Flames Homecoming: a new campus tradition

The Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier was filled to capacity during the Flames Homecoming dance Feb. 20. — Photo: Geraldine Teotico

More than 2,000 people danced, volunteered, played, hustled and cheered to showcase UIC’s school spirit in February, and it’s inspired the university to make the UIC Flames Homecoming week a campus tradition.

The week-long series of events, which started Feb. 13, was a combination of a school spirit week — with a variety show and window painting followed by a kick-off bash, volunteering, bowling, hustling up University Hall, a Casino Royale tailgate and a UIC men’s basketball game — and a homecoming dance in the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier.

The event was put together by the Center for Student Involvement’s Student Activities Board, along with their campus partners, including the University Ambassadors, Fraternity and Sorority Life, UIC Athletics, Student Leadership Development and Volunteer Services,  UIC Radio and the Commuter Student Resource Center and the UIC Bookstore.

“It’s something that brings us together for a week to celebrate UIC, to celebrate our alumni, to celebrate the entire campus, so I think it’s important to have traditions like this that grow bigger and better each year,” said Sladjana Grbic, assistant program director for the Center for Student Involvement.

Grbic said she looks forward to creating more relationships with campus partners, who helped bring the UIC community together and get students involved.

“We’re excited to partner with other campus organizations, colleges and departments and make this a very successful week,” she said.

“We’re extremely proud of the event,” added Almasa Pecanin, vice president of the Student Activities Board. “It was a way to unite the entire campus, and people really enjoyed it.”

UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis, Provost Susan Poser and Barbara Henley, vice chancellor for student affairs, made appearances and participated throughout the week. The Student Activities Board sold enough tickets for the homecoming dance to fill the Navy Pier venue to capacity.

“We’re a big university, and we’re capable of doing these amazing things, so I hope that one day schools are looking to us to see what we’re doing, what we’re planning,” Pecanin said.