Record attendance kicks off eighteen-month centennial celebration
Homecoming and Family Weekend marked the official launch of Long Island University’s 18-month Centennial Celebration.
The festivities opened Friday evening with the inaugural Alumni Excellence Awards, recognizing 40 distinguished young alumni for their achievements and meaningful service to others. The “40 Under 40” honored rising stars in health care, technology, finance, government, media, and more. LIU President Dr. Kimberly R. Cline noted in her welcome remarks, “You are off to a great start, and I have no doubt that one day, your name will be mentioned among our most notable LIU alumni.”
The celebration continued the next morning as thousands of students, alumni, families, and faculty filled campus for a full slate of events. Families gathered at the Parents Club Breakfast with senior leaders and academic deans; more than 400 student-athletes marched proudly into Shark Stadium during the first-ever Walk of Champions; and student broadcasters from WCWP and the Roc Nation School’s Sports Communication & Marketing program joined alumni sportscasters Alan Hahn ’93 and Travis Demers ’03 for a live pregame tailgate show in Nuti Park. They were joined by special guests Head Football Coach Ron Cooper, Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rod Strickland, Tom Rock ’96, and Ariel Johnson ’23.
At noon, the Homecoming game kicked off on Durrell “Bronko” Pearsall Field. Redshirt junior quarterback Luca Stanzani, reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Week, electrified the crowd on the opening play with an 87-yard touchdown run, giving the Sharks a 7-0 lead just 12 seconds into the game. Freshman defensive lineman Naquan Johnson later earned NEC Rookie of the Week and Prime Performer honors with eight tackles.
The atmosphere in Shark Stadium was spirited. The Marching Band kept energy high with the fight song, while the three-time national champion Dance Team delivered an electrifying halftime performance alongside Finley the Shark.
“This year’s Homecoming festivities showcased the very best of LIU and gave our community special moments to celebrate both current students and alumni,” said Elliott Charles, Director of Athletics. “As we approach our Centennial, the momentum generated by Homecoming offers a powerful outlook for the 2025–2026 year.”
