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Celebrating Western

Miami University's 2024 Homecoming honored the legacy of Western College

By Miami University

October 2^nd, 2024

The Spirit of Western

Western College was front and center for Miami University's 2024 Homecoming. With the theme "Celebrating the Spirit of Western: A Homecoming for Love, Honor, and Legacy," Miami commemorated its long and proud relationship with Western College for Women during the 50th anniversary of the college's final graduating class.

Members of the Miami University volleyball coaching staff wear T-shirts with the text — Members of the Miami University volleyball coaching staff wear T-shirts with the text "In the Spirit of Western" written on the back.

Western College alumnae attended a reception prior the Miami University's volleyball match at Millett Hall.

Founded in 1853 as the Western Female Seminary and renamed the Western College for Women in 1904, Western was renowned as a forward-thinking institution on the forefront of international and multicultural education. Western College for Women closed in 1974, soon becoming part of Miami’s campus, where it housed Miami’s oldest residence-based learning community and division, the School of Interdisciplinary Studies/Western College Program.

Members of the Miami University volleyball team wore Western College-themed T-shirts during Homecoming weekend.

Western College alumnae cheer on the Miami University volleyball team.

Festivities for the weekend included volleyball matches, the Miami Athletics Hall of Fame induction dinner and reception, and M.O.V.E. Bootcamp at Lewis Place.

Members of the Miami community attended the M.O.V.E. Bootcamp session Sept. 28 at Lewis Place.

Members of the Miami community attended the M.O.V.E. Bootcamp session Sept. 28 at Lewis Place.

Members of the Miami community attended the M.O.V.E. Bootcamp session Sept. 28 at Lewis Place.

Members of the Miami community attended the M.O.V.E. Bootcamp session Sept. 28 at Lewis Place.

As part of Homecoming, the Miami football team faced the University of Massachusetts on a rainy day at Yager Stadium.

Members of the Miami football team greet fans during the Hawk Walk on Sept. 28.

Members of the Miami football team greet fans during the Hawk Walk on Sept. 28.

Members of the Miami cheerleading team participate in the Hawk Walk on Sept. 28.

Members of the Western College Alumnae Association (WCAA) were on campus to celebrate as the football team wore special jerseys to honor Western. Featuring a dark blue base and white numbers with a red border, the jerseys displayed “Western College” across the front, with a Miami logo patch in the upper right corner. The patch can be tapped by phone to connect to a special website promoting this year’s Homecoming theme.

Western College alumnae were honored during the Sept. 28 Homecoming game.

Members of the Miami alumni marching band participate in Homecoming on Sept. 28 at Yager Stadium.

Members of the Miami alumni marching band participate in Homecoming on Sept. 28 at Yager Stadium.

Members of the Miami cheerleading team wear special Western College-themed uniforms during Homecoming.

The unique jersey design mimicked a 1970s-era throwback with its shoulder stripes and sleeve numbers as they honored the 50th anniversary of the final Western College graduating class from 1974. The jersey details fused the color scheme of Western’s blue and white with Miami’s red and white to recognize the merger of Miami University and Western College and show the institutions coming together as one. The RedHawks also wore their traditional white pants with the matching red stripe for the Homecoming game, and the jersey combination included Miami’s trademark white helmets, with the Beveled-M logo on either side.

Members of the Miami football team wear special Western College-themed jerseys during Homecoming on Sept. 28.

Fans cheer on the Miami football team during Homecoming on Sept. 28 at Yager Stadium.

Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert attempts a pass during the Sept. 28 Homecoming game against Massachusetts at Yager Stadium.

Running back Keyon Mozee rushed for 114 yards on nine carries and scored a touchdown for the RedHawks, while kicker Dom Dzioban kicked three field goals on the day, including a 47 yarder to tie the game and force overtime.

Miami's Keyon Mozee scores a touchdown during the Sept. 28 Homecoming game at Yager Stadium.

Miami's Keyon Mozee (3) and John Young (71) celebrate a RedHawk touchdown.

Earlier this year, the WCAA had been presented with Miami's Freedom Summer of '64 Award. Established in 2018, the Freedom Summer of ’64 Award honors champions of civil rights and social justice. Miami’s Freedom Summer memorial was dedicated in 2000 to honor the memories of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, three civil rights workers who were murdered in Mississippi while registering Black voters.

University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford and Miami President Gregory Crawford honor the Western College Alumnae Association with the Freedom Summer of '64 Award.

Dzioban's third and final field goal lifted the RedHawks to a dramatic 23-20 overtime victory against the Minutemen. Moments like this game-winning field goal is one reason Dzioban loves playing football.

Miami's Dom Dzioban kicks a field goal during the Homecoming game.

Miami celebrates its 23-20 overtime victory against Massachusetts during the Sept. 28 Homecoming at Yager Stadium.

Miami celebrates its 23-20 overtime victory against Massachusetts during the Sept. 28 Homecoming at Yager Stadium.

Footnotes

Photos by Scott Kissell and Jeff Sabo; video by Zachary Burnett, Cameron Johnson, Vivian Kolks, Courtney Russell, and Jon Simon, and text by Josh Chapin, of University Communications and Marketing

FootNotes

Photos by Scott Kissell and Jeff Sabo; video by Zachary Burnett, Cameron Johnson, Vivian Kolks, Courtney Russell, and Jon Simon, and text by Josh Chapin, of University Communications and Marketing

© 2026 Miami University

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