Published on November 9, 2022 by Kameron Brown  
homecoming family with Sam and cheerleaders

The Samford family returned to campus for the university’s annual Homecoming celebration Nov. 4-5. Despite rainy conditions, the quad was once again covered in red and blue, as hundreds of alumni, along with their family and friends, came together in fellowship beneath Samford’s oaks.

“Homecoming is truly a time for alumni, parents, students, donors and friends to come together to celebrate the memories and connections to Samford University,” said Casey Ramey, executive director of alumni and philanthropic engagement with the Samford University Alumni Association.

The celebrations began Thursday night with the crowning of this year’s Homecoming King and Queen. Peyton Lankford, a senior majoring in finance, was crowned king, and Ellen Conley, a senior majoring in early childhood, special education, elementary, elementary collaborative, was crowned queen.

On Friday night, the Samford University Alumni Association hosted the Samford Alumni Celebration. This event was formerly known as the Homecoming Candlelight Dinner but is now a reception for alumni to gather and officially kick off Homecoming Weekend. Continuing in the new tradition that was established in 2021, Seibert Hall entertained guests with food stations, mingling and music, courtesy of the Samford Jazz Band. The recipients of the 2022 Alumni Awards were also recognized for their distinguished professional careers, community and church involvement and their ongoing support for Samford and its mission.

On Saturday, tents dotted the sprawling lawn between Reid Chapel and Hodges Chapel, as the Samford family braved the overcast and wet weather in preparation for the homecoming football game. Tailgaters reunited with the various schools and student organizations that sponsored different tents throughout the quad.

To bring the weekend to a close, the Bulldogs defeated the Virginia Military Institute Keydets 34-15, securing a record-breaking victory for head coach Chris Hatcher, making him the winningest coach in school history.

2022 Alumni Honorees

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.