Homecoming & Family Weekend
Homecoming 2025
February 12-16, 2025
UNC Asheville welcomes students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members back to campus for Homecoming! Homecoming is a special time of the year, an opportunity for us to reflect on the storied history of UNC Asheville, to celebrate the present moment, and look to the future. We hope you’ll join us for one of our many events linked below. Go Bulldogs!Student Events
Bulldogs, Homecoming 2025 is here and we want YOU to be a part of the excitement! It’s going to be a week full of school spirit, community, and tons of fun – and we can’t wait to celebrate with all of you.
Blood Drive
10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall, Highsmith Student Union
Be a part of UNCA’s life-saving legacy and donate at our Homecoming Blood Drive! Donors get a free t-shirt, and both donors and volunteers get free food. Sign up to donate or volunteer.
Women’s Basketball Pre-game Bonfire
5:00 p.m. | Bulldog outside Kimmel Arena
6:30 p.m. | Game vs. Upstate, Kimmel Arena
Ignite your bulldog spirit with a campfire! Grab a s’mores for a pre-game snack, and show your support at the game with temporary tattoos, blue beads, and more.
Blood Drive
10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall, Highsmith Student Union
Homecoming Kick-Off Event
8:00 p.m. | Greenwood Soccer Field
Get ready to kick off Homecoming week with a BANG! Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with fireworks (at 9 p.m.), music, and refreshments. Watch the sky light up as we officially begin the tradition of Homecoming. You won’t want to miss it!
Rocky’s Play Date with Friends
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | River Lounge, Highsmith Student Union
Support our Therapy Dogs program on the first floor of Highsmith! Grab a treat for a furry friend and learn more about the Rocky Pet Program while you’re here.
Baseball Opener vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
3:00 p.m. | Greenwood Baseball Field
Cheer on our Bulldogs Baseball team at Greenwood Baseball Field as they take on the Fairleigh Dickinson Blue Devils.
Glow Night
7:00 p.m. | 1st Floor, Highsmith Student Union
Get ready to glow with excitement as we transform the night into an unforgettable experience. Swing into action with glow-in-the-dark activities, including dancing and crafts! All neon clothing is welcome!
Alumni Volunteer Project: Babies Need Bottoms
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Student Life Porch, Highsmith Student Union
Join alumni and the Student Engagement Team for a volunteer opportunity with coffee and snacks! Help package diapers for a local community partnership and enjoy coffee, snacks, and time together with fellow Bulldogs.
Student Tailgate Party
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | SRC Lobby & Sherrill Lobby
Get into the Bulldog spirit with our Homecoming Student Tailgate Party! Attendees can get their face painted, sip on a mocktail, or put a temporary tattoo on the way to the Women’s Bulldog Basketball game vs. Charleston Southern. Mocktails will be served in the SRC Lobby while the rest of the activities will be in the Sherrill Lobby (outside the Fitness Center).
Baseball Opener vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
1:00 p.m. | Greenwood Baseball Field
Cheer on our Bulldogs Baseball team at Greenwood Baseball Field as they take on the Fairleigh Dickinson Blue Devils.
Women’s Basketball vs. Charleston Southern
2:00 p.m. | Kimmel Arena
Cheer on our Women’s Bulldogs Basketball team in Kimmel Arena as they take on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers.
Men’s Basketball vs. Charleston Southern
4:30 p.m. | Kimmel Arena
Cheer on our Men’s Bulldogs Basketball team in Kimmel Arena as they take on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers.
Homecoming Dance
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company
It’s party time! Grab a friend and your dancing shoes for this year’s Homecoming Dance at Highland Brewing Company from 8-11 p.m.! Not only will you get to dance the night away, but you’ll also get to meet with a fortune teller and take photos with Slay the Mic’s 360 photo booth. Alcohol will be available for purchase to students who are 21+ and have a valid ID. Shuttles will be an option if students need to get to and from Highsmith Student Union, or you may use your own means of transportation.
Homecoming Royalty Coronation Ceremony
9:30 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company
Who will wear the crowns and be coronated into the Homecoming Royal Family? Join us during the Homecoming Dance to watch our victors step into the spotlight!
Bulldog Baseball vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
12:00 p.m. | Greenwood Baseball Field
Cheer on our Bulldogs Baseball team at Greenwood Baseball Field as they take on the Fairleigh Dickinson Blue Devils.
Homecoming Royalty
Homecoming Royalty
This long-lasting tradition honors UNC Asheville juniors and seniors who embody what it means to be a Bulldog. Students are nominated by campus clubs, organizations, departments, faculty, and staff. The selection process is then based on academic success, campus involvement, and civic engagement. In the end, three winners will be named as members of the “The Royal Family.”
- Thursday, February 6, 12:00 pm – Applications close
- Friday, February 7, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Application review & virtual interviews
- Monday, February 10 – Photo headshot with Homecoming Court members (invite only)
- Tuesday, February 11, 8:00 am – Court members may start campaigning
- Wednesday, February 12 – Friday, February 14, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm – Student body votes for 3 winners of Homecoming Royalty to be crowned the “Royal Family”
- Saturday, February 15, 4:30 pm – Homecoming Royalty Recognition at Men’s basketball game (halftime)
- Saturday, February 15, 9:30 pm – Homecoming Royalty Coronation at Homecoming Dance
Homecoming Royalty Requirements
Nomination Guidelines:
- Applicants must submit an application online no later than 12:00 pm on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University.
- Applicants must be enrolled as a student for the 2025 spring semester as a junior (60 credit hours) or senior (90 credit hours).
- Applicants should attend all Homecoming events possible throughout the week of February 12-15 (but please, go to class).
- Applicants may be sponsored by a registered student club/organization, residence hall, athletic team, or an academic department/program. Student clubs, organizations, residence halls, athletic teams, and academic departments can sponsor up to two candidates. Nominees do not have to belong to your organization or live in your Residence Hall.
- No former crowned Homecoming winners may be nominated.
- Student group members will receive Paw Points for nominating candidates (100 Paw Points per person). If the nominee applies, the organization receives 50 additional Paw Points per candidate.
- If a student is nominated by more than one organization, the nominee will have to choose which group they would like to represent. If no clear choice is communicated to the Homecoming Committee advisor the nominating group which nominated the individual first will receive any credit.
Application Materials:
- Applicants are required to submit an application by 12:00 pm on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Election Guidelines:
All members of the Homecoming Court will be recognized during the Homecoming festivities. From these finalists, three students will be voted as the “Royal Family” recipients based on the student body vote in recognition of outstanding achievements and contributions to the success of others.
- All Homecoming Court Elections will take place through homecoming.unca.edu. Each student is limited to submitting 1 vote.
- Homecoming Court Nominees are invited to participate in limited campaigning starting Tuesday, February 11 at 8:00 am. Once nominated and photographed, nominees may create a social media page or group for campaigning. No other means of campaigning are allowed.
- The candidates for Homecoming Court with the highest total student body votes will be crowned “Royal Family.” No runoff election is held. In the case of a tie, a drawing will be held to determine the winner.
- Members of the Homecoming Court will be expected to attend the men’s Homecoming basketball game on Saturday, February 15 for the Homecoming Coronation Ceremony at halftime.
Campaigning Guidelines:
- No money can be spent on campaigning. Social media is the only campaigning tool permitted.
- Nominees are responsible for maintaining their social media pages and are responsible for their supporters and what they post.
- Each page may only feature an individual candidate; mentions of other candidates in a negative manner will result in disqualifications.
- No group(s) can be designed against another.
- Any overtly negative posts by members of other competing organizations in homecoming during the voting process may lead to disqualification of the posting individual’s group in the homecoming competition.
- All finalists are expected to serve as role models for their peers and the UNC Asheville community. Therefore, inappropriate behavior or attitudes will not be tolerated.
- Any violation of these guidelines could result in disqualification from Homecoming Court, as determined by the Senior Director of Campus Life.
Alumni + Friends Events
We are thrilled to welcome alumni and friends back to campus for UNC Asheville’s Homecoming Weekend! We have a variety of events this year that showcase all the great things about UNC Asheville, and we hope you take advantage of all of them! Please reach out to alumni@unca.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Women’s Basketball Game
6:30 p.m. | Kimmel Arena
Homecoming Kick-Off Event
8:00-9:30 p.m. | Greenwood Soccer Field
Get ready to kick off Homecoming week with a BANG! Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with fireworks (at 9 p.m.), music, and refreshments. Watch the sky light up as we officially begin the tradition of Homecoming. You won’t want to miss it!
Alumni Board of Directors Winter Meeting
On Campus
Baseball Opener vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
3:00 p.m. | Greenwood Baseball Field
Cheer on our Bulldogs Baseball team at Greenwood Baseball Field as they take on the Fairleigh Dickinson Blue Devils.
Celebration of Scholarly & Creative Activity
3:00- 5:30 p.m. | Ramsay Library
UNC Asheville Alumni Association Awards & Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Invitation only. Contact alumni@unca.edu with questions.
Volunteer Activity, Babies Need Bottoms
10:00 a.m.-12:00p.m. | Highsmith Union Haggard Student Life Porch (Inside Main Entrance)
Volunteer Opportunity to help support the Asheville community on the morning of Saturday, 2/15, 10am-12pm. Meet in the Highsmith Student Union Student Life Porch (inside the main entrance). Family friendly. We are partnering with the local nonprofit, Babies Need Bottoms, to stuff packages for families in need. All are welcome!
Campus Building Tour
12:00-1:00 p.m. | Justice Center Bulldog Statue
Interested in seeing how the campus has changed since graduation? This will be a general campus tour from current students and include our main campus buildings. Meet at the Bulldog Statue in front of the Justice Center. Please arrive 10 minutes early. This tour is not intended for prospective students. Information on tours for students and parents can be found on our admissions page. Registration Required
Baseball Opener vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
1:00 p.m. | Greenwood Baseball Field
Cheer on our Bulldogs Baseball team at Greenwood Baseball Field as they take on the Fairleigh Dickinson Blue Devils.
Homecoming Alumni Tailgate
12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. | Outside Kimmel Arena, P 11 Parking Lot
Reconnect with old friends with food, music, and more! Come see our team under the Alumni Tent for swag and information on the Alumni Association.
UNC Asheville Women’s Basketball
2:00 p.m. | Kimmel Arena
Alumni Zone
~3:30 p.m. (when the Women’s game ends)-4:30 p.m. | Kimmel Arena Atrium (near the main entrance)
Meet up with old friends between games. Free event.
UNC Asheville Men’s Basketball
4:30 p.m. | Kimmel Arena
UNC Asheville to Retire Josh Pittman’s Jersey
Basketball Post Game Party
Rye Knot
Join fellow Bulldog fans, coaches, and staff at Rye Knot immediately following the game and enjoy discounted Bulldog Specials.
Reconnect in the City
6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Need a place to grab a bite in Asheville? We recommend these alumni owned businesses:
Know of more alumni owned businesses? Let us know at alumni@unca.edu.
Homecoming Closeout Celebration
8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. | Highland Brewing
Raise a glass with fellow UNC Asheville Bulldogs at Highland Brewing as we close out Homecoming Weekend. Registration required and available on site.
Location: 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200, Asheville, NC 28803
Homecoming - Spirit Competition
Homecoming - Spirit Competition
“All UNC Asheville students are invited to earn Spirit Points by participating in the Homecoming Spirit Competition. Winners will earn the title “Big Dogs on Campus,” along with a FREE pizza party and spotlight on our website! You can register as a group or individually. If you register individually, you will be matched with other UNC Asheville students to form a Homecoming team. Points will only be awarded if the team registers and participates in events. If the winner is a Registered Student Organization, they will also receive an additional $150 in Campus Commission funding FOR FREE!
The deadline to register for the spirit competition is Sunday, February 11.
Alumni Association Award Winners
Each year the University of North Carolina at Asheville recognizes alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the University, their communities, or fields of endeavor. Because of the exemplary nature of their achievements, recipients represent the very best of the UNC Asheville experience and serve as role models for the entire University community. The awards are presented annually during Homecoming. The ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame. Below are our prestigious 2025 winners.
Tiffany Sen ’93
The Pisgah Award for Alumni Achievement
Named in homage to Mount Pisgah, one of the area’s tallest peaks and the campus’ visual center, the Pisgah Award recognizes alumni (degreed or non-degreed) for outstanding achievement in their fields of endeavor.
Tiffany Sen is the Chief Procurement Officer at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she oversees a large-scale operation that ensures one of the world’s most prominent cultural institutions runs proficiently. Her role is vital to the museum’s mission, and Tiffany is deeply passionate about museums as custodians of the world’s collective memory—places that store, protect, and engage with global artistic and cultural heritage.
Tiffany’s career exemplifies the interdisciplinary values of her University of North Carolina Asheville education, where she studied music, social sciences and business courses from 1988 to 1992, graduating with a bespoke arts management degree. She has successfully blended creativity, business acumen, and complex operational problem-solving throughout her career. Before joining The Met in 2017, Tiffany honed her superpowers through leadership roles at the luxury brand LVMH and the fashion company Ann Taylor.
A proud alumna, Tiffany remains connected to her alma mater, recently hosting a group from the university’s career center at The Met. During their visit, she shared her deep gratitude for her time at UNCA, her insights into the industry, and advice on building a personal brand, navigating career paths and refining passion and purpose.
In her spare time, Tiffany plays the flute in a rock and roll band, showcasing the creativity and versatility that have defined both her professional and personal life. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of education and her enduring commitment to blending art and industry to make a meaningful impact.
Leigh McBride ’71
Thomas D. Reynolds Alumni Award for Service to the University
Son of the University’s founder and graduate of the Class of 1937, Thomas D. Reynolds spent sixty years as one of the University’s strongest promoters and most active volunteers. This award recognizes one alumnus/a (degreed or non-degreed) each year for exemplary service to UNC Asheville.
Leigh McBride has demonstrated immense pride in her alma mater throughout her life, beginning with her active involvement as a student at UNC Asheville. As a student leader, she participated in student government and even took on the spirited role of the university’s bulldog mascot. Her dedication to UNCA extended into a long and meaningful career in Admissions, where she played a vital role in shaping the university’s community and supporting countless students in their educational journeys.
Beyond her professional contributions, Leigh is an avid supporter of Bulldog athletics and can often be found cheering at basketball games, embodying her unwavering school spirit. As an alumna, Leigh has given back to the university in numerous ways, including serving on the Alumni Association’s board of directors (formerly the Alumni Council) during two impactful terms in the 1970s and 1990s. She is also a committed financial supporter, having pledged a planned gift to establish an athletic scholarship, ensuring her legacy will continue to benefit future generations of student-athletes. Leigh’s lifelong dedication to UNCA exemplifies the enduring bond between alumni and their alma mater.
Lakesha McDay ‘08
Mullen-James Social Justice & Equity Impact Award
Established in 2022, this award is given annually to a member of the UNCA Community in honor of Dr. Dee and Dr. Charles James, and Dr. Dolly Jenkins-Mullen, and Dr. Dwight Mullen. These four professors dedicated their personal and professional careers to social justice, equity, and inclusion within their fields. The award is presented to those alumni, students, or initiatives in which, through their actions, advocacy, and/or collaborative partnerships have demonstrated a true commitment and dedication to systems change work either at the University or broader community level.
Lakesha McDay ’08 has dedicated her career to enriching communities across North Carolina through leadership roles that advance social justice, equity, and health outcomes. She currently serves as president of The Moriah Group. Previously, Lakesha held senior leadership positions at the New Hanover Community Endowment, Mission Health, Dogwood Health Trust, and UNC Asheville. She has focused her career on addressing the social determinants of health and fostering sustainable improvements in community well-being. As the Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity Director at Dogwood Health Trust, she spearheaded initiatives to improve health outcomes for marginalized communities, furthering her commitment to societal equity.
Beyond her professional work, Lakesha is deeply engaged in her community. She has served on the boards of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Delta House Life Development of Asheville, Carolina Day School, the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, and the YMCA of Western North Carolina. Her service reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering individuals and strengthening communities. Lakesha exemplifies the values of the Mullen-James legacy, making tangible progress toward achieving societal equity through her accomplished career and impactful community involvement.
Darlena Moore ‘85
Francine M. Delany Alumni Award for Service to the Community
A member of the class of 1966, the University’s first baccalaureate class, and the University’s first African-American graduate, Francine contributed a lifetime of service to Asheville and the surrounding community in support of childhood education. This award recognizes one alumnus/a (degreed or non-degreed) for exemplary service to their community, state, or nation.
Darlena Moore ’85 is president of Mountain Girl Initiative, a foundation for funding scholarships for students involved in the foster care system. Moore found herself in foster care as an older teen after her mother’s death, and she has continually sought to support youth in that situation. Her efforts are also in honor of her beloved foster parents, Dick and Mary Gilbert. Darlena enjoyed a successful career in marketing and created the Gilbert Scholarship initially with the proceeds from a granola business. She now focuses her efforts on fundraising to provide scholarships for foster care youth to help them achieve their college dreams.
Denise Stredrick ’92
Roy A. Taylor Distinguished Alumnus or Alumna of the Year Award
Named in honor of the University’s first valedictorian, founder of its first Alumni Association, and distinguished member of the United States Congress, the Roy A. Taylor Distinguished Alumnus or Alumna Award is the highest award given to an alumnus/a and recognizes those graduates of UNC Asheville and its predecessor colleges for extraordinary achievement.
Dr. Denise Stredrick is the Health Scientist Administrator at the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Disease Prevention. In this role, she coordinates collaborative efforts with NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices to enhance the NIH portfolio on prevention research. Prior to joining the ODP, Dr. Stredrick served as the Acting Director in the Office of Science Policy and Analysis (OSPA) at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and as the Branch Chief of the Science Policy and Planning Branch within OSPA. As Acting Director of OSPA, she led NIDCR’s science policy, strategic planning, legislative affairs, analyses, and stakeholder outreach. Before NIDCR, Dr. Stredrick worked as a program officer in the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health where she managed policy and legislative activities and led the effort to develop the 2019–2023 Trans-NIH Strategic Plan for Women’s Health Research. Dr. Stredrick has guided the development of strategic plans for other NIH ICs and worked as a scientific review officer for the National Cancer Institute.
