By Emily Jenkins Staff Writer,

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor welcomed home alumni of all ages, students and family for homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. This event gave alumni the opportunity to meet with friends and family and remember their time at UMHB.

For homecoming 2025, UMHB repurposed its slogan from 50 years ago, “As Old as Texas, as Young as Tomorrow.” Similarly, many alumni seemed to say that although campus has changed a lot, UMHB still feels like nothing has changed.

Melissa Tipton, UMHB alumna class of 2000, has daughters at UMHB, so her family is on campus often. Even so, “As an alumni walking back, it still feels like home. It is just as exciting coming back that it was 25 years ago.” Later, Tipton said, “Now there are some differences. You can look around and see that there are differences and those are great, but I think the important things are not different and that’s what I love about it.”

Lindsey Hutton, who graduated with a bachelor’s in sports management in 2011, mentioned that she is excited to see her brother-in-law get to be in the same community that she was in. “It’s almost like a lot has changed, but nothing’s changed at all.”
Homecoming was also an opportunity to spend time with friends and family.

“Homecoming I think is just seeing all your old friends you haven’t seen in a long time,” Hutton said, explaining she made some of her best friends at UMHB.
Sophomore Christian ministry major Austin Pearce, who helped with homecoming, said, “Coming back and just getting to have fun and come back to where it all began with your family or your friends and just meeting up with people is just a community side of things you don’t really see often.

“The coolest part to me is seeing just everyone come together. I think, you see all different ages. You see freshmen here on campus but you also see 80-year-old alumni. And they all come together and just have fun.”

Alumni also got to reminisce about their time at UMHB. Tipton said, “I am very proud to say that I am an alumnus from UMHB. Still wear my ring every day, still talk about it, and obviously we came on tours with our girls touring the university before they started.” She explained she thinks that UMHB’s community, values and traditions make UMHB special but, “There are so many things that make this university special.”

Hutton said “I was an athlete. I played softball and, I mean, just a great sense of community and people surrounding you.”

The homecoming kicked off with Stunt Night and Pep Rally on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, and ended with a firework display. The next day, the event included the Texas Fun Run, Hymn Sing, the Carnival on King Street and other activities.
Senior public relations major Victoria Borders said, “We started super early, but it’s been so fun and just seeing all the alumni come back to campus has been so cool.”

The day-of set up on King Street takes a couple of hours, but the planning is a year-long process, Pearce said. “Come. Make the most of it. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Because at the end of the day, [it’s] just a lot of fun and it’s a lot of joy to people.”