Local Harvest Brings Smiles to the Growers and the Eaters
Participants in the Community Table of Albion program enjoyed some local fresh produce last week thanks to the Center for Sustainability & the Environment (CSE)
Winds of Change: Albion College Homecoming Brings Color, Connection, and Community
Warm sun and crisp air welcomed alumni, families, and friends back to Albion College for Homecoming on October 17–18, 2025, a weekend that celebrated old connections and revealed new ones. It was one of those classic Michigan autumn weekends that begin with golden light and vibrant colors, then end with much-needed rain that knocks the leaves down and reminds everyone that seasons change. The storm that swept through on Saturday night into Sunday brought more than an inch of rain and scattered leaves across campus lawns, leaving a carpet of color and the unmistakable feeling that fall had truly arrived.
The shift in weather was more than a backdrop. It felt symbolic of Albion’s story — a reminder that transformation is rarely sudden. Like the changing seasons, progress at both the college and in the city unfolds steadily, year by year, in ways that last.
Throughout the weekend, the most enduring part of Albion College Homecoming was not the competition on the field but the people who came back to reconnect. Cathy and Willie Doud, from Traverse City, returned to Albion and posed for photos outside Wesley Hall, where they first met as students more than 50 years ago. Around every corner of campus were similar scenes: classmates sharing memories, professors greeting former students, and generations of alumni returning to the place that set their futures in motion.
The college’s present and future were also on display. On Saturday, alumni and guests toured the newly dedicated Moss Kinesiology Student Lounge, named for longtime faculty members Bob and Carol Moss.
“We wanted today’s students to have a space to meet, study, and feel part of a family again,” said Bob Moss, who, with his wife Carol, helped create the new Moss Kinesiology Lounge. “Our department always had that kind of closeness, and we wanted to see it continue.” Before the new student lounge was created, Moss explained, “we did not have a real space for students to congregate; we just naturally took chairs out of classrooms and placed them in the hallway, outside the offices of the Kinesiology faculty. Students and faculty would end up meeting there, talking about all things, resulting in the dispensing of and acquiring of knowledge.” Kinesiology is now the second-largest major at Albion College, explained Brad Rabquer, the department’s current director. He explained how “Kinesiology studies fit into health fields such as medicine, physical therapy, athletic training, or health and wellness fields.”
The lounge is one of thirteen student-focused spaces added under President Wayne Webster’s leadership. These spaces are all donor-funded, explained Kimberly Arndts, class of ’74, who is involved with donor relations. “The donors want to make a difference for students, and we want to honor their intent.”
To get to the new Moss Kinesiology Student Lounge, visitors walk through the main entry doors of the Science Complex, near the Stoffer Clock tower, past the triceratops skull and other fossil displays, before they get to the three-story Shaheen Atrium and descend the stairs. They walk through a large meeting room on the bottom of the three-story glass atrium with pterodactyl dinosaur mobiles hanging above, and turn right to find the new gathering place, which sits in the heart of Albion’s Science Complex. This complex houses programs in biology, chemistry, computer science, and kinesiology. These programs prepare students for careers in medicine, physical therapy, and public health, continuing Albion’s tradition of blending liberal arts learning with real-world application.
Peg Turner, class of ’69, who taught kindergarten in Albion for decades, recalled how her connection to the college began as a short stay but turned into a lifetime commitment. “We left Albion after graduation, but returned the following year. It wasn’t part of our plan, but it felt like the right thing,” she said. “The most important thing is the relationships the students build as they journey through life. The college is still strong and still a part of the community.” Peg’s husband, Mike Turner, became Albion’s longest-serving coach, and together they mentored generations of students both on and off the field.
At the tailgate parties under tents near Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium on Hannah Street, Quince and Patsy Donahey, Class of 1975, spoke about friendships that have lasted for decades. Members of the self-named GDI (“Gosh-Darn Independents”) bowling group, they reflected on how their student years built a sense of community that still endures. “Some of us see each other every few years, others every few months,” Quince said. “We learned to love each other even though in many ways, we were quite different.”
Visitors in other tents at the tailgate parties included Craig Kirby, Class of ‘85, from Washington D.C., founder of Golf. My Future. My Game, who spent years as an assistant to Jesse Jackson, presidential candidate, and served in the White House under President Bill Clinton. He was there with his old friend Dr. Michael Jackson, an occupational medicine specialist from Minnesota. The two friends shared stories about their years as students and athletes. Jackson said Albion shaped his early years and helped him become his “better self.” He had chosen Albion because it was one of the few colleges where he could pursue pre-med while also playing football. Kirby added that Albion “grounded” him in leadership and creativity — qualities that have guided his life’s work, from serving in the White House to promoting diversity in golf.
Athletics remained central to the weekend’s spirit. The Britons faced Alma College’s team, the Scots, before a spirited crowd at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium. Albion fans filled one side of the bleachers while visiting supporters — many of them families and friends of the Scots — gathered on the other. Alma won 48–27, but the energy in the stands was undeniable. The buses parked around campus, and the cheers from both sides showed how events like Homecoming bring not only alumni but also guests from other schools. Those visitors dined at local restaurants, browsed shops, and explored downtown during their stay. Albion’s soccer and volleyball teams also competed over the weekend, adding to the lively atmosphere that extended well beyond the stadium.
As Homecoming Saturday started to wind down, the classmates went out for dinner together, some at local restaurants like Galazio Restaurant at the old freight depot. After dinner, the rain swept through, and the falling leaves felt like a metaphor for time passing and change taking hold. Albion, like the trees that line its streets, is constantly renewing itself. Progress can be slow, more like steering a ship than flipping a switch, but each small step builds on the last, and each return visit reminds alumni why this place still matters.
The author is an Albion College alum, and several of the people mentioned in this story are longtime friends and classmates.
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