Homecoming is a celebration of Washburn and all that it means to students and alumni. We look forward to fun events to showcase our Ichabod spirit!
October 23 - 28, 2023
The Homecoming theme this year is Boots, Bling & Bods. We will celebrate with fun events all week, including Spirit Week with a different theme to explore each day. It all culminates with the Homecoming Tailgate before we cheer on our Ichabods in the Homecoming football game! And, this year Homecoming features inauguration festivities celebrating our new president, Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek, who became the first woman to lead this historic institution Feb. 1, 2023.
Homecoming Events
The Washburn University student body has spoken and the 2023 Ichabods of Honor nominees are as follows.
McKayla Galliart
Nominated by Alpha Phi
McKayla has served the Topeka community by volunteering in Washburn’s Big Event, the Kansas Discovery Center and the United Way’s Day of Caring. She has served the Washburn’s community in multiple roles with Alpha Phi, as Vice President of new member education and Director of Philanthropy. McKayla is the current Alpha Phi Chapter President. McKayla has been on the President’s list and through the Alpha Phi Foundation, she has been a finalist for Greek member of the year and Greek new member of the year in 2022/2023.
McKayla is a senior majoring in Forensic Investigation, from Bixby, Oklahoma
Luiz Alcantara
Nominated by Zeta Tau Alpha
Luiz has served the Washburn community through his involvement as a Residential Assistant, Student Ambassador, Peer Educator, and Student Orientation Counselor. Luiz has also served as President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, WSGA Senator, and Presidential Ambassador for International Students and We are First Gen club. He has volunteered with the Big Event and at the Capper Foundation. Luiz has received multiple honors from Order of Omega, Psi Chi: Psychology Honors Society, Living the Ritual Award, Deans and Presidents List. Luiz first language is Portuguese and also speaks Spanish.
Luiz is a Senior majoring in Psychology from Joao Pessoa, Brazil
Rhen Calhoon
Nominated by Delta Gamma
Rhen has volunteered in the Topeka community with the Kansas Senior Games and Harvesters. She has also served the Washburn community through her involvement as Senator of the Washburn Student Government Association, a member of the Leadership Institute, Delta Gamma, and a member of the executive council of Washburn Women in STEM. Rhen was nominated as the Kansas State NextGen under 30 for non-profit work and as New Member of the Year for Delta Gamma and the Leadership Institute’s Leadership Involvement and Recruitment Fellow for the 2023-2024 school year.
Rhen is a Junior majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Pre-Med, from Topeka, Kansas.
Liz Duvall
Nominated by Washburn Swim and Dive Club
Liz has been a part of the Washburn Community through Academic Advising, Student Life, and Admissions. Liz has served as a Summer Orientation Counselor, Student Ambassador, Lead Resident Assistant, and a Student Life Intern for the past two years. Liz has volunteered with Harvesters, and United Way’s Day of Caring, and is the founder of the Washburn Swim/Dive club. Liz’s honors include the Dean’s list, NONOSO Honor Society, and Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honor Society.
Liz is a senior majoring in Communications with a Minor in Information literacy, from Concordia, Kansas
Philip Canady
Nominated by Alpha Phi
Phillip has been involved as a member of the Leadership Institute and is currently a member of the Washburn Black Student Union. He has also been on the Dean’s list for multiple semesters and is currently a Linc Bonners Honor Scholar. Phillip has served the community by volunteering with Harvesters, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA Summer Camp, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, and Washburn community events such as the Big and Little Events and the Diaper Depot of Washburn. He has completed an internship in non-profit work with Community Action.
Phillip is a Senior majoring in Finance and Marketing, from Topeka, Kansas
Bryce Liedtke
Nominated by Washburn University’s Pre Health-Club
Bryce has been involved in a variety of organizations on campus including Ichabod’s Moving Forward, Student Leadership Council, and is the current president of the Pre Health-Club. Bryce has served on Washburn’s Board of Directors as a Student Representative, and Lead Resident Assistant. Bryce has volunteered with Family Service and Guidance Center, The Topeka Youth Commission and in the ICU at St. Francis. Bryce’s has received honors with Alpha Lambda Delta, Beta Beta Beta Biological Society, and has been on the Deans and Presidents List.
Bryce is a senior majoring in Biology and Spanish, from Topeka, Kansas
Chloe Chaffin
Nominated by Delta Gamma
Chloe has served the Washburn community as President of Washburn Urge, a Member of the Washburn Student Government Association, President of Delta Gamma, and a member of the Leadership Institute. Her current involvement is the Vice President of Delta Gamma, Recruitment Chair of Washburn Model United Nations, and has served as a Student Orientation Counselor. Chloe has received multiple honors: NONOSO Women’s Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta English Honor, FSL Living the Ritual Award, and 2nd place UN SDG Case Study Competition, International Leadership Association in Geneva, Switzerland.
Chloe is a senior majoring in Political Science with minors in English and Poverty Studies, from Olathe, Kansas.
Bella Wood
Nominated by Washburn Student Government Association
Bella has volunteered in the Topeka community with the Topeka Civic Theatre and the University Child Development Center. She has served the Washburn community through her involvement with Student Government as Campus and Community Affairs Director, Leadership Institute, Leadership Challenge Fellow, and as VP of the University Honors Program Student Council. Bella has also been a Student Orientation Counselor, Peer Educator, and is currently a Resident Assistant. She has received multiple honors including Kansas Women’s leadership Institute, Emerging Leader Award, FYE Scholar Award, and the President’s List.
Bella is a junior majoring in Integrated Studies, in Administrative Communication, Minors in Leadership and Music, from Arkansas City, Kansas
Lily Thompson
Nominated by Leadership Institute
Lily’s involvement in the Washburn community has been as the Leadership Institute’s 2022-2023 Leadership Involvement and Recruitment Fellow, a Washburn Young Life College Leader, a peer educator, a student ambassador, and serves in the Topeka Community on the United Way of Kaw Valley Shawnee County Advisory Council. Lily has received honors as an award recipient for the Center for Student Success and Dean’s list for multiple semesters. Lily is the leader of Washburn’s Lunch Buddies program and has been chosen to represent the Leadership Institute at the International Leadership Association Case Study Competition.
Lily is a Senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Leadership Studies, from Lawrence, Kansas.
Lesley Ayala
Nominated by Sigma Lambda Gamma
Lesley has been a part of the Washburn Community through her involvement in Sigma Lambda Gamma, where she served as the President and vice-president of the organization and has assisted multiple years with the Hispanic Leadership Day that is held on campus for many young visitors. Lesley has served the Topeka community by volunteering with Harvesters and being involved in the Topeka Civic Theater as a stage manager and a cast member, you may have seen her most recently in TCT’s production of West Side Story playing the lead role of Maria.
Lesley is a Senior majoring in Integrated Studies with a minor in Music, from Topeka, Kansas.
Voting is open until 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Vote by visiting: https://www.washburn.edu/homecoming-ballot
The winners will be announced revealed during Saturday's homecoming game.
Ichabods of Honor Nominee Poster
What could make Homecoming week more fun? Adding more Washburn University spirit! Spirit Week that is, each day we will explore a new theme together.
- Monday is 'Dress like your Teacher' Day
- Tuesday is 'Anything but a Backpack' Day
- Wednesday is 'Western Wednesday'
- Thursday is 'Costume' Day
- With your costume, please be culturally and generally appropriate. The Washburn University Campus Activity Board (CAB) will be hosting an event before Homecoming to address this and give valuable information about this area!
- Friday is 'Wear Washburn' Day
Monday theme is "Dress like your Teacher."
Tuesday theme is "Anything but a Backpack."
Rising Stars Variety Show
- 6 - 8 p.m.
- Washburn Rooms A and B, Memorial Union
Formerly known as "Open Mic Night," bring your talent to Washburn. Whether that be singing, dancing or a comedy skit, we would love to see you perform. If not, come for the entertainment and the announcement of our Ichabods of Honor nominees during the Variety Show.
Wednesday theme is "Western Wednesday."
Homecoming Scorch on the Porch
- 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Inside Memorial Union
- Free lunch
- Hamburgers and hotdogs
- Macaroni and cheese
- Root beer floats
- Pepsi products
- Vegetarian options on request
- Activities
- Meet and greet with the President
- Say Cheese photo booth
- DJ Brad
- Ichabod Shop Sale
- 25% homecoming tee and blinged tumbler
- Games and prizes
Come join us for Scorch on the Porch with the President! Washburn Alumni is joining Homecoming with free food, music and games. Our Ichabod Shop will be having a t-shirt sale as well as WSGA giveaways.
Sponsored by the President's Office, Student Life, Pepsi, Chartwells and the Ichabod Shop.
View Scorch on the Porch poster
Homecoming Dance hosted by CAB
- 7 - 9 p.m.
- Washburn A/B, Memorial Union
Dance the night way at the Saddle Saloon. We'll have dancing, food, a photobooth, casino activities and more! WSGA giveaways will also be available.
Thursday theme is "Costume Day."
Yell Like Hell
- 7 p.m.
- Lee Arena
Join us on a night you'll remember. We've got lots of organizations signing up to perform and show off their moves! This will include some of our athletic teams, sorority and fraternity groups and other organizations.
Just a reminder “priority seating” for Yell like Hell will start Tuesday, October 10 at 12 p.m. and goes through Wednesday, October 25 at 5 p.m. If your organization wins, you will receive the first two to three middle front row seats at Yell like Hell. Post a photo/reel/etc. to your organization's Instagram and tag @wubodtalk. Any negative post/appearance will be disqualified.
Friday theme is "Wear Washburn."
Inauguration Ceremony and Reception
- Ceremony
- 3 p.m.
- Lee Arena
- Public Reception
- 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
- Lee Arena
This year’s Homecoming includes a very special event, the inauguration festivities celebrating our new president, Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek, who became the first woman to lead this historic institution Feb. 1, 2023. Special activities are scheduled for students, faculty, staff, alumni and community supporters throughout Washburn Homecoming week Oct. 23-28. The public is also invited to attend the Inauguration ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 in Lee Arena on the Washburn campus. Join us as we celebrate our history, staying true to our mission of serving all students and growing in partnership with our community to build a bold future. Together we thrive!
Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Washburn Alumni Association and Foundation
- 8 - 10 a.m.
- Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center
- Free for children 5 and under, $5 for adults. For more information and tickets, visit https://wualumni.org/homecoming
Homecoming Football Game Tailgating
- 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Memorial Union Lawn and around Yager Stadium
- The winning organization will receive $500 toward funding for their organization, so we would LOVE for you to sign up.
Homecoming Football Game
- 1 p.m.
- Yager Stadium
Ichabods of Honor winners announced during halftime.
Homecoming Packet
The Homecoming packet has all the information students need to participate in Homecoming events, including rules, deadlines for registration, Top Bod information, the points system and more.
