Dothan Campus celebrates Homecoming 2016

The highlight of the event was the lighting of the Homecoming torch.

Students, faculty and staff at Troy University’s Dothan Campus recently demonstrated their status as a “Beacon to the World” at a Homecoming 2016 celebration.

The event, held Oct. 5 on the quad, featured a picnic, games, inflatables, an appearance by T-Roy and a torch run to celebrate this year’s Homecoming theme, “The Trojan Games: A Beacon to the World.”

Students gather under a tent at the Dothan Campus Homecoming event on Oct. 5.

“We’ve been doing this for quite some time,” said Dr. Don Jeffrey, Vice Chancellor of the Dothan Campus. “We’re the third leg of the torch from Phenix City to Montgomery to Dothan to Troy, and this is for our students to come out and participate, being included in all aspects of Troy university. We’re one university wherever you find us.”

For the students, it was a welcome chance to meet others outside their typical classroom environment.

“We don’t do much on campus, (because) we mainly are older and work,” said Vanessa Huynh, a junior who also serves as the Dothan Campus Student Government Association President. “We don’t generally stay on campus, so this gives us a chance to mingle and see the other students.”

Games were a big part of the Homecoming celebration at the Dothan Campus.

Huynh and other SGA officers led the torch run.

“This event is pretty big for us, actually,” said Darius Campbell, a senior. “We’re a small campus, so this is a really cool event for us to take part in.”

Jeffrey said seeing so many people gathered on the campus showed the Homecoming theme is not just a slogan.

“Troy University truly is a beacon unto the world, from our students to our faculty,” he said. “Wherever you find TROY, we’re a beacon. It’s a great day for Troy University, our students, our faculty and our staff.”