Homecoming 2026 celebrated on the Hill

Alumni, students, families, and community members came together to celebrate Homecoming with various alumni events, as well as by cheering on the Green Terror. Homecoming traditions, including the presentation of the Homecoming Court, awarding the James Brant Memorial Cup, and naming the winners of the Letters on the Hill contest, took place during pre-game of the Homecoming football game. A special announcement was made at halftime about the launch of the Green Terror Marching Band in fall 2027.

Pep band alumni — Band alumni played alongside current student members of the McDaniel College Pep Band during Homecoming.

Alumni, students, families, and community members came together to celebrate Homecoming 2026 on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The day began with a chance to check out the recent renovation of Caseys’ Corner in Hoover Library, made possible by a generous gift from President Emeritus Roger Casey and Robyn Allers, along with meeting Provost Caroline Sherman and Leonard Arvi, dean of McDaniel's new School of Business and Technology.

Various alumni events included McDaniel Athletics Alumni Games for swimming, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, volleyball, baseball, and softball, the Alumni Coalition for Belonging & Impact Annual Brunch, and the Biannual Memorial Bell Ringing Ceremony with members of the Student Alumni Council reading the names of alumni who have passed. McDaniel Admissions also hosted a Game Day Open House with nearly 100 prospective students and their families in attendance.

Alumni were then invited to tailgate during the Homecoming football game against Carnegie Mellon University with featured tailgates including a celebration of 50 years of Social Work on the Hill and the McDaniel Women's Leadership Network.

Letters on the Hill Sigma Phi Fraternity 2026

Homecoming traditions took place during pre-game at Kenneth R. Gill Stadium.

President Julia Jasken presented the Homecoming Court. Members included Madison Alexander, junior Social Work major from Glen Burnie, Maryland, Ivan Ang, junior Political Science and Psychology and Spanish major from Hagerstown, Maryland, Sherlin Hernandez, sophomore Political Science major from Falls Church, Virginia, Brianna Jenkins, senior Psychology major from Washington, D.C., Ka'shya Robertson, senior Social Work major from Baltimore, and Sydney Szczepaniak, sophomore Business Administration major from Essex, Maryland.

Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority received the James Brant Memorial Cup for excelling in academics, varsity sports, leadership, and community service for the second consecutive year, while Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity and Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., were recognized for the best Letters on the Hill.

At halftime, a special announcement was made about the launch of the Green Terror Marching Band in fall 2027. Under the direction of Brian Frazier, director of Athletic Bands, the Green Terror Marching Band will include current members of the Green Terror Pep Band. Bringing together instrumentalists, vocalists, guitar and bass players, and color guard members, the Green Terror Marching Band will blend traditional corps-style marching band formations and drills with show-style compositions and a flare of rock ‘n roll. McDaniel students who join the Green Terror Marching Band will receive a renewable $1,500 annual scholarship for each year of participation in the band. Read more in the current issue of The Hill magazine: “Marching into a New Era of Music on the Hill” (Fall 2026).

In addition to football (Special Teams Lead Carnegie Mellon Past McDaniel on Homecoming), home athletic contests for women’s soccer (McDaniel Remains Unbeaten at Home, Tie No. 17 Swarthmore), men’s soccer (Two Late Goals Lead Swarthmore Past McDaniel on Homecoming), and field hockey were also enjoyed on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Homecoming festivities officially kicked off Friday, Oct. 2, with an invitation-only ceremony celebrating the completion of the renovation of Merritt Hall (Ceremony celebrates completion of Merritt Hall renovation).

Notable alumni athletes were recognized during the Athletics Hall of Fame Awards Celebration. Honorees, who were also recognized during halftime of the Green Terror football game on Saturday, Oct. 3, personify the college’s tradition of excellence.

Congratulations to this year's honorees!