Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) alumni and their families, students, faculty and staff embraced the warmer-than-normal fall weather at Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 4.
The alumni on campus showed their Pomeroy Pride as they attended various venues throughout the day. Athletic events on Friday included a women’s volleyball game, which the Pomeroys swept, and sixth-place finishes for both the women’s and men’s cross-country teams at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute. Saturday’s athletic events included an equestrian show, an alumni softball game and a sprint football game against Midway University. The Equestrian team earned High Point Team honors on both Saturday and Sunday for the invitational Western show.
“I cry every time I come through the gates,” said Jane Ternes Francis ’76, of St. Louis. “I’m from Terre Haute, but this place just really feels like coming home.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by her longtime friend, Marci Zurawski DeRoberts ’76, of Louisville, Ky.
“(Ternes Francis) and I have been friends since the second grade, so even before we came to The Woods,” Zurawski DeRoberts said. “Now, we live about three hours apart, so Homecoming and Reunion Weekend are the times we get to come together with some of our oldest friends. We come every year for this and wouldn’t miss it.”
Conversations and laughter filled the dining hall during lunch and in the homecoming tent as attendees visited a caricature artist, played music bingo and cornhole, lined up for massages, painted cow bells and made signs to cheer on the Pomeroys at the game.
“Homecoming is about coming back to a place of family. To a place of great memories. To a place of growing and learning for both alumni and current students,” said Alumni Association board member Marla Crawford ’22G, of Indianapolis. “Coming back to The Woods for Homecoming is everything.”
After lunch, about 850 fans packed Jay Barrett Field at West Vigo High School to support the SMWC sprint football team against visiting Midway University. The Pomeroys fought hard throughout the game andpulled off a 27-20 win to remain the undefeatedNo. 1 team in the Midwest Sprint Football League.
During halftime of the game, the 2025 Homecoming Cup was presented to the winning students of Team PPP with members Lanna Martinez (Team Captain), Hannah Boardman (Co-Captain), Jazlynn Ward, Libby Jaynes, Bailey Duke, Lauren Burchuk and Maci Woerner.
Gael Bravo was chosen from dozens of students and kicked a 20-yard field goal to win $100. The Dance Team and Cheer Team both performed at halftime to the cheering crowd.
“I loved watching the students and alumni interact together,” said Josie Gettinger, a senior marketing major from Merom, Ind., who worked at a booth during the Homecoming events. “We had a wonderful turnout at all the booths that were set up for everyone. I loved seeing all the different cow bells that alumni, cheerleaders, staff and students were making.”
The weekend wrapped up on Sunday with Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception.