The USC Homecoming 2022 game welcomes alumni back to campus, giving Trojans, new and old, a chance to be united as one. Chanting “fight on” alongside current students, alumni are encouraged to attend the November 5 game against long-running rivals from the University of California Berkeley at the Coliseum.
On campus, the USC Alumni Association will host tailgates where former Trojans can reconnect with their past classmates.
“35 years ago I graduated from USC, my home away from home for four years,” said Lauren Salerno, a USC alumna who graduated in 1987. “Life without social media was simpler but definitely more difficult to maintain connections. However, over the years it’s become easier to reconnect and USC has done a fabulous job helping alumni feel part of our school.”
The celebrations are nonstop this coming weekend. Beginning Friday, back-to-campus tickets are available for festivities from 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. which includes the welcome lounge, lunch, campus tours, class sessions, all-class mixers and a Trojan wine tasting all for $80. Later that day, there’s also a 7:00-11:30 p.m. reunion night celebration at Alumni Park that has already sold out.
Saturday gameday will see even more alumni as the sold-out reunion tailgate begins on campus at 3:30 p.m., leading up to the 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Golden Bears. The Trojan community continues to expand and embrace one another with new generations of students.
“This year’s homecoming holds so much meaning for me as I’m going to be attending it with my current sophomore, my recent 2022 graduate and my son’s future mother-in-law,” said Lauren. “Our families are taking the idea of the Trojan family to a whole different level.”
The most recent Salerno to join USC’s alumni is Lauren’s daughter, Kate, from the class of 2022. Despite moving to New York City following graduation, Kate wouldn’t miss the opportunity to attend her first homecoming game as a brand new alumna.
“Some of my most amazing years were spent at USC. I am so grateful for my experience and time here, and even more excited to be back this weekend for homecoming as a new alumni,” said Kate. “I have met some of the most amazing people at this school and it is going to be very special to be back together with friends to cheer on USC as we play Berkeley.”
Current Trojans in Greek life rang in homecoming with activities and events in preparation for the coming weekend. Many fraternities and sororities are paired together this week to do a multitude of events with each other to celebrate. Such events include barbecues, movie nights and sports competitions.
Two fraternities and sororities joined forces in honor of homecoming weekend in a flag football game. Members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, coached by the Sigma Chi fraternity, played against members of the Delta Gamma sorority, coached by the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, on November 1.
Sigma Chi member Grant Pallokat, a sophomore studying real estate development, enjoyed helping coach the Kappa Kappa Gamma team.
“It was crazy to see the outcome of the event. Both sidelines were chanting, dancing and holding up signs throughout the game to help support their team,” said Pallokat. “It was really special to see first hand.”
Whether it’s the alumni events on campus, past and present marching band members on the field, or current students off campus, the USC bond can be felt throughout South Central this weekend. The Trojan family is proving once and for all that there’s no place like homecoming.