Union University’s campus buzzed with red and black this week as students, alumni and faculty celebrated homecoming, a long-standing tradition that unites the Union community through service, competition and shared faith.
The week’s lineup featured athletic events, student competitions and traditions — all designed to honor the faith-centered fellowship that has long defined Union’s culture.
“Homecoming is always a fun week full of events that bring together several departments and organizations,” said Joe Ball, executive director of the Office of Student Discipleship and Engagement. “This year, SGA, SAC and Athletics partnered together to make it a success. We had several events focused on celebrating our athletes as well as 12 groups competing for the Presidential Homecoming Cup, including fraternities, sororities, the Chess Club, Jaxx and Jillz and even the freshman through senior classes.”
The celebration kicked off Monday night with Bulldog Madness, a high-energy pep rally in the Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Students packed the stands to cheer for the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams as they were both introduced for the upcoming season amid haze and neon strobe lights, setting the tone for the week ahead.
On Tuesday, students turned their attention outward for Campus and Community Day, hosted by SGA and the Vocatio Center. More than 700 participants served alongside local organizations across Jackson, continuing a tradition of service inspired by the response to the 2008 tornado. That evening, the Lady Bulldogs volleyball team took on Lee University in the Fred DeLay Gymnasium.
“One of our goals with Homecoming is to help students find a greater sense of community and work together to create school pride and belonging,” Ball said. “Campus and Community Day is an opportunity to live out our desire to serve others and show the love of Christ to our community.”
By Thursday, excitement filled the Great Lawn as students gathered for Bulldog Olympics, followed by Jaxx’s ultimate frisbee match against Vanderbilt University and an evening performance by Blank Slate Improv in the W.D. Powell Theatre.
For junior worship leadership major and Homecoming director Erin Farris, the week offered a deeper appreciation for what makes Union unique.
“Taking on this role has really deepened my perspective on Union,” Farris said. “School pride is vital to the survival and excellence of a university because it creates a sense of belonging and motivation. When people are proud of their school, they invest in its success and carry its values beyond campus. Homecoming plays a big part in that — it’s a week where the entire campus and community come together to celebrate Union and strengthen that sense of connection and support that makes Union so special.”
Friday’s events carried the enthusiasm into the weekend with women’s and men’s soccer games against Auburn Montgomery at the Smith Memorial Soccer Complex. Between matches, students, alumni and families will gather for the Homecoming Tailgate, and SAC will close the night with Hullabaloo, a concert on the Barefoots Joe patio featuring sophomore music major Hope Watson alongside artist Daniel Nunnelee.
The week will culminate on Saturday as the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams open their season against the University of Tennessee Southern in the Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Mr. and Miss Union will be crowned at halftime of the women’s game, and the Presidential Homecoming Cup will be awarded during the men’s matchup.
Farris noted that Union’s Homecoming is set apart by its focus on relationships and shared faith rather than size or spectacle.
“We’re a smaller school, so our Homecoming experience isn’t like the big SEC schools with tens of thousands of students,” Farris said. “Instead, our events are much more personal and community-focused. Everything we do during Homecoming is meant to glorify God and reflect his love. Homecoming isn’t just about school pride — it’s about recognizing how God has been faithful to Union and celebrating that faithfulness together.”
As Homecoming draws to a close, the celebrations remind students and alumni alike that Union is more than a university — it’s a home. Each year, the tradition intertwines celebration with service, renewing gratitude for God’s continued faithfulness to Union.
