Island University Invites Corpus Christi Community to Take Part in Homecoming Festivities
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has big plans for Islander Homecoming 2024, and the entire community is invited to participate in all the fun. There are many events planned from Feb. 25 through March 2, with the final day of Homecoming proving to be a family-friendly celebration that will paint the town blue.
Homecoming Week kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 25, with students participating in Islander Clean, a Ward Island beautification project.
Things heat up on Tuesday, Feb. 27, with City-Wide Bluesday Tuesday. Thanks to a recent mayoral proclamation, all residents are asked to wear blue in support of Islander Homecoming Week.
“Bluesday Tuesday is a day for everyone to wear their Islander blue attire and share in the success of this university,” said Elvia Aguilar ’17, TAMU-CC Executive Director of the Islander Alumni Association. “We invite local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and organizations to ‘turn it blue’, take a photo, and showcase their Islander pride across their social media platforms.”
Also on Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Island University will celebrate its oldest tradition, Anchors Aweigh, which dates back to the university’s founding year of 1947. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., all Islanders are invited to paint the anchor in Anchor Plaza white and learn how this historic event got started.
On Wednesday, Feb. 28, basketball takes centerstage at the always-entertaining students vs. faculty/staff basketball game. The Dugan Wellness Center will play host to the game which is free and open to the public. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Following the game, at 9 p.m., is Islanderino, a casino-inspired night for Island University students to be held in the University Center Anchor Ballroom.
On Thursday, Feb. 29, Islanders Women’s Basketball takes on New Orleans at the American Bank Center.
The beloved tradition of Lighting of the “I” will be held on Friday, March 1, on the East Lawn.
“The Lighting of the ‘I’ is the most illuminating of events during Islander Homecoming Week,” Aguilar said. “It helps everyone get pumped up for Saturday’s big games.”
Also on Friday is the Homecoming Alumni Honors Banquet at the University Center Anchor Ballroom, along with “the Toast!”, an event open to all Islander alumni which toasts the classes of 1999, 2014, and all University of Corpus Christi alumni at BUS, a downtown hotspot. Saturday morning, all alumni are also invited to participate in the Campus Brunch Tours.
The week’s main event, the Islander Homecoming Block Party and basketball games will be held on Saturday, March 2. The block party kicks off at noon in the parking lot of the American Bank Center and is free and open to the public. The two-hour event includes games, music, inflatables, food trucks, and even a petting zoo.
For Islander alumni, the block party also includes the Alumni Corner, which features tasty tailgate food items and drink tokens. Tickets for the Alumni Corner are $10 presale and can be purchased at the Islander Alumni Association website.
“With over 600 tickets sold last year, the Alumni Corner is a can’t-miss event for our Islander alumni to connect,” Aguilar said. “It includes food, cold drinks, and our fan-favorite Homecoming button pins.”
Islanders Women’s Basketball tips off at 1 p.m. while Islanders Men’s Basketball tips off at 3:30 p.m.; both teams take on the Lions of Southeastern Louisiana.
Homecoming will also be celebrated on the baseball diamond as Whataburger Field plays host to a matchup featuring Islanders Baseball vs. Abilene Christian University. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
For more information on all Islander Homecoming events, visit islanderalumni.org/hoco-2024. Follow Islander Alumni Association social media pages — Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and LinkedIn for additional updates.
