Roger Williams University School Spirit Shines Despite Rainy, Windy Homecoming and Family Weekend

Families, alumni, and students came together for a weekend of campus traditions, athletic competitions, and Hawk pride.

By Kelly Brinza
Visitor wins at Casino Night.
A chilly autumn weekend couldn’t dampen the spirit on campus for Roger Williams University's Homecoming and Family Weekend.

BRISTOL, R.I. — Rain, wind, and chilly temperatures couldn’t dampen the Roger Williams University community’s enthusiasm for Homecoming and Family Weekend. From Oct. 16-18, families, alumni, and students returned to campus to reconnect and celebrate the traditions that bring the RWU community together.

Friday’s festivities included annual favorites like Casino Night and Family Bingo. Friday was also the Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which welcomed the addition of former Men’s Basketball player J. Mike Lynch '01, former Sailing Team member Matt Duggan '09, former Men’s Volleyball player Mark Mastin '92, former Women’s Swim Team member Jenny (Dill) Okubo '07, and the entire Women's 2014 Soccer Team.

Families, alumni, and students returned to campus to celebrate the traditions that bring the RWU community together.

 

Saturday brought a full schedule of activities, including the Homecoming 5K Road Race, won by guest Jack Loushery in the men’s category and Gabriella Carnevale, a Master of Architecture student at RWU, in the women’s category.

The annual Captain’s Cup Regatta set sail on Friday and Saturday, with Carlos Bermudez de Castro Castro '26 and Morgan Vesco '30 winning the FJ Alumni Division, Mikey Gemperline '17 and Abby Cook Gemperline '15 winning the 420 Alumni Division, and Team Sperry '29 taking the Family Division.

The annual Captain’s Cup Regatta was one of many traditions Hawks participated in throughout the weekend. 

 

Other events included alumni athletic competitions, varsity matchups, Hawk-Tober Fest, and the Autumn Festival, which featured fall activities, carnival games, live performances, and food.

The weekend highlighted the connections that make Homecoming a longstanding RWU tradition, bringing together generations of Hawks through shared experiences, campus activities, and school spirit.

Across campus, attendees reconnected and celebrated the traditions that bring the RWU community together.

 

From cheering on student-athletes to catching up with classmates and exploring campus with family, attendees demonstrated that the RWU community’s enthusiasm carries on regardless of the weather.