The 2020 Homecoming & Family Weekend has gone virtual! And instead of just a single weekend, special events run Sept. 19-26.

“Homecoming & Family Weekend is a long-standing tradition at Otterbein,” said Steve Crawford, executive director of Alumni Relations. “We know members of the Cardinal Nation still want opportunities to celebrate Otterbein, even if we cannot be physically together on campus.”

The team in Alumni Relations took the opportunity to envision what a virtual experience would be.

“We didn’t just take the traditional weekend schedule and move events online. Instead, we looked for unique and meaningful experiences that would connect Cardinals in smaller, more intimate virtual settings,” said Ben Schwarz MBA ’19, associate director of Alumni Relations.

Highlights of the week include:

• Cards in Service
• Virtual 5K
• African American Alumni Association joint networking event with the African American Student Network
• Reunions for band, choir, and 1970s graduates.
• Virtual Parade
• Celebration of Otterbein
• Drive-In Movie

View the complete schedule here.

COVID-19 restrictions delayed the 50th Reunion for the Class of 1970 until next year. However, the class still will host a virtual celebration. Stacey Rusterholz, assistant director of Alumni Relations, works with class reunion advisory committee, and said, “Even though the class chose to delay their reunion, they still wanted to gather and celebrate this milestone reunion on their actual 50th reunion.”

A new element of Homecoming & Family Weekend is the Celebration of Otterbein on Thursday, September 24 at 7 pm. A first-ever live streamed event, all members of the Cardinal Nation are invited to hear a State of the University Address from President John Comerford, to celebrate the 2020 Alumni Award honorees, and to recognize the 2020 Homecoming Court.

Register for Homecoming & Family Weekend online, or contact Becky Olmstead Smith ’08, administrative assistant in Alumni Relations, at alumniinfo@otterbein.edu or 614-823-1650.