The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Homecoming celebration is set for Oct. 5-11. The annual experience brings together alumni, students, faculty, staff, and fans from across the country and surrounding communities.
UAPB’s Homecoming activities include a parade that will feature floats and marching bands, along with concerts, Greek step shows, reunions, open houses, a golf tournament, outdoor festivals, and a football game against Westgate Christian College.
UAPB welcomes alumnus Perry Stuckey as this year’s Homecoming parade grand marshal. He most recently served as chair of the search committee for UAPB’s chancellor.
This year’s Homecoming theme is: “Trailblazing the Black & Gold.” Henry Brooks IV, UAPB faculty and chair of the homecoming committee, shared insight on the theme’s meaning.
“UAPB Homecoming 2025 will be a celebration not only of our proud past and a welcoming home for our alumni, family, and friends, but also of where we are headed at this critical juncture in our institution’s history. This year’s theme, ‘Trailblazing the Black & Gold,’ acknowledges the arrival of our new UAPB Chancellor, Anthony Graham, Ph.D. We’re blazing new trails in research, science, music, arts, entertainment, education, and student engagement, while also giving a wink and nod to the popular trail ride culture and the hit song ‘Boots on the Ground’ for a spirit of fun. This homecoming is about honoring our legacy while boldly charting the course for our future,” Brooks said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The UAPB Homecoming 2025 is a series of events the community won’t want to miss.
EVENTS
Homecoming daily activities are available at uapb.edu/homecoming-2025. Highlights include:
Oct. 5 — UAPB kicks off the celebration with UAPB Black and Gold Sunday — UAPB Day — at 10:30 a.m. at Full Counsel Church-Pine Bluff, 517 S. Cherry St. This free event is a celebration of UAPB’s unity and spirit, according to the news release.
Oct. 11 — UAPB hosts its annual parade at 9:30 a.m. on Main Street in Downtown Pine Bluff. Individuals interested in participating in the parade must complete an application by Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. An application and information are available at the homecoming link. The finale also includes tailgating and other activities.
Oct. 11 — The Homecoming Football Game features the UAPB Golden Lions taking on Westgate Christian College Ravens. Kickoff is at 2:10 p.m. at Simmons Bank Field.
PARADE MARSHAL
UAPB will welcome Perry Stuckey as the parade grand marshal. Before retiring in January 2023, Stuckey was a senior executive with Eastman, a global specialty materials company with operations in more than 100 countries that produces a broad range of products. He had responsibility for Eastman’s human resources strategy and services globally, which included global talent acquisition and talent management, learning and leadership development, inclusion and diversity, total rewards and benefits, medical, aviation, and facilities.
Stuckey joined Eastman in 2011 and served as the chief architect and designer of the human capital management strategy that underpinned the company’s transformation over the last several years, according to the release.
He completed his undergraduate studies at UAPB. He obtained a Master of Science degree at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Stuckey firmly believes in the principle of “thinking more highly of others than you do yourself” and has devoted more than 40 years of his life to mentoring and assisting young adults and individuals from socially and economically challenging backgrounds to realize their potential and be successful.
“He believes that God has called us all to serve by sharing our time, talent, and treasure for the greater benefit of society,” according to the release.
He and his wife, Vivian Dorn Stuckey, are sponsors of three scholarship programs that they personally fund for deserving students at UAPB.
Stuckey served as a member of Central Baptist Church in Kingsport, Tenn. Central Baptist is the oldest African American Baptist church in Kingsport and has a food pantry ministry that delivers a monthly supply of groceries to hundreds of needy citizens in the community.
Stuckey is also a member of the board of directors of MAU, a private company headquartered in Augusta, Ga. He is a member of the executive leadership council based in Washington, D.C. He served on the advisory board of the Center on Executive Succession, is a board member of the National Academy of Human Resources and was elected as a fellow to the National Academy of Human Resources in 2021.
For more than eight years, he served on the Tennessee Governor’s Board for the Coalition of Better Health, where he was chair of the Compensation Committee for six years.
“His influence and leadership have not gone unnoticed. Savoy Magazine named him as one of the top 100 influential Black executives in corporate America, a testament to his dedication and impact. His achievements inspire us all to strive for excellence and make a difference in our communities,” according to the release.
He and his wife have been married for 37 years. They have one son, Quenton Stuckey, who is a graduate of New York University.
To stay up to date on all the latest official UAPB Homecoming 2025 events and activities, visit https://uapb.edu/homecoming-2025/
