
James Hoeck
University of Illinois Alumni Association President David Bambrey gives a speech on Oct. 15 at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center to start off Homecoming Week, which started with a 5K race that took place moments prior to Bambrey’s fountain kickoff addressment.

James Hoeck
Postdoctoral researchers Seemesh Bhaskar, Renato Azevedo and Samuel Olatunji stand in front of the fountain at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center for Homecoming Kickoff on Oct. 15. Official Homecoming events occurred from Oct. 15-22.

Attendees wait in line as food is served at the Homecoming International Day Celebration hosted at the University YMCA on Oct. 17.

James Hoeck
Homecoming International Day Celebration participants take their seats after receiving their meals. The event saw fun trivia presented during the day.

A cappella group Off The Record wins first place for the Global Talent Show hosted by International Student and Scholar Services at Lincoln Hall. Goody bags were given out to those who went to see the show that evening.

James Hoeck
Rashmi Ahire, second place winner of the Global Talent Show competition hosted at Lincoln Hall, receives an award as an outcome of the judges’ results on Oct. 17.

Jacoby Banks-Hull
Greeks Support Homecoming BBQ event was held on the South Quad on Oct. 18. The day also saw a magic show featuring “America’s Got Talent” finalist Derek Hughes and the FAA Friends & FamILLy Celebration event.

Sofi Klein
Chancellor Robert Jones enthusiastically speaks at the Illini Chabad grand opening on Oct. 19. Jones presents the house in his speech as he references the journey that it took to reach this moment.

Sofi Klein
Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel and Gov. JB Pritzker exchange thoughts at the Illini Chabad grand opening on Oct. 19. The two had many other exchanges throughout the ceremony.

Sofi Klein
Gov. JB Pritzker and Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel cut the ribbon at the Illini Chabad opening on Oct. 19. The moment was filled with excitement for the community.

Alyssa Shih
Unified choreographed performances that took place during the Homecoming parade on Oct. 20.

Matt Stepp
The 2023 Homecoming Grand Marshals were Kimiko Gunji, founder of Japan House, and Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud, current director of Japan House.

Matt Stepp
The Kingfisher, one of the University’s student-nominated candidates for a new mascot, makes their way down the parade on Oct. 20.

Anika Khandavalli
Japan House hosts a matcha café event as a part of Oct. 20’s many Homecoming festivities.

James Hoeck
Members of the Illinois men’s basketball team raise their fist in the air moments before they begin their first exhibition match at the State Farm Center on Oct. 20. Illinois will have its second home exhibition match this Sunday against Kansas.

James Hoeck
Redshirt junior forward Dain Dainja dunks the ball during the first half of the Illinois exhibition match against Ottawa on Oct. 20. The first half of the game ended in a score of 59 for Illinois and 9 for Ottawa.

Elena Baker
Junior guard and forward Luke Goode blocks Ottawa as the team inches closer to the hoop. The Illinois face-off against Ottawa ended in a final score of 116-65 in favor of Illinois on Oct. 20.

Sophomore quarterback Luke Altmyer stares as he awaits the time to leave the tunnel on Oct. 21. The Illini played the Wisconsin Badgers, which ended in a Badger win 25-21.

Sofi Klein
Freshman wide receiver Malik Elzy tosses the football to a teammate before the Homecoming football game on Oct. 21.

Candice Zhou
Redshirt junior Wisconsin offensive lineman Jack Nelson rams into Illinois’ freshman offensive linebacker Calvin Smith.