A&T State University Hosts Centennial Homecoming in Greensboro

North Carolina A&T State University held its first homecoming in 1926. This week, the institution marked the centennial of that tradition in Greensboro. Officials expect more than 200,000 people to attend the weeklong celebrations. The event is widely known as the Greatest Homecoming on Earth.

The festivities began with the coronation of the homecoming royalty at Corbett Sports Center. Hundreds of attendees cheered as the university’s new Mister and Miss A&T were announced. James Stewart, the university’s Archives and Special Collections Librarian, noted that while the male title has appeared sporadically since 1926, the female title has been a constant since the 1930s. Stewart explained that past themes often reflected the era, from Camelot motifs in the Kennedy years to Afrocentric designs during the Black Student Movement of the late 1960s and 1970s.

This year’s theme is royal getaway. The new queen, Kennedy Brown, wore a sparkly white floor-length gown during the ceremony. The dress resembles one worn by a previous titleholder. Stewart helped curate the Centennial History Gallery in F.D. Bluford Library to display these historical artifacts. First-year student Bailey Cherry examined the gown worn by Jordan Outing during the 2014-2015 school year. Cherry described the item as a white mermaid silhouette with a silver waist detail.

The gallery provides a space for alumni and students to reflect on their connections to the university. Kimani Noble, a first-year student, said her grandparents met at A&T. Her father earned a master’s degree there, and her uncles completed their undergraduates. Noble’s grandmother graduated in the 1970s and took Noble to homecoming events as a child. Noble said some family members are joining the celebrations this week. Cherry said she hopes to return to A&T for future events long after graduation.

The university’s marching band, established in 1918, has become a central part of the institution’s identity. The Blue and Gold Marching Machine evolved in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Kellye Worth Hall, the first female drum major, was chosen in 1998. Hall said she did not realize she was making history at the time. Her baton is now displayed in the gallery. Hall noted that female drum majors were rare in HBCU marching bands during her tenure. She will march with the alumni band on Saturday, 26 years after her graduation.

The scale of the event has expanded beyond the campus boundaries. Organizers are using more space to accommodate new additions, including a first-ever drone show at Truist Stadium. Stewart, who is also an alumnus, said he hopes some discontinued traditions will return. He specifically mentioned a comedy show that no longer takes place. Stewart described A&T as the North Carolina institution with the most alumni enthusiasm. He said the university must live up to that reputation by celebrating regardless of the football game outcome.

The homecoming football game against Elon University begins Saturday at 1 p.m.