American River College is set to host its 70th Anniversary homecoming starting on Oct. 25 and ending on Nov. 1. The event’s theme is “You Belong Here: Rediscover ARC,” according to the ARC Homecoming webpage. The weeklong experience will include a series of events occurring around campus to highlight the plentiful resources at ARC and promote campus pride.
“It’s really been [President Lisa Cardoza’s] vision of where she wants the college to go, that has been so instilled in the fact that you belong here,” said Amanda Lewis, the president’s office administrative assistant and Homecoming event coordinator. “Everything about the week goes back to that mission of ensuring that there is something going on throughout the week that touches each and every student, each and every faculty, each and every classified professional in some way, shape or form.”
The weeklong festivities will kick off on Oct. 25, and will feature events such as a campus wide scavenger hunt, themed-attire days and an ARC homecoming decorating contest.
Homecoming events will conclude on Nov. 1 with the homecoming football game against Santa Rosa Junior College at Beaver stadium. The game will be preceded by the Spirit Fest hosted in the Beaver Stadium parking lot, celebrating 70 years of ARC.
Cardoza says she decided to start a homecoming event this year in the hopes of bringing back joy, community and pride to the campus. Cardoza also hopes to draw back alumni to ARC and incorporate as many departments in the events as possible, in order to promote the college and opportunities available to students.
“I keep telling people I want to hear more about what you’re doing. Once you get your degree don’t forget to promote the community college,” Cardoza said. “Be loud and proud about where you went to college because it’s such a good pathway for so many of our students.”
According to Lewis, the week of celebration has been the collective effort of many students, staff, departments and clubs on campus. The planning has been spearheaded by Lewis, with help from a student homecoming committee led by Marilyn Garcia, Student Senate vice president and committee chair.
Lewis has worked to create events that tap into the themes of “You Belong Here” and “Rediscover ARC” with the help of the student homecoming committee. The events have been planned with the intent of bringing the community of ARC together, uplifting campus pride and showcasing the variety of programs and opportunities available to students at ARC.
An “ARC First Gen Spotlight” event will be held in the STEM quad on Oct. 28. This event will consist of a letter workshop meant to express gratitude for mentors and encourage and uplift first generation students at ARC.
“It’s a very turbulent time within our country… I really want students to know that our campus is a safe space and that we’re all for them,” Garcia said.
Cardoza will speak alongside student speakers at the Wellness Walk on Oct. 30, according to Garcia.
“I think the walk of wellness is really important. I’m really excited to see that,” Garcia said. “I think it’s really important for the students to see an administrator that cares about students and cares to be a part of their success.”
The week of events will also include a Native Bee Project Spotlight, ARC Floral Sales, a Theater Movement performance and ARC archives displays from the library, all meant to highlight the plethora of resources and programs available to ARC students.
“It’s been really cool to see the kind of collaboration that’s been happening across campus to make this week possible,” Lewis said.
More information about the ARC Homecoming and the events planned is available on the ARC Homecoming webpage.
