Welcome home, Spartans! Join past and present Spartans, friends and families Oct. 14-19 for Michigan State University’s homecoming week.

• Oct. 18, at 6 p.m., will kick off homecoming weekend with the annual homecoming parade throughout downtown East Lansing and across the MSU campus. The parade features the Spartan Marching Band, Michigan high school marching bands, MSU campus groups, community organizations, university officials, Sparty and more. Both parade registration and volunteer registrations are open from now until Oct. 3. 
• Oct. 19, Spartans take on the University of Iowa Hawkeyes in Spartan Stadium.

Traditions 

If you are on campus, make sure you partake in some MSU traditions like getting a picture with Sparty and the Spartan Statue, visiting the MSU gardens, eating at the MSU Dairy store and being sure to cheer “Go Green, Go White.” 

You can even participate in traditions off campus by participating in “Glow Green” where you illuminate your front porch, window, room or any space with a green light bulb.

Grand marshal 

This year's grand marshal is Sam Vincent, a 1985 MSU alum. Vincent studied communication arts and theater with an interest in broadcasting at the College of Arts and Letters. He was also a member of the MSU men's basketball team as a point guard.

After graduation, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics where he played two seasons and won an NBA championship ring. He also played for the Seattle SuperSonics, the Chicago Bulls and the Orlando Magic until he stopped playing in 1992 and began his esteemed coaching career.

Homecoming court 

Watch for the seniors on the homecoming court who represent the best of MSU, by showcasing leadership and dedication to Spartan spirit. 

• Tazkira Amin is in the College of Social Science and the Honors College, majoring in social work with minors in city environment; design and society; and global health and epidemiology 
• Kailyn Butler is in the Lyman Briggs College, majoring in neuroscience and human biology, with a minor in bioethics
• Erin Caldwell is in the College of Social Science, majoring in social work with minors in human behavior; social services; and resource management from individual, family and societal perspectives 
• Jerome Hamilton, Jr. is in the College of Social Science and Honors College majoring in political science pre-law and minoring in environmental social science 
• Mahak Keswani is in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, majoring in advertising management with minors in business, and entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Connor Le is in the College of Social Science, majoring in history and political science with minors in law, justice and public policy 
• Sanaye Lewis is in the College of Engineering and the Honors College, majoring in computer science with a minor in cognitive science 
• Niya Patel is in the Eli Broad College of Business and the Honors College, majoring in supply chain management with a minor in information technology 
• Abigail Rodriguez is in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, the College of Social Science and the Honors College, majoring in arts and humanities and political science pre-law with minors in Chicano/Latino studies and design justice 
• James Suggitt is in the College of Natural Science and the Honors College, majoring in biochemistry and biotechnology microbiology 
• Lily Wenkel is in the College of Social Science, majoring in political science, pre-law and psychology with minors in law, justice and public policy