For William Lewos ’90, returning to Worcester State University to watch his grandson Nathan Lewos ’25, captain of the men’s soccer team, play during Homecoming was a chance to reflect on his own transformative experience as a student decades earlier.
After high school, he had attended junior college briefly, but left to join the Coast Guard during the Vietnam era and always regretted not getting his degree. After starting a family, Lewos found his way back to college, balancing work, family responsibilities, and his studies to earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from Worcester State in 1990, even as he coached sports and Boy Scouts.
Lewos said that watching his grandson thrive at the same institution was a source of immense pride, underscoring the lasting impact of his determination to complete his education.
“He was so happy,” his wife, Diane Lewos, said. “He told me, ‘I don’t think I’m going to graduation.’ I said, ‘Oh, yes, you’re going to graduation.’ The three kids and I got here at seven in the morning because it was out on the field, and we wanted to get good seats. I believe he smiled more that day while getting the diploma that he did when we got married.”
Lancer pride and joy were evident all over campus on Saturday, Sept. 28, as more than 3,000 alumni, faculty, students, and their families took part in 2024 Homecoming & Family Weekend and the kickoff of the university’s 150th anniversary celebration. The festivities included a carnival with rides and free food, a slate of family-friendly activities like bingo and a petting zoo, a Multicultural Experience tent, a lineup of exciting Lancer athletics games and an ALANA/BIPOC reception at the president’s house. With clear and sunny weather, the celebration was the largest Homecoming in years.
First-year student Caily Cook said the 150th anniversary of Worcester State is a significant milestone that makes her feel proud as a student. The anniversary represents the longevity and success of the university, she said, which she finds impressive as a new student. “It’s crazy how it’s been that long since Worcester State became a school,” she said. “It shows how great the school has turned out to be so that people keep wanting to come here.”
As Cook and her parents headed into the carnival at Homecoming, she said she particularly appreciates the caring and supportive environment she has found at Worcester State. Coming from a small high school, Cook says the wide world of college has been an exciting transition, allowing her to connect with new people who share her passion for criminal justice.
Zoe Athanasopoulos may have graduated from Worcester State University last May, but the field hockey community she built over her four years on campus has kept her coming back. Even as she pursues a master’s degree at Worcester State, she remains an active part of the team and attended Homecoming, where she found a vibrant event that exceeded her expectations.
“I think it’s really cool,” she said. “The carnival is really great and so are all the food trucks, and everyone seems to be having a really good time. I know the last few years, because of Covid and everything, Homecoming’s been a little different, but I think this is the best one so far.”
For sophomore Sophia Piekarski, Homecoming was a chance to show her parents around campus for the first time. She said she chose to attend Worcester State primarily because of its relatively small size, personalized attention, and strong focus on helping students find jobs after graduation.
“When I first came in, I was extremely nervous because I was coming off of a gap year as well,” she said. “But everyone here, people and staff alike, were so nice. They all care so much. One of the things I love the most is how much they care about our future after we graduate and how they will help us set up a job for ourselves. I feel like that’s something you don’t necessarily get with some of the other schools.”
Sophia’s mother, Dawn Piekarski, said she was pleased by Sophia’s decision to attend Worcester State. “I thought it was going to be a really great fit based on the size and all the classes and all of the opportunities that she has available to her here,” she said.
Karen Fotos of West Boylston and her daughter, Belicia Halkias, a junior at Worcester State, bonded over stuffing plush toys, one of several arts and crafts activities offered in the Student Center during Homecoming. They were making little teddy bears that sported tiny Worcester State T-shirts.
Karen, a math teacher who earned her master’s degree at Worcester State, said Homecoming gave her a chance to connect with the campus community. “I came here for my master’s, so I didn’t really get involved in events like this,” she said. “So, this is actually really nice. It’s a lot of fun.”
Karen said she decided to come to Worcester State for her master’s when Belicia was still a little girl. “I grew up in Worcester, so it was great to have an education program close by while I was able to work and raise my daughter,” she said.
Belicia said she chose Worcester State because of the university’s strong education program, which is what she is interested in, and because it is close to home, which is important to her.
Karen said she was pleased when Belicia decided to attend Worcester State. “I was happy because even though she lives on campus, she’s still really close to home, so I could see her anytime I wanted,” she said.
The teddy bear fur was flying as Shaylynne Shuler, assistant professor in the Health Sciences Department, and her four young children pulled wads of stuffing from a big ball so they could each plump up a little bear. As her children, ages 6 to 11, focused on their handiwork, Shuler said Homecoming had been a hit with them. “This is an especially good activity,” she said. “It’s perfect. They’re all excited about it.”
She said she sees Worcester State’s 150th anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate the school’s history and evolution.
“The 150th anniversary showcases how Worcester has evolved over time and how the school has adapted to serve the ever-changing group of students,” she said. Worcester State is doing a better job of mirroring the more diverse demographics of the city, she said, which should help ensure the school is around for another 150 years.
Photos by Jullian Valadares
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