Freed-Hardeman University celebrated their annual homecoming, entitled “Find Your Way Back,” with a week full of festivities and events. This began on Friday Oct. 24 with “Paint it Up.” Each social club paints a partition board that fits the theme of the homecoming.
On Sunday, Nov. 2, students and teachers participated in “Maroon Madness.” This event celebrates the FHU Lion and Lady Lion basketball teams and overall school spirit.
Both “Puff it Up” and “Cheer it Up” occurred on Monday, Nov. 3. This event features the girls of each social club battling in a powder puff football tournament. The boys switch the traditional roles and are the cheerleaders for the teams and give rousing halftime routines.
Tuesday, Nov. 4 featured the 2025 homecoming court in chapel. This featured representatives from each class and nominees for homecoming king and queen. Homecoming queen representatives included Ellie Culbreath,
Shelby Whitlock, and Dayla Griffin. Homecoming king representatives included Kannon (Scooty) Scott, Jackson Ruston, and Blake Brown. This day also included “Hoop it Up,” an annual basketball tournament which included teams from each social club and the staff.
Wednesday, the annual “Sing it Up” campus-wide singing filled Old Main’s Old Chapel Hall.
On Thursday, Fhu Theater’s “Anastasia” opened in Dryden Auditorium. This is a broadway musical adaptation of the 1997 feature film. The cast included FHU students, alum, and locals. Also on Thursday, the social clubs participated in “Can it Up.” This is a competition that involves building sculptures out of cans that fit the theme of homecoming. All of these cans are donated and later donated to those in need. In addition, FHU’s annual “Day of Giving” fell during homecoming week. This event encourages the raising of funds for specific goals in individual departments. Over $340,000 was donated from 922 separate donations to better the university.
Friday was packed with events such as a concert from Four Docs and a Jock, a block party, a performance from the FHU Legacy Jazz Ensemble, and food truck. The JV Lady Lions basketball team also kicked off the weekend’s games by competing against Bryan College.
Saturday included tailgating for the volleyball and basketball Games that would occur later in the day. Lady Lions Volleyball competed against University of the Cumberland but unfortunately fell short of a win. Both the Lions and Lady Lions basketball teams won against Faulkner University and Bryan College respectively. The day began with the annual 5k in support of the Carl Perkins center. For alumni, there were reunion brunches held for the classes of ‘85, ‘95, ‘05, ‘15, and ‘25. There was also a legacy pinning ceremony held for legacy students of FHU. The day also included a concert from the FHU Chorale. Before the games began, the Lion Walk and “Float it Up” were held. This is a small parade celebrating past and future FHU students, which include floats made by each social club. During halftime at the Lions’ game against Faulkner University, the coronation of this year’s homecoming king and queen were held. This years’ king and queen were Jackson Ruston and Shelby Whitlock. This day of festivities was ended by a singing in Old Chapel Hall led by members of the FHU Chorale.
Finally, the week of festivities came to a close with the annual homecoming worship service in Dryden Auditorium. This service was led by FHU President, David Shannon.
