Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s annual Homecoming celebration on October 10 is expected to draw thousands to Indiana for alumni reunions and events for the entire community, including the annual parade and football game.
The Homecoming parade, with a theme of “America 250-Pennsylvania: Start Here, America Did!” will start at 10:00 a.m. on October 10. It will feature close to 90 campus and community units, including six floats by IUP fraternities, sororities, and student organizations:
- Industrial Revolution - Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority, Delta Zeta Sorority, Sigma Kappa Sorority, Theta Phi Alpha Sorority, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and Sigma Chi Fraternity
- PA Turnpike from East to West - Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority, Sigma Pi Fraternity, and Theta Chi Fraternity
- Hershey - Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity, and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
- American Flag - Delta Gamma Sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, and Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity
- Declaration of Independence - IUP Ambassadors
- PA Wildlife - IUP Pre-Veterinary Club
Vehicles for the floats and dignitaries have been provided by a number of community members and businesses, including Delaney Auto Group and Penn Mechanical. Floats are being constructed at Mack Park.
The Alumni Association Board of Directors will be featured in the parade, along with Alumni Association Board President Mary Morgan, of Indiana, a 1991 graduate.
Morgan, a 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Service, retired from a 30-year career at IUP that culminated with her role as assistant vice president for Alumni and Friends. She touched thousands of alumni in the course of her work, maintaining traditions and creating new and innovative ways for alumni to stay connected with IUP. She was largely responsible for the creation and growth of the IUP Ambassadors, IUP’s award-winning student-alumni organization, now in its thirty-second year. This group of outstanding student leaders continues to serve as a link between prospective students, current students, administrators, faculty members, alumni, and friends of IUP, working to engage alumni and current students with campus life and make students more aware of their potential roles as IUP alumni.
The parade will start at 11th and Philadelphia streets and travel east to Sixth and Philadelphia streets, south on Sixth Street to Church Street, west on Church Street to Oakland Avenue, and southwest on Oakland Avenue to 11th Street, where the parade will disband. All motor-driven floats will continue southwest on Oakland Avenue to the Robertshaw building for disassembly.
Immediately following the parade, student volunteers from IUP’s fraternity and sorority life will clean the parade route.
Four float prizes will be given: first prize of $1,000, sponsored by the IUP Alumni Association; second prize of $900, sponsored by Aramark; third place of $800, cosponsored by the Student Government Association and the offices of Student Leadership and Student Inclusion; and fourth prize of $700, sponsored by University Advancement.
Parade judges this year are Jonathan Smith, representing Indiana Borough Council; Sam Kenly, representing Downtown Indiana Inc.; Cate Planisky, community representative and 1993 IUP graduate; and Patricia Simmons of Indiana, a 1972 IUP graduate.
In addition to the IUP Marching Band, the parade will feature marching bands from area high schools: Indiana, Homer-Center, Marion Center, Penns Manor, Purchase Line, River Valley, and United/Black Lick Valley.
Now in its sixteenth year at IUP, the Crimson Court will take part in all university Homecoming activities, including the parade. The Crimson Court consists of students chosen by a university-wide vote to represent each of the colleges at IUP. To qualify for the court, students must have junior or senior standing, at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average and be in good judicial standing.
The 2026 Crimson Court is:
Samira Boulkher, a nursing major from Dillsburg, representing the College of Health Sciences. Daughter of Ramatoulaye Mahamadou and Boulkher Samba, she is a 2023 graduate of Northern High School. A dean’s list student, she received the Highmark Bright Blue Futures Scholarship, the Sutton Scholarship, and the African American Alumni Scholarship. She won a 2025 Leadership Award as a Resident Assistant for her work during the 2024–25 academic year, and a “Best Student Organization” Award during her presidency of the Pan African Student Association. She was selected to represent the Keeper of the Flame award event at the 2025 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Summit, won the Omega Psi Phi 2025–26 Service Person of the Year award, and was nominated for the Thomas C. Segar Student of the Year award and for the National Society of Leadership and Success. In addition to her leadership of the Pan African Student Association, she is vice president of the Muslim Student Association and secretary of the URBN Dance Group. She is a member of Collegiate Women in Progress, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and HER Campus. Selected for the Crimson Scholars Circle, she serves as a peer mentor for the program. She volunteers for Whole Unity Incorporated and the IUP Haven Project. She was selected as a speaker for the 2026 IUP “The Journey Continues” Symposium, was a panelist for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation initiative for diverse populations, was selected for a student focus group for the Career and Professional Development Center, and volunteered to be a guest reader for the Indiana Area School District’s Black History Month program.
Anala Major, an early childhood education major and child development and family science minor from Wyncote, representing the College of Education and Human Services. Daughter of Nina Marshall, she is a 2023 graduate of the Philadelphia High School of Creative and Performing Arts. A dean’s list student, she is the recipient of a Sutton Scholarship and was selected for the Crimson Scholar Circle, where she currently serves as a peer mentor and member of the programming team. She was also selected as a Promising Scholar, currently serving as a Promising Scholar mentor. She received a best performance student organization award during her presidency of the URBN Dance Group. She was nominated for the Thomas C. Segar Student Leader of the Year award. She is outreach chair for the Pan African Student Association, a member of Kappa Delta Pi National Education Honor Society, a Welcome Week leader, and has been a member of the IUP Dance Team since 2024. She was a student panelist for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation, was a speaker for the 2026 IUP “The Journey Continues” Symposium, and volunteered to be a guest reader for the Indiana Area School District Black History Month program.
Iya Nealy, a communications media major from Philadelphia, representing the Cook Honors College. Daughter of Lawanda West of Philadelphia and Melvin Nealy of Lake City, South Carolina, she is a 2023 graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Girls. A dean’s list student, she serves as a tour guide for the Cook Honors College. She was selected as a Promising Scholar and for the Crimson Scholars Circle Scholar, serving as a peer mentor for the CSC. She received the Allyship Award at the 2026 Leadership Awards. She is a Heights Philadelphia mentee and received the Heights Philadelphia Scholarship, the Urban League Philadelphia Scholarship, the African American Museum of Bucks County Scholarship, the Mae & Catalyst Scholarship, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors Scholarship, and the Sutton Scholarship. She is highlighted in IUP’s Promising Scholars brochure, was a panelist for Summer Bridge Program and for Heights Philadelphia. President of Collegiate Women In Progress, she also is treasurer of URBN Dance Group and is an IUP Ambassador. She is a student video editor for IUP’s Marketing and Communications Office and is the founder of the Community Service Committee at local church One Accord Worship Center. She is the first student to represent the Cook Honors College on the Crimson Court.
Isaiah Oluwole, a human resources management and general management major from Darby, representing the Eberly College of Business. Son of Yvette Oluwole and Joshua Oluwole, he is a 2023 graduate of Penns Wood High School. A dean’s list student, he was selected as a Promising Scholar, Presidential Scholars Award, and for the Crimson Circle Scholars, now serving as a peer mentor for the program. He is a member of Ubora Men of IUP and the 2025 Leadership Awards Reimagined Committee, is secretary for the IUP Society of Human Resources Management Club, is a Student Connector for the Office of Student Leadership, is a front-door receptionist for the Open Door of Indiana through the community service learning program, and was selected to be a panelist for a Promising Scholars event in Philadelphia.
Anajah Sutton-Fisher, a social studies education major from Philadelphia, representing the College of Arts, Humanities, Media, and Public Affairs. Daughter of Tolina Edwards, Damon Fisher, and Warren Edwards, she is a 2023 graduate of the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. A dean’s list student and provost scholar, she is the recipient of the Sutton Scholarship and was selected as a Promising Scholar and for the Crimson Scholars Circle, serving as a mentor for both programs and on the Crimson Scholars Circle programming team. She was a panelist for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation, was nominated for the Rising Greek Leader award, and volunteered to be a guest reader for the Indiana Area School District’s Black History Month program. She has been a member of the IUP Dance Team since 2024, is captain and vice president of URBN Dance Group, is a Welcome Week Leader, and is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated. She is the secretary for the IUP Social Studies Education Club and choreographer for the praise dance ministry at One Accord Worship Center.
Isabella Wolszczenski, a safety, health, and environmental applied sciences major and management minor in the Cook Honors College from Mechanicsburg, representing the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Daughter of Emily Racculia and Edward Wolszczenski, she is a 2023 graduate of Cumberland Valley High School. A dean’s list student, she is the recipient of the 2026 John J. and Char Kopchick Unique Undergraduate Student Fellowship, the 2026 Virginia Dickinson Student Organization Award, the 2026 American Society of Safety Professionals Western Pennsylvania Scholarship, the 2026 American Society of Safety Professionals Foundation Scholarship, the 2025 Board of Certified Safety Professionals QAP Scholarship, the Cook Honors College Scholarship, and the Sutton Scholarship. She was also selected as a recipient of the 2026 Cook Achievement Fund for a study-abroad trip to Spain. She was a resident assistant from 2024 to 2026. She is president and past president advisor for the IUP Ladies of Safety, is secretary of the IUP American Society of Safety Professionals, secretary of the IUP Ambassadors, secretary and past art chair for IUP Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), is a member of Rho Sigma Kappa Safety Honors Fraternity, and is a member of the IUP Cook Honors College Advisory Board.
More than 700 people of all ages are expected at the Alumni and Friends Crimson Huddle Pregame Party from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on October 10 in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. Open to all, the event will celebrate more than 30 reunion groups—including sororities, fraternities, academic departments, and sports teams.
In addition to the IUP Marching Band and the IUP cheerleaders, the event will include a performance by Midnight Lights, which includes three IUP graduates: Tommy Lyttle, a 2018 communications media graduate and 2021 Student Affairs in Higher Education master’s degree graduate; Amy McCullough, a 2017 early childhood and special education bachelor’s degree graduate and 2019 Masters in Literacy Education graduate; and Ryan Sharp, a 2018 communications media graduate and 2020 Student Affairs in Higher Education master’s degree graduate. They are joined by Morgan Iseman and Alex Brewer.
The IUP Ambassadors student-alumni group will offer special activities for children during the Crimson Huddle at the Kids Corner.
Admission can be paid at the door and is $26 per individual ages 13 and older, $19 for persons ages six to 12, and free for children age five and under. Admission includes food and beverages.
Tailgating will open at 10:00 a.m. in the parking areas designated for tailgating in the stadium south parking lot.
The Homecoming football game between IUP and Lock Haven University will begin at 2:00 p.m. October 10 at Cignetti Field in George P. Miller Stadium.
During halftime, the Crimson Court and prize sponsors for the parade floats will be recognized. The halftime show will feature the IUP Marching Band, under the direction of Will Sugg. The band will present the postgame show at the stadium immediately following the game.
Hundreds of IUP students from fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations are expected to participate in a community cleanup on October 11.
A complete list of Homecoming events and information on how to register for events is available at IUP Homecoming.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign is designed to honor a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, public service, and leadership in healthcare education, including the first college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in the commonwealth.