Homecoming festivities underway this week at Fairmont State
Trending
FAIRMONT - Fairmont State University wants to say hello to you all over again.
"Meet Me on the Hill," is the theme for this week's Homecoming festivities at the school's main campus, which sits on a wooded rise overlooking Locust Avenue in the Marion County city.
The annual return to familiar environs is a reminder of the school's place in north-central West Virginia, President Mike Davis said - both geographically and in the collective heart of its graduates.
"Homecoming is a cherished tradition that brings generations of Falcons together," Davis said.
"It celebrates the people, experiences and values that make Fairmont State so special. It's a reminder that no matter where life takes us, Fairmont State will always be a place we can call home."
Life took graduate Robert Tinnell to Los Angeles for several years, where the filmmaker and author broke into the business directing videos for MTV.
These days, he's back in north-central West Virginia, as the head of Fairmont-based Allegheny Image Factory, a film and television production company that often uses Fairmont as a backdrop for its works.
"RIVER," the factory's most recent film which was shot and produced in Marion and Monongalia counties, had its debut earlier this month at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Tinnell and his wife, author Shannon Colaianni Tinnell, are marshals of the 2026 Homecoming parade, which steps off at 6 p.m. Thursday on Adams Street downtown.
It was 20 years ago when the couple first partnered with Main Street Fairmont and community volunteers to launch the Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival, a nod to the region's roots in Calabria, Italy, and inspired Robert Tinnell's graphic novel and feature film of the same name.
Over the years, Tinnell and his camera have helped produce commercials and other video campaigns for the school.
"We're so pleased to recognize Bob and Shannon as this year's parade marshals," Director of Alumni Relations Amy Snively said. "We are grateful for all they do."
The Homecoming game pitting Fairmont State against Glenville State is 2 p.m. Saturday at Duvall-Rosier Field.
Visit https://www.fairmontstate.edu/alumni/homecoming.aspx for a full list of Homecoming events and capsule biographies of all the alumni honorees.