Hundreds of McDaniel alumni connect virtually to celebrate Homecoming at Home

More than 1,000 alumni from the 1960s through 2020, undaunted by the pandemic, traveled thousands of miles through cyberspace to come home to the Hill for Homecoming 2020. Casting the Green Terror-tory net literally around the globe via Zoom and Facebook, alumni shared their college-days photos in a treasure hunt, tested their memory with Pub trivia, celebrated alumni award and Sports Hall of Fame winners, discovered what’s new at McDaniel, and learned how to make their alma mater’s now signature cocktails, West on RT 140 and The Green Terror.

Homecoming at Home, McDaniel College — Throughout Homecoming 2020 aka Homecoming at Home, alumni connected in chats and comments, their pride in Green Terror Nation and each other vivid in the hundreds of quote bubbles popping up on the screen.

McDaniel Signature Cocktails — McDaniel's signature cocktail recipes

More than 1,000 alumni from the 1960s through 2020, undaunted by the pandemic, traveled thousands of miles through cyberspace to come home to the Hill for Homecoming 2020.

Casting the Green Terror-tory net literally around the globe via Zoom and Facebook, alumni shared their college-days photos in a treasure hunt, tested their memory with Pub trivia, celebrated alumni award and Sports Hall of Fame winners, discovered what’s new at McDaniel, and learned how to make their alma mater’s now signature cocktails, West on RT 140 and The Green Terror.

Throughout Homecoming 2020 aka Homecoming at Home, they connected in chats and comments, their pride in Green Terror Nation and each other vivid in the hundreds of quote bubbles popping up on the screen.

Hosts Kevin Lundell '97 from Broad Street Beverage Consulting, and Chad Albertson '96, trade marketing manager for Sagamore Spirit, kicked off the Friday night happy hour by teaching alumni how to expertly mix the now trademark drinks. Those who registered received a McDaniel cocktail glass, ice mold, and apple-scented recipes, so they could have all the ingredients on hand. Then, from the comforts of their homes in California, Texas, Washington, England, Vietnam, and Budapest, classmates caught up with each other on Zoom chat as they prepared to demonstrate just how much they knew about their alma mater.

Turns out that about twice as many alumni knew that Thursday is Chicken Tender Day in Glar — aka the dining hall — than knew the year that the college was founded (1867). But they showed their true Hill spirit by not only almost unanimously placing McDaniel Europe in Budapest but also easily identifying the mythical creature under the steps in the student center as a dragon.

They shared the names of their favorite campus ghosts — Harvey and Marbles their favorites — and proudly reminded everyone that the college admitted women from day one. Not many got the number of varsity sports right — 24 — and all but a few thought students in the 1800s prayed twice a day instead of the correct answer of had their rooms inspected twice a day.

A weeklong Treasure Hunt for vintage college photos had 70 alumni searching 1970s scrapbooks and smartphones alike for images from graduation, tailgating, Jan Term adventure, and more.

View the Homecoming 2020 events

Homecoming Kick-Off: An Update from College Leadership Green Terror Talk: Today’s Political Climate... What’s Next? Green Terror Talk: COVID Research on the Hill Green Terror Happy Hour and Pub Trivia Green Terror Talk: Diversity on the Hill Virtual Tour of Roj Student Center From the Vault: Iconic Green Terror Moments & a Conversation with Coaches

The grand prizewinner, submitting photos from the most categories, is Tyler Wilson ’95, who won an athletic event catered for 10 in 2021 in one of the college’s suites in the stadium or Gill Center. Second and third place winners are Alex Stitely ’18, M.S. ’19, for a $100 McDaniel gift basket and Rob Taber ’00 for a $50 McDaniel gift basket.

From this year’s Letters on the Hill contest, Phi Alpha Mu won the $300 first place prize, Alpha Sigma Tau won the $200 second place prize, and Phi Delta Theta won the $100 third place prize.

Alumni hosted Green Terror talks, tours and updates that highlighted the three-day celebration, and videos are on YouTube for those who missed the discussions.

Alumni Association Awards and Sports Hall of Fame inductees were announced during Homecoming at Home’s final event, From the Vault. The awards and honorees are:

Alumnus of the Year - Alexander G. Ober '63. M.Ed. '69

Young Alumni Award - Aaron Slaughter '10

Alumni Community Service Award – C. Downey Price ’62 and Edna Bent Price ’63

Alumni Community Service Award - Nupur Parekh Flynn '94

Alumni College Service Award - Priscilla Ord '63

Alumni College Service Award - James Wilberger '72

Alumni College Service Award - Gregory Shockley '83

Alumni Professional Achievement Award - David Carrasco '67, D.H.L. (hon.)

Sports Hall of Fame inductees for 2020 are Virginia Wilson Shockley '27, Hazel Gompf Coleman '38, Jean Luckabaugh '58, Sandra Lucile Roeder '65, Thomas Lapato '99, David Hose ’02, M.S. ’04, Drew Reinecker ’04, Thomas Kane ’05, and Diana Rosemier Humphrey ’08.

While unable to gather in the bowl around Kenneth R. Gill Stadium this year, the Green Terror community came together in a big way during Homecoming 2020 to support McDaniel’s student-athletes. Nearly 200 parents, alumni, staff and friends participated in a virtual “Fill the Bowl” campaign, giving at different levels to symbolize their virtual tailgating presence. Throughout the week, more than $16,000 was raised for Green Terror athletics.