Waynesburg University welcomed alumni, families, students, faculty, staff and friends back to campus Oct. 2-3 for Homecoming 2026, celebrating the University community and its traditions throughout the weekend. The celebration included reunions, alumni gatherings, athletic events and opportunities to reconnect with friends and classmates.
Friday featured the annual All-Alumni Celebration and Combined Class Reunion at The Denny House in Waynesburg, where alumni gathered alongside President and Mrs. Lee and members of the Alumni Office. Reunion classes, including those celebrating milestone years, as well as members of the 1966 NAIA National Championship football team, were recognized during the evening.
Saturday's events included the Waynesburg Nursing: 40 Years of Caring, Leadership and Legacy celebration, which marked four decades since the nursing program’s first graduating class while highlighting its continued growth and innovative learning opportunities, including the University's Immersion Room and advanced AI-powered manikin. The weekend also featured the dedication of the Coach Carl DePasqua Locker Room at Wiley Stadium in honor of the legendary coach who led the 1966 football team to a national championship. The weekend concluded with Homecoming athletic events, including the football game against Saint Vincent College and soccer matches against Hiram College.
During halftime of the Homecoming football game, Mia Henkins, a Sports Media - Announcing major from Morgantown, West Virginia, was crowned Homecoming Queen, while Tyler Gordon, a Finance major from Strongsville, Ohio, was crowned Homecoming King.
“It was an honor to get voted as Homecoming King of 2026,” Gordon said. “The support I received from many students is something I’ll never forget.”
“Being on Homecoming Court was such an honor in itself, but being chosen as the Homecoming Queen was really an honor because of the amazing line of winners ahead of me,” said Henkins. “The experience was so amazing because of the students I got to participate with and the opportunity I have to represent the university.”
This year's Homecoming Court included:
- Rylie Baker, English - Secondary Education major from Weirton, West Virginia
- Brayden Barbao, History - Secondary Education major from Donora, Pennsylvania
- Tyler Gordon, Finance major from Strongsville, Ohio
- Jacob Harker, Criminal Justice Administration major from Lilly, Pennsylvania
- Meghan Hartley, Psychology major from California, Pennsylvania
- Mia Henkins, Sports Media - Announcing major from Morgantown, West Virginia
- Diana Hernandez, Public Relations major from Laurence Harbor, New Jersey
- Jordan Mosley, Human Services major from Saint Albans, West Virginia
- Nicholas Todd, Business Information Science major from Homer City, Pennsylvania
- Allison Zaktansky, Nursing major from Watsontown, Pennsylvania
Homecoming 2026 brought the Waynesburg University community together to celebrate tradition and connection while honoring its past, celebrating its present and looking toward its future.
About Waynesburg U.
Consistently ranked a best value school, Waynesburg University’s Strategy for the 21st Century affirms its commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and ethical leadership skills for all students. Rooted in its mission of faith, learning and service, the private, Christian university is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania.
