Alumni returned to campus this October to celebrate and reconnect at Principia College’s annual Gold & Blue Weekend a Homecoming and Family Celebration. Families of current students, alumni, and Hall of Fame inductees were welcomed back with open arms as they spent the weekend engaging in fruitful discussions at Monitor Night Live, stepping back onto the court or field in rousing alumni games, and cheering from the sidelines as students took on old rivals.
In between the festivities, weekend visitors experienced the feeling of returning home. And while it’s not a sensation unique to Principia, it certainly isn’t uncommon. “Driving on campus, I was like, ‘Ah, we’re back,” says Jen (Little) Pierce (C’05), who returned to be honored in the Athletic Hall of Fame along with her teammates from the 2004 Women’s Soccer Team. “From the moment we arrived through the entire weekend, we felt very loved and welcomed.”
Like many others, life and family have kept Pierce busy since graduation. Her arrival on campus this October marked her first time back on Principia soil in 12 years. “I was a little nervous,” says Pierce. “I wasn’t sure who was going to be there, and I wasn’t sure how much the campus had changed. The construction of new buildings and remodeling projects have all been done so thoughtfully, the campus has never looked better! It was still the same Principia of my memories, but now with many new improvements.”
The weekend was a busy one, chock full of special moments. Whether reliving precious memories with teammates at the Hall of Fame ceremony, exploring new buildings on campus, reconnecting with classmates and friends, or rediscovering old haunts, Pierce never knew a moment of tedium or loneliness. “It just felt like a party! Seeing old friends and coaches from our 2004 soccer team, inductee Ben Crandell (US’99, C’03), and Lewis Howes (US’01, C’05)—who I ran track with—was a huge highlight for me.”
But perhaps the most meaningful connection Pierce made over the weekend was her rediscovery of what Principia meant to her. “It was still my Principia just as much as it was still my teammates’ Principia. Sharing stories and celebrating our accomplishments meant so much. It was an honor to do our team huddle with Coach Lee Ellis and Assistant Coach Nicole Gervais (C’01) one last time during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and for Coach Ellis to lead us in our cheer: We are great! We were all crying happy tears that night.”
“I wish I hadn't waited so long to go back,” Pierce continues. “Throughout the entire weekend, I felt so grateful to be there. And I kept thinking to myself, ‘I’m not going to let another 12 years go by before coming back again.’”