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Welcome Home, Toppers

Homecoming 2024

By St. Edward's University

November 19^th, 2024

Hilltoppers came together to enjoy St. Edward's University Homecoming. There were plentiful opportunities for current students, alumni, families, faculty and staff to celebrate their blue and gold pride and to make new memories in a vibrant atmosphere that only a St. Ed's Homecoming can provide. It was an incredible weekend celebrating what makes our community so special.

Welcome Home, Toppers!

Parade

The Homecoming Parade, now in its fourth year, featured a new route that takes the processional in front of Main Building. Students, alumni, faculty, staff and Austin community organizations showed their blue and gold pride as everyone walked to the cheers of SEU Cheer and Cheer Austin and the rhythm of Ballet Folklorico. The participants paraded through the tailgate and culminated in front of Main Building.

Alethia Ostfeld, Director of Student Disability Services, wears face paint and holds a yellow flag.

Fear the Goat poster

Ballet Folklorico members perform an homage to Tejano legend Selena.

A kid reacts with smiles to an Eagle mascot.

A royal court member walks in the parade.

Lindsey Taucher, MAC Field Experience Coordinator and Grand Marshall of the parade, walks in the parade.

Topper walks with cheerleaders in the parade.

A service dog walks in the parade.

Members of the Alumni Association stand together before the parade.

Lisa Kirkpatrick, Vice President of Student Affairs and Administration, takes a selfie with Topper and cheerleaders.

A cheerleader performs a stunt.

President Montserrat Fuentes takes a photo with Topperettes before the parade.

Cheerleaders walk in the parade.

President Montserrat Fuentes waves as she walks with members of her cabinet in the parade.

Softball players hold signs and walk in the parade.

Justin Trevino holds pom poms and cheers as he walks with other CAMP students in the parade.

Ellisha Isom, Director for Residential Education, walks in the parade with Residence Life staff and student members.

Students wave flags and walk in the parade.

Student Government Association President Mikayla Pastrano walks in the parade with other SGA members.

An athlete makes a toppers up sign to the camera.

Cheerleaders cheer and walk in the parade.

Members of the homecoming court walk in the parade.

Christie Campbell, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, walks in the parade with other members of the president's cabinet and the homecoming court.

Lisa Kirkpatrick, Vice President of Student Affairs and Administration, waves a yellow flag.

Buddy the live goat Mascot stands in front of Main Building.

Tailgate

It wouldn't be a St. Ed's homecoming without a tailgate! Members of the SEU community, their families and friends gathered together on the hilltop in front of Main Building, with beautiful views of the downtown skyline, to enjoy great conversation, delicious food and fun games ahead of the athletic games of the day.

Cheerleaders cheer and chat in front of Main Building.

A student plays a ring toss game at a tailgate tent.

Spanish Professor Georgie Seminet and Arts and Humanities staff Emily Hammett stand at their table under their tailgate tent.

A member of the homecoming noble court stands under a tailgate tent and chats with a friend.

A member of Ballet Folklorico takes a photo with Buddy the live mascot goat.

An attendee takes a picture with a photo backdrop.

A kid gets their face painted at a tailgate tent.

A balloon artist makes a flower balloon for a tailgate attendee.

An athlete looks at their face paint they received and reacts while the face painter smiles.

A note reads — A note reads "I got to meet lifelong friends" in response to the prompt "I'm grateful for St. Edward's because..."

Buddy the live mascot goat eats grass.

We are Holy Cross wristbands on a tailgate table.

International students and staff members stand on the steps of Main Building with their countries' flags.

Students play lawn games at tailgate.

Hailey Hibbs and Andrew Moncada pose in a photo booth.

St. Edward's postcards on a tailgate table.

Hilltopper Athletics

This year, women's volleyball and women's basketball are celebrating their 50th anniversaries on the hilltop, and the men's soccer team is making strides in the Lone Star Conference their second year back on campus.

St. Edward's teammates celebrate center back Irvin Abarca's #19 goal.

Men's Soccer

St. Edward's men's soccer scored a pair of first-half goals, and Angel Ramirez recorded five saves and broke up multiple passes into the box to preserve a 2-0 shutout victory over the Dallas Baptist University Patriots. Todd Fuller triggered the corner kick, which cleared the scrum in front of the net and landed with one bounce in front of Irvin Abarca, who delivered the roundhouse kick into the back of the net in the 30th minute. The Hilltoppers struck again with an insurance goal just shy of the 43rd minute when Irvin Abarca delivered a long pass over the top of the DBU defense to Masood Porsa, who delivered the left-footed kick on the ground past McGee for the 2-0 lead.

St. Edward's teammates huddle together.

St. Edward's midfielder Shunji Watanabe #8 dribbles the ball.

St. Edward's holding center midfielder Todd Fuller #16 stands with his parents and coaches during senior day.

St. Edward's midfielder Shunji Watanabe #8 high fives teammates.

St. Edward's holding center midfielder Matthew Devaney #22 holds his hand over his heart during the national anthem.

St. Edward's midfielder Jommar Reyes #10 looks at the referee.

St. Edward's forward Christian Mezas #36 dribbles the ball.

St. Edward's fans and dogs watch the soccer game.

St. Edward's center back Irvin Abarca #19 smiles and runs with teammates to celebrate his goal.

St. Edward's teammates huddle before the game.

St. Edward's fans smile for a group photo.

St. Edward's defender Pablo Zavala #21 dribbles the ball.

St. Edward's striker Hunter Merritt #17 jumps to gain control of the ball.

St. Edward's holding center midfielder Matthew Devaney #22 smiles.

St. Edward's midfielder Jomar Reyes #10 hugs center back Irvin Abarca #19 after Abarca's goal.

St. Edward's forward Vicente Alvarez #34 dribbles the ball.

St. Edward's fans cheer.

St. Edward's forward Christian Mezas #36 jumps and kicks the ball.

St. Edward's player Emiliano Abboud dribbles the ball.

St. Edward's forward Arthur Souza #7 kicks the ball for a goal attempt.

St. Edward's right back Dean Roggenbauer #20 looks to pass the ball.

St. Edward's defender Pablo Zavala #21 heads the ball.

St. Edward's teammates thank fans.

St. Edward's striker Hunter Merritt #17 jumps and kicks the ball.

St. Edward's midfielder Arnold Perez-Valenzuela #24 cheers.

Women's Soccer

St. Edward's women's soccer team's four-game consecutive shutout win ended against nationally-ranked Dallas Baptist University, falling 3-1 to the Patriots. St. Edward's broke through for a goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Three Dallas Baptist converged in the box, forcing the ball back to Marie Hannedouche, who quickly sent the ball diagonally through the defense, with Alyssa Garica running through as a decoy. Carina Wust got the ball in open space on the left for the easy goal.

St. Edward's midfielder #12 Sierra Padilla and a young soccer player high fives teammates.

St. Edward's teammates huddle together.

St. Edward's forward Carina Wust #7 bows her head while huddled with teammates.

St. Edward's forward Rainey Simmons #10 competes for control of the ball.

St. Edward's forward Alyssa Garcia #40 jumps and gains control of the ball.

St. Edward's player Annie Rocha #35 kicks the ball.

A young player looks on with her hand on her heart while standing with teammates and St. Edward's players.

St. Edward's teammates clap and cheer in a team huddle.

St. Edward's defender Bailey Williams #30 embraces a teammate.

St. Edward's midfielder Katie Fitzpatrick #8 dribbles the ball.

St. Edward's forward Alyssa Garcia #40 stands by the goal.

St. Edward's player Annie Rocha #35 heads the ball.

St. Edward's forward Jisell Zavaleta Denova #19 dribbles the ball.

St. Edward's goalkeeper Daria Schlumbohm #1 embraces a teammate.

A St. Edward's player dribbles the ball.

St. Edward's forward Savanna Puccio #16 dribbles the ball.

Young soccer players participate in a halftime match.

St. Edward's forward Rainey Simmons #10 kicks the ball.

St. Edward's forward Alyssa Garcia #40 looks on as a Dallas Baptist player kicks the ball.

Game action during the St. Edward's vs. Dallas Baptist match.

A St. Edward's player dribbles the ball.

Women's Volleyball

St. Edward's volleyball went five sets against Lubbock Christian, totaling more kills and a higher hitting percentage than the Lady Chaparrals, but committed 13 service errors and a combined six block and set errors in a loss. Kelli Fording and Mia Clay formed a potent one-two punch for St. Edward's, hitting a combined 37 kills on better than .300 hitting percentage and a pair of block assists each.

St. Edward's right-side hitter Addy Badley #21 and setter Jaiden LaVanway #15.

St. Edward's setter Jaiden LaVanway #15 sets the ball.

St. Edward's teammates celebrate a point.

St. Edward's player Landry Baughman #20 digs the ball.

St. Edward's outside hitter Kelli Fording #13 jumps to hit the ball.

St. Edward's players cheer for their teammates.

St. Edward's players cheer for their teammates.

St. Edward's setter Jaiden LaVanway #15 prepares to dig the ball.

St. Edward's player Landry Baughman #20 cheers.

Men's Club Rugby

The men's club rugby team rounded out the day full of sporting events with their match against Baylor University. The two teams battled it out on Lewis-Chen Family Field, at some points in the pouring rain.

Club rugby game action in the match between St. Edward's and Baylor.

Welcome Home, Toppers

Club rugby game action in the match between St. Edward's and Baylor.

Club rugby game action in the match between St. Edward's and Baylor.

Club rugby game action in the match between St. Edward's and Baylor.

Club rugby game action in the match between St. Edward's and Baylor.

Club rugby game action in the match between St. Edward's and Baylor.

Club rugby game action in the match between St. Edward's and Baylor.

Club rugby game action in the match between St. Edward's and Baylor.

Casino Night

Casino Night is always a homecoming classic! Attendees spent the evening playing exciting casino games, connecting with friends and enjoying other amusements. The homecoming royal and noble court winners were crowned and the Topper Cup winners were announced and received the coveted trophy.

Anna Southern plays a table game at Casino Night.

Casino Night games.

Students play table games at Casino Night.

A student throws the dice for a table game at Casino Night.

Students hang out at Casino Night.

Students react to their spin at Casino Night.

President Montserrat Fuentes with the noble and royal courts.

Students in the royal and noble court.

President Montserrat Fuentes with past and present homecoming court winners.

Topper Cup winners celebrate.

A Topper Cup team hold hands as they await competition results.

A Topper Cup team link arms as they await competition results.

A Topper Cup team cheers as they hear their team name announced as the winner

President Montserrat Fuentes with the winning Topper Cup team.

The 2nd Place Topper Cup team.

The 3rd Place Topper Cup team.

Footnotes

Photography by Maria Jose Gonzalez, Chelsea Purgahn and Bob Cox. Videography by Chelsea Purgahn.

FootNotes

Photography by Maria Jose Gonzalez, Chelsea Purgahn and Bob Cox. Videography by Chelsea Purgahn.

© 2026 St. Edward's University

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