Dear Students:
The Mustang Daily editors were very kind to ask me to share my thoughts about
homecoming, which will be my first at Cal Poly.
I’ve been around homecoming weekends for many years on different campuses. While
each university has a distinctive homecoming personality, my wife, Sharon, and I are
eager to discover the Mustang Way.
At its heart, homecoming is about an opportunity for our alumni to reconnect with Cal
Poly. And you can make this weekend successful by helping to roll out the welcome
mat.
What alumni have told me time and again over the years is that a great homecoming
has two parts. First, they enjoy reconnecting with college friends and catching up with
favorite faculty and staff who made their college experience so special. They also enjoy
interacting with you, seeking a pleasant flashback to when they were peering into the
future, wondering and hoping what a Cal Poly education could help them achieve in life.
So, if you encounter some returning alumni, take a moment and have at least a brief
conversation, and ask them about their memorable moments. You’ll make their day, and
you never know, you might end up with a great career connection.
Sharon and I have a packed calendar this weekend, as we’ll be attempting to take in as
many of the homecoming activities as possible.
One of the highlights for us will be Friday night’s Honored Alumni Banquet. Each of the
distinguished honorees will deliver a short story about how Cal Poly and Learn By Doing
have been crucial to their success in life, and we know we will learn a great deal more
about what makes Cal Poly special.
On Saturday, thanks to the Poly Reps, who revived the tradition of a Homecoming
Court, I will have the privilege of escorting the Homecoming Court at halftime of the
football game, and I’m told I will crown the King and Queen.
For me, homecoming wouldn’t be complete without a full slate of sports. We hope to
take in at least some of the offerings, including Friday night’s men’s soccer against
UCSB, followed by ASI’s Mott Madness featuring the men and women’s basketball
teams.
On Saturday, we’ll be at the pre-game barbecue and then watching the Mustangs whip
Southern Utah. On Sunday, it’ll be the women’s turn to take down UC Davis in soccer.
I hope to see you out there supporting our Mustang men and women.
To all of you competing on the playing fields, we certainly hope you prevail, but no
matter the final score, we know that a Mustang is never conquered.
Here’s to a great Homecoming Weekend. Please join me in rolling out the welcome mat
and honoring those who came before you.
Sincerely,
President Armstrong