Rena Uddin
Biology, Class of 2027
From Tulsa, Oklahoma
The shared pride we all have for our university is truly the binding glue of Homecoming. OU has so much to offer and so much to celebrate. From research innovations, excelling programs, and our sense of community both away and on campus, Homecoming is a moment to celebrate the achievements and excellence of the OU Family.
From October 20 to 25, the University of Oklahoma celebrates the OU Family with the 110th Homecoming Week. The week will be full of campus tradition, daily programming, competitions, and more. Led by Campus Activities Council, OU’s student programming branch, Homecoming is a chance for thousands of current students, future Sooners, alumni, and fans to come together in their pride for OU.
This year's theme, RAH!KLAHOMA, captures what sets OU apart from so many others: the spirit of a Sooner. RAH!KLAHOMA will reflect in every student event from sidewalk chalking and banner-making to a pep rally and float-building.
For Rena Uddin, the Executive Chair of Homecoming Week and an OU junior, there is nothing that compares to the energy of campus during Homecoming. Rena first experienced Homecoming like so many do—as a freshman on campus. After joining in the celebration, she knew she wanted to become part of the magic that makes this campus tradition possible.
“During the school year, it’s not often that we have a week’s worth of events that unite our student body, alumni, and faculty, altogether,” she said. “The spirit of OU lives in the people, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch when we all reunite for Homecoming.”
With so many moving pieces from event planning to marketing, Homecoming is only made possible through the collaboration and creativity of a student-led team. It takes months of planning to bring the spirit of OU to life with a team of student leaders specializing across several areas.
“We have operations staff who handle finances, community engagement who work with students, Homecoming royalty, and alumni, and our programming team that puts all of the events together,” Rena said. “All of this work is what brings Homecoming to life.”
That dedication shows in every event. From the Friday Night Glow Parade, which annually draws more than 5,000 attendees and is one of OU’s oldest Homecoming traditions, to competitions in art, trivia, and dance, every day is full of the familiar camaraderie so many in the OU Family have experienced on campus.
“We have visitors from all over the country who come to celebrate our university,” Rena said. “This week isn’t just special for current students, but OU alumni as well.”
All celebrations will culminate on Saturday, when the Oklahoma Sooners take the field against Ole Miss in a highly anticipated Homecoming matchup. To see the full schedule of events, explore the official Homecoming Week programming lineup.
