9 A.M.: Alumni get to relive college years at Homecoming parade

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Joe Maltese has not missed an opportunity to play with his old band — the Marching Chips — in 20 years.

The Central Michigan University alumnus lives in Indianapolis, but returns each year to the Homecoming festivities and the parade.

“It’s an opportunity to do all the fun stuff I used to do,” he said. “Go back to my college days.”

The Homecoming parade gave students and alumni such as Maltese an opportunity to show off their school spirit.

The line of CMU spirit made its way through Mount Pleasant at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning, starting at Lot 22 on campus, and ended at Sacred Heart Academy, 302 S. Kinney Ave.

Alumna Sue Genau, a Midland resident, also took advantage of the opportunity to perform with the Marching Chips in the parade.

Genau said to her, Homecoming was about memories and traditions.

“It gets more and more fun every year,” she said.

Parade participants ranged from the Marching Chips to the Common Ground Dance Team and the CMU Faculty Association.

Various student organizations, such as On the Fly Productions and the Saxe/Herrig/Celani Hall Council, built floats for parade viewers to enjoy.

In addition to CMU student organizations, Mount Pleasant High School showed off its Homecoming representatives and floats that the local high school students built.

Although Newaygo sophomore Maryalice Sherlock was not directly involved in the parade, she was pleased with the opportunity to take a break from her volunteer work at Sacred Heart Academy to catch a glimpse.

“Homecoming is a chance to come together as a school and show our spirit,” she said.

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