43
Hundreds line Fifth Avenue to view YSU's 76th homecoming parade
YOUNGSTOWN
Gallery
Several hundred people lined Fifth Avenue to enjoy the floats, antique and unique cars, the Youngstown State University Marching Pride and Saturday’s balmy fall temperatures during YSU’s 76th Homecoming Celebration.
Also participating in the parade were contingents from the YSU Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and the Tri-State Marine Corps League Detachment 494, who were applauded as they marched by.
The theme of the parade, “Ghosts of ‘Guins Past: Legends of YSU,” was incorporated into the designs of the 10 parade floats that were judged.
The winning float, which took the $3,000 first prize, was built by Alpha Xi Delta sorority and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. The second prize of $2,000 went to a float created by Alpha Omicrom Pi sorority and Alpha Phi Delta fraternity; and the Residence Hall Association’s creation won the $1,000 third-place prize.
Among the float titles were “The Legend of Wick House,” and “Tressel ... The Legend Continues.” Another paid tribute to Mark Brungard, the only YSU quarterback to direct the Penguins to two national championships.
Among others lined up on Wood Street preparing for the parade to move north up Fifth in a Sweeney Chevrolet were Jada Hines, a 2006 graduate of YSU and founder of Y.O.U.R. for a Purpose Foundation, and the organization’s 2016 Youngstown Queen, Elena Yemma of Poland.
The foundation offers the opportunity for underprivileged young women and men who have overcome some obstacle in their life and are ready to further their education; and provides grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 for school supplies or tuition for the first year, and upon graduation, will offer another amount towards graduate-level experience.
YSU President Jim Tressel, while posing with students beside the Tressel-mobile before the start of the parade, described the parade as “impressive.”
He said it was a great day: “The sun is shining, there are lots of students involved,” and he predicted a win for the YSU Penguins football team.
Sarah Davidson of Youngstown, and her granddaughter, Faith Davidson of New Waterford, were among the several hundred who basked in the sunshine waiting for the parade to begin at 2 p.m.
Along the parade route, Tracey Innocent of North Jackson, who brought the children of two of her friends, Jackson Vitelli, 10, and Michael Gensamer, 12, enjoyed the parade, saying it was “nice to see all the support.”
GiGi and Robert Donadee of Boardman had a special reason for watching the parade and then attending the football game later in the afternoon: Their daughter, Tiffany, is a freshman YSU cheerleader.
“We have been to every game; we even went to the West Virginia game,” the Donadees said.
Two YSU freshmen, Beverly Nelson of Niles and Evelyn Koch of Omaha, Neb., both members of Pella Penguins, an a’capella singing group, enjoyed their first Homecoming Parade as students.
Koch called it “pretty cool,” and Nelson said she “enjoyed seeing people I recognize” in the procession.
Another couple who are Penguin football season ticket-holders and YSU graduates, Dr. Morren Greenburg and his wife, Sherry of Hermitage, Pa., were impressed with the parade and festivities.
Said Sherry, who received a bachelor of science in nursing at YSU and retired as director of Sharon Regional Health System’s School of Nursing program, “This is the best parade in years.”