TSU’s Homecoming weekend Oct. 4-6 attracted hundreds of alumni and friends to campus to view new buildings, enjoy class reunions, receive alumni awards, and watch a victorious Thunder football game. Ribbon cuttings for the University Center and Center for Technology and Online Resources and C.W. Sponsel Administration Center. Moss Street, and Kinney Street student apartments opened the doors of those new facilities to the public, showcasing part of $26 million spent on upgrades so far through the Vision for the Future capital campaign. Members of the Fabiani family from 10 states traveled to TSU for the dedication of the Fabiani Theatre. Funded by family matriarch Virginia Fabiani, wife of late TSU alumnus Dante Fabiani and mother of Trustee Jim Fabiani, the theater set the scene for awards ceremonies such as the Thursday Touchstone Dinner, at which Virginia Fabiani received the Woman of Distinction Award, and Dr. Clifford Sponsel was honored with the Pillar of Success, the university’s highest and most prestigious award. The $1 million contribution of Dr. Sponsel and his wife, Juliette, for the restoration of the former Sniff building into the C.W. Sponsel Administration Center led to a $1 million Lilly Endowment match for the project, which opened for public tours on Friday after comments by Clifford Sponsel. Alumni Awards were presented and Hall of Fame inductees announced, while the classes of 1982, 1957, 1947, and 1937 celebrated reunions. The class of 1957 made the gift of an endowed scholarship to show their support of the university, its students, and its vision. Next year’s Homecoming weekend will be Sept. 26-28.

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