This year’s homecoming, “Live from KU: Homecoming 2012,” kicked off last Thursday at 8 p.m. with a Pep Rally in the Student Recreation Center. The Pep Rally gave the students a chance to meet their 2012 Homecoming Court.
For Queen, nominees included Amber Brookhart, Anna Crisci, Alison Duffy, Rebecca Landerholm, Amanda McCrorey, Felicia Nelson, and Samantha Powers. For King, nominees consisted of David Alaio, Ryan Branch, Nathan Caruso, Nathan Hine, Jeffrey D. Knappenberger, James Learn, and Bryan McKinstry.
Unlike last year, the winners were not revealed until half time of the football game on Saturday.
The Pep Rally also gave multiple organizations an opportunity to present themselves to the university. Performers this year included Black Flame, The Sigma Lambda Beta Step Team, The Dance Team, and the KU Cheerleaders.
Saturday began the main events. At 10 a.m. on the DMZ began Fan Fest, an interactive fan entertainment area for all alumni, students, parents, families and community members. New this year, fan fest was a huge hit with those in attendance.
“It was a great way for people to see what KU is all about. It had different organizations present to show some of what KU has to offer,“ said senior Presidential Ambassador Lindsey Mayberry.
Available were specific “alumni tables,” which gave staff and various alumni an opportunity to mingle and reconnect with each other. It also gave students a chance to network with graduates of the university who have personal experience with life after graduation.
The Alumni Tailgate began at 11 a.m. on the patio of the Student Recreation Center. This took place until kickoff at 1:05, where the Golden Bears suffered a tragic loss to the Shippensburg Red Raiders, 73-35. Golden Bears fans still stood proud, especially at halftime when it was time to announce King and Queen. Homecoming Queen went to Amber Brookhart, sponsored by Phi Sigma Sigma, and King to James Learn, sponsored by Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The university band and Dance Team also performed at the half.
After discovering early last week that comedian Ralphie May could no longer make an appearance Homecoming night, ACE pulled through and brought in comedians Sarah Colonna and Chris Franjola from Chelsea Lately, and Jimmy “Sharky” Carrol, a KU alumnus.
“A lot of people were really disappointed that Ralphie May couldn’t make it, but last year the Chelsea Lately comedians came and were pretty good. I have to say the same about Sarah and Chris—it was a good show. We’re lucky they could make it on such short notice,” said Mayberry.
Another year of KU Homecoming has come and gone, always a great time for students, staff, and alumni.

By Taylor Zimmerman