Homecoming 2023: A Look Back

Maverick students, faculty, staff, and alumni showed up and showed off their school spirit for the 2023 Homecoming at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). From cheering on fellow Mavericks at sporting events to invading Omaha, Mavericks of all ages did it all this year.

Being a Maverick means going BIG! This was the same expectation for Homecoming 2023. This year, UNO’s Office of Spirit, Tradition, and Signature Events led one of UNO’s biggest homecoming celebrations across 10 days full of events, engagement, and Maverick Spirit. The UNO community grabbed their cowbells; wore black, white, and red; and joined the herd to celebrate being a Maverick!

The 10-day extravaganza kicked off with Durango’s Birthday Celebration, where more than 300 students, faculty, and staff gathered to grab a picture with Durango in a photobooth, eat cake, and grab some surprise swag!

The UNO campus embraced the spooky season by celebrating Halloween the Maverick way. Across campus, 40 offices and departments decorated their spaces to celebrate the season and the homecoming excitement, and 17 student organizations created banners that adorned the walls of the Milo Bail Student Center.

The spooktacular fun continued with Halloween at the Hayden House, where over 100 students received hauntingly exciting tours, decorated pumpkins, and had lots of fall fun! Students were sent home with plenty of treats, including kits to make s’mores at home.

Athletics played a significant role throughout homecoming. During a 90s themed hockey night, more than 500 students filled the student section at Baxter Arena as "Name Drop" podcast hosts Chris Kirkpatrick from *NSYNC and Brian McFayden from MTV joined in to cheer on the Mavs against Ohio State. During the second weekend of hockey action against Western Michigan, more than 400 students were on hand as the homecoming royalty were announced.

The excitement didn’t stop there. More than 200 students pushed their skills to the test at the House of Conundrum, where they worked through puzzles and found clues during escape room fun! Maverick students stretched down the block as nearly 400 students took over Toppers Pizza to combat their “Halloween Hunger.”

The Maverick fight song filled the air as more than 50 students sang their hearts out to receive a UNO t-shirt. In addition, UNO held a “Swag Swap” where over 200 students traded clothing sporting another team’s logo in exchange for UNO branded swag. All clothing collected from the swap was then donated.

Even amongst all of the fun, UNO understands the importance of supporting the community. On Halloween, students came together to “Scare Away Hunger” for the third annual Homecoming donation drive. Over 1,600 items were donated, and $430 was raised to support those in need. Students also raised more than $500 for UNO Dance Marathon.

This year’s Homecoming may have come and gone, but the memories created will be cherished forever.