Action-packed Homecoming Weekend at UIS

It was a full week and weekend of homecoming activities and, come Sunday evening when I finally had a chance to really reflect, I couldn’t help but smile. I lost count of all the activities and events that took place; but let’s just say it was a tremendous week on the UIS campus. From the parade, to the BBQ, to the athletic events (including a big upset Friday Night by the UIS Men’s Soccer Team!), to the fireworks, to the Athletics Hall of Fame Induction ceremony… it was a wonderful showcase of UIS engagement, involvement and achievement.

A special highlight for me was the induction of the inaugural class of the new UIS Athletics Hall of Fame. The class included the legendary Aydin Gonulsen, founding Athletic Director and men’s soccer coach at Sangamon State University (now UIS) who led the men’s soccer teams to three national championships!! It also included soccer standout Elias Shehadi, tennis star Carla Jimenez Mills, friend of the Prairie Stars Harold Christofilakos and the entire 1986 men’s soccer national championship team. All in all, it was a great week to show off Prairie Star pride and meet up with students, alums, and community members. All I can think is “Wow!, that was fun!”