she is alive and well today.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Marymount to take a chance on me with open arms, it was a wonderful experience,\u201d Carson said. \u201cIf I could go back in time, I kid you not, I would\u2019ve done all four years at Marymount. It\u2019s definitely a family atmosphere there, and I would recommend Marymount to anyone who plays.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Cori Carson speaks virtually to the audience at Marymount’s Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The next morning of Homecoming Weekend, the University\u2019s chapel in its Ballston Center<\/a> was put in the spotlight, as its new stained glass windows were dedicated with a special Mass, presided over by Marymount Chaplain Rev. Gabriel Muteru.<\/p>\n

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The new stained glass windows at Marymount’s Ballston Center chapel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Marymount\u2019s 2021 Homecoming Weekend culminated with Saturday night\u2019s inaugural Halo Awards dinner and ceremony,<\/a> which recognized three alumni, one faculty member and two community members for their professional achievements and service to others. Hosted by ABC7\/WJLA-TV<\/a> anchor Jonathan Elias, proceeds from the event will support student scholarships and experiential learning opportunities.<\/p>\n

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Marymount President Irma Becerra and ABC7\/WJLA’s Jonathan Elias at the 2021 Halo Awards<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Recipients of the first-ever Halo Awards during Marymount’s 2021 Homecoming include:<\/em><\/p>\n

Tom Donohue, who received the Saint of Service Award. Donohue served as president and CEO of the\u00a0U.S. Chamber of Commerce\u00a0<\/a>for over 20 years, and is now an advisor to the organization. He is known for building the Chamber into a lobbying and political powerhouse with expanded influence across the globe, and helping secure business victories on Capitol Hill that have revitalized capital markets, rebuilt America\u2019s infrastructure and protected intellectual property, just to name a few. His support for Marymount has also been considerable over the years, serving on the Board for more than two decades and holding loyal major donor status for 23 years in a row.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis experiences in the business world through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are, of course, exceptional, and we are so grateful to have him on board as an Executive in Residence \u2013 an influential figure passing on his knowledge to the next generation of business leaders,\u201d President Becerra said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can only imagine what they have in mind for me to work on \u2013 but simply stated, this is a growing and prospering institution,\u201d Donohue added. \u201cLed by an extraordinary, energetic and passionate president, Marymount continues to be a university of character, strong principles and is committed to community service and to a diverse student body of undergraduate and graduate students from around the corner and around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n