Homecoming 2011,“Cats Set Sail,” presented by the UK Alumni Association and the Student Homecoming Coalition, commenced Monday and will continue throughout the week offering a schedule of activities that guarantees every student will have no choice but to “see blue” (really though, blue lights will illuminate from downtown Lexington trees, at the Courthouse and other locations during Homecoming week).

Homecoming traditionally features alumni returning to school, cultural and sports events, a parade and the coveted crowning of a Homecoming king and queen. This week’s Homecoming will include these classic Homecoming activities, but new events will be added to UK’s Homecoming repertoire.

Students should actually try to attend Homecoming events this year. Ignore any preconceived notions you may have about Homecoming. This year’s events reflect UK’s past traditions, as well as UK’s present uniqueness.

The Student Homecoming Coalition has put together a week of events that stray from the “traditional” Homecoming, and that reflect the unique individuals and perspectives that comprise UK.

Student representatives from campus organizations form the Student Homecoming Coalition, including the Student Activities Boards, Student Government, the Black Student Union and the Center for Community Outreach. These representatives joined together to take their organizations’ individual events and assemble them into a unified Homecoming schedule.

The Homecoming Coalition received the National Association for Campus Activities Outstanding Diversity Achievement Award at the 2011 NACA National Conference in Feb. 2011, establishing that this year’s Homecoming is not a simple replication of past events, but a merging of classic UK traditions and the distinctive diversity of UK presently.

This year UK is offering many events, a lot of which are free and are important to reuniting Wildcats of the past, present and future. Homecoming week will include a student’s versus alumni competition at the Mo Betta Basketball Game, small carnival games created by student organizations for children to enjoy at the Kitty Karnival and, of course, the Homecoming football game against Jacksonville State.

This year’s Homecoming is a particularly important moment in the history of UK as President Eli Capilouto will officially becoming UK’s 12th president at an investiture ceremony Tuesday.

Homecoming is a week to celebrate the traditions and people that define UK; you should be a part of it.