VCU hosts 2nd Homecoming Parade

Janeal Downs
Staff Writer

Clubs, Greek organizations and local groups marched together starting from the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School on Lombardy St and then down Broad St. to Monroe Park to celebrate VCU’s second homecoming parade that began at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. About 30 student groups and outside organizations participated in the parade.

Though this is the second time VCU has held a homecoming parade, it is the first year that included a festival at the end of the parade, homecoming committee director and senior marketing major Sheryce Holloway said.

“[I was excited] to see all of the people lined up and to see who came out,” Holloway said.

Students lined up along Broad and Laurel Streets to watch the parade that lasted almost 30 minutes.

“We wanted to see a marching band,” said sophomore nursing student Tara Francis. “But it was good.”

Among the groups participating in the parade was the VCU Quidditch Team, whose representative Tommy McPhail was crowned the 2014 homecoming king at the basketball game later that day.

“It was amazing,” said sophomore pre-nursing student MaKensie Dodd, a member of the team. “It was full of energy and school spirit.”

Junior elementary education major Julie Palanca also participated in the parade as a member of the homecoming court. Each homecoming queen candidate was paired with a homecoming king candidate in cars throughout the parade.

“I’ve actually never been to a homecoming parade, and I know it’s a fairly new tradition that we started here at VCU,” Palanca said. “Some of the things that I was looking forward to at the parade was just being able to see and experience the pride here at school.”

The homecoming committee worked with VCU Police chief John Venuti and other officers to secure the parade permit and control traffic.

VCU PD worked “to help ensure a safe and fun event on Saturday,” and provided security and traffic control, said VCU PD spokesperson Michael Kelly in a statement.