Denison was abuzz with happy cries of recognition and variations of “It’s so good to see you!” as more than 700 alums and friends arrived for Big Red Weekend, the college’s annual homecoming celebration.
Flags, flowers, and banners decorated campus, and Granville, recently touted by World Atlas as a town that rivals some of Europe’s best, put on the shine with a farmers market and art show.
The weekend was packed with things to do on both sides of The Hill. Young alumni were honored for their early accomplishments, alums grabbed flashlights to look at student “cave art,’ celebrated athletic excellence at the Varsity D Hall of Fame induction, and danced to their favorite songs in The Battle of the Bands, featuring students in Doghouse and The Overalls, and alums in The Watch.
Among the many Denison returnees were the talented a cappella singers of Ladies’ Night Out (LNO). Hillary Dorwart ’04 and Allison Dowd Stabile ’92 organized a 45th anniversary reunion for the group, which was formed in 1983 as The Flipside and changed to LNO in 1985.
Members of LNO celebrate their 45th anniversary at BRW 2025 (left); members of LNO photographed in 1989 (right).
Dorwart was spurred to action while serving on her class reunion committee.
“I had an existential moment: What if LNO’s music and history were lost?” she said.
She digitized her own LNO albums on SoundCloud and sent the link out to her mates, who responded by sharing their own tapes with her. That began a dialogue that eventually led to their 2025 Big Red Weekend reunion event: dinner together Friday, breakfast the next morning, and a rehearsal with current LNOs, followed by a cocktail reception. LNO generations joined together to sing their signature song, “Kind & Generous,” at the Saturday evening concert.
It was the first time back on campus for some singers.
“Allison was a force, calling people and getting all those ’90s singers to come back,” Dorwart said.
The original founder of the group, Caroline Hackenberg Fabian ’83, was a special invitee.
“It was really exciting to have Caroline there,” Dowart said. “She had no idea that the group she started in 1983 would still be around today.”
Big Red Hockey alums Matt Smith ’77 and Bill Powell ’77 take a selfie at BRW 2025 (above); alums gather to celebrate Big Red Hockey’s 70th anniversary (below).
Matt Smith and Bill Powell, ice hockey players from the Class of 1977, returned to the scene of many victories and hijinx. The longtime friends celebrated the 70th anniversary of the club sport with a golf outing, alumni game, and banquet where Powell was inducted into the ice hockey team’s hall of fame.
“Bill and I remain very close after all these many years, based on our time together as roommates and fraternity brothers, and also because of our mutual affection for bad puns,” Smith said. “We both had a great time reconnecting with old friends and touring the campus, including the Kappa Sigma house, the former scene of many a ‘crime,’ but even more happy memories.”
“Visiting a place that holds so many good memories rekindles them with remarkable clarity,” Smith said.
Big Red Weekend saw three athletic teams win home games, including the nation’s No. 3-ranked men’s soccer program. Kameron Kist ’26 scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Kenyon College to improve to 9-0-1. The Big Red football team delivered a 35-20 victory over Ohio Wesleyan University in front of a big crowd at Deeds Field. Quarterback Tyler Green ’28 threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another as Denison pulled away with a 21-point fourth quarter. The field hockey team won its fourth consecutive game, with Lulu Keil ’29 scoring twice in a 6-0 victory against Concordia University.
Big Red Weekend highlights
- Conversation with Denison President Adam Weinberg
- Volunteer Summit
- Young Alumni Awards lunch
- Tour of forthcoming data science center
- Football pep rally and tailgate
- Young alum gathering
- Bio Reserve tour
- Service day project: invasive species removal at Bio Reserve
- Battle of the Bands
- Planetarium show
