Tyler Junior College begins to prepare for the homecoming festivities of the college’s 98th year. The theme of Homecoming this year is “Fall, friends, and football,” and the festivities begin on Oct. 21 and end on Oct. 26.
The TJC community engages in homecoming every year. It is a week-long celebration that began in the late 1940s.
“This is probably TJC’s biggest event, because homecoming is spread out for a whole week, there’s lots of events and activities. There’s always something to do. So in fall, it keeps us very busy, and it’s a great time,” said Caitlin Drahem, the coordinator of Student Life at TJC.
Throughout Drahem’s 13-year career at TJC, she has always admired the culture of this celebration.
“I think the traditions and just the culture of TJC, it’s a whole different experience, like, if you don’t know Homecoming week is going on when you’re here on campus, you’re just like hiding when you go to class or something,” Drahem said. “The student clubs and organizations also have competitions during the week where they decorate different offices around campus. They have their spirit flags hung from the cafeteria, so just the livelihood of the campus during that week is unlike anything else.”
A large reason for the inclusion of a Homecoming is student involvement and the elevation of student life on campus.
“There’s a direct correlation between students being involved and engaged within their institution of higher learning and how successful they’re going to be in graduating and pursuing their dreams. So events like Homecoming are quite unique to institutions like Tyler Junior College,” said Dr. Juan Mejia, president of TJC. “If we look across the country, there are 1,200 community colleges throughout the United States and then Canada. There’s 50 in the state of Texas, and not all have a Homecoming, So we’re very fortunate that at TJC, this is very special.”
During the week of Homecoming, traditions that have been a part of the celebration in the past continue this year. The overall goal of these traditions are to honor the history of the school while also being innovative.
“We start with our kickoff on Monday, which also starts our elections for Homecoming. Elections go Monday through Wednesday, and you have to be a current student to vote. Then on Tuesday, we have our Campus Capers talent show, and our Homecoming court gets presented during Campus Capers.” Drahem said.
“On Wednesday, we have our Homecoming Bash, and then that is followed by the Student Senate late night breakfast. Thursday is a really big day. We have our parade pep rally and block party for Homecoming, and then Saturday is the kickoff and alumni tailgate,” Drahem said.
One tradition includes the Homecoming Drumbeat. The Homecoming Drumbeat started in 1948 and it has been an unbroken tradition. The drum beats to the Apache Cadence 24 hours a day starting on Monday of Homecoming week, and will continue until kickoff on Saturday.
“What’s special about TJC, again, approaching the 100 years, there are traditions that have been in place that are very unique to the college and really don’t exist anywhere else. One example, the symbol feathers up. Very unique to TJC. We use it a lot in announcements and closing remarks,” Mejia said. “Another is the beating of the drum. The nonstop beating of the drum that is usually in front of the Rogers Student Center. And that drum starts getting set up on Monday morning on Oct. 21. There’ll be a countdown, a 10 all the way to one, and the drum will start beating, and will not stop that drum beat until kickoff on that Saturday.”
The Homecoming Drumbeat started in 1948 and it has been an unbroken tradition.
“Let’s come together to honor our values. Let us bring unity wherever we go. Homecoming allows us to honor that value,” Mejia said.