More than 4,000 UC Irvine alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends visited the campus Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24 and 25, for the first weekend-long celebration of homecoming.
Reunions for the classes of 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009 were held Friday in the Newkirk Alumni Center. On Saturday, the center hosted “Classes Without Quizzes,” which included a debate on gun ownership and a discussion of emotional maturity and happiness.
Festivities continued Saturday evening with a street fair and a nail-biting men’s basketball game against the University of Hawaii that ended in a heartbreaking overtime loss for the Anteaters.
The street fair featured a Ferris wheel, a bounce house, balloon artistry and music that spanned the generations. The popular beer garden venue and funnel cake booth provided carnival sustenance.
The UCI Alumni Association is gearing up to do it all again in November, as homecoming makes the transition from a winter celebration to a fall one.
Newly crowned homecoming queen Jacklyn Uweh adjusts king David Conley’s headpiece during halftime at Saturday’s basketball game.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineStudents pose with a balloon sculpture at the Homecoming Street Festival on Mesa Road.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineSeven-foot-6-inch freshman center Mamadou Ndiaye dunks one during Saturday’s homecoming game against the University of Hawaii.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineAlumnus Hank Klein ’74 signs a ”favorite memories” banner on display at the Homecoming Street Festival.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineSophomore guard Aaron Wright attempts a layup in Saturday’s game against Hawaii at the Bren Events Center.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineAnteater fans go wild after sophomore guard Alex Young’s 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer Saturday.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineSenior guard Chris McNealy goes for a layup during the homecoming game, which UC Irvine lost, 90-86, in overtime.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineAlex Young attempts to catch a pass as Hawaii’s Brandon Spearman defends.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineUC Irvine student Tracey Onyenacho dons a balloon-animal hat during the Homecoming Street Festival.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineMamadou Ndiaye steals a rebound from Hawaii players during Saturday’s game.
Steve Zylius / UC IrvineFreshman guard Luke Nelson (airborne) and Mamadou Ndiaye defend against a Rainbow Warriors drive.
Steve Zylius / UC Irvine
UC Irvine’s Homecoming Street Festival provides food and entertainment before Saturday’s homecoming game.
Steve Zylius / UC Irvine
