Alumni Homecoming Returns in Person

On Oct. 14, UAA’s largest alumni tradition returned to the Alaska Airlines Center after two years of virtual celebrations. Nearly 400 UAA graduates packed the AAC auxiliary gym for Homecoming Luncheon to reconnect with their alma mater while raising donations to benefit UAA programs and scholarships. In just one hour, the gathered alumni raised more than $20,000.

This year’s theme was diversity, equity and inclusion, with the program featuring stories of two alumni who changed history through their accomplishments: guest speaker Kenneth McCoy, B.A. Justice ‘96, the first diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Providence Alaska; and keynote speaker Lauren Magiera, B.A. Journalism and Public Communications ‘09, the first sports anchor for Chicago WGN News.

Big thanks to sponsors Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Siemens, R&M Consultants, GCI and UAA College of Arts and Sciences!

Lauren Magiera’s life has always been about the present. As a Seawolf gymnast, thinking too far beyond the maneuver at hand during high-pressure and physically demanding situations could lead to a detrimental slip-up. As a sports journalist, every second counts when a passionate fan base eagerly waits to hear updates on their favorite team.

Right now, Magiera finally has the time to reflect on where she’s been and contemplate where she’s going.

Earlier in 2022, Magiera’s six-year contract as the first female sports anchor for Chicago WGN News came to a close. Her landmark tenure serendipitously kicked off with the Chicago Cubs’ historic World Series win in 2016 after a 108-year losing streak, continued with her covering the ensuing celebration (the seventh largest gathering in recorded human history with an estimated five million attendees), a trip to the White House, and throughout the country covering the Chicago Bears.

Prior to joining WGN, Magiera was the first to work for the Green Bay Packers in their in-house communications position. Further back, after graduating from UAA in 2009, she became the 10 o’clock sports anchor and eventually was sports director for KIMO before her Alaska journey culminated in her taking on the position of sports anchor for KTUU.

“That’s one of my favorite parts about being in sports: it’s the common denominator,” said Magiera in a 2018 interview with UAA. “No matter where you’re from, no matter your political or spiritual beliefs, your socioeconomic status, everybody is there to suffer during the hardships and celebrate during the championships together.”

Rather than renew her contract with WGN, Magiera decided to use this moment of respite to think about the next stage of her life and career, mirroring how the journalism industry is itself going through a transition in the way that news is delivered and consumed.

“News is always evolving, and it’s one of the reasons why I love this industry,” said Magiera. “But the days of turning on the ten o’clock news to find out who won the game is a thing of the past. If you’re a fan, you know who won the game. The industry has been good to me, so I might go back. But being a student-athlete, you learn that when you fall down, you get up and you do it better.”

Wherever life leads her, Magiera credits her strong foundation to her time as a UAA student-athlete and as a rising journalist in Anchorage, which is a message she reiterated during her keynote address, perfectly timed to this year’s reinstatement of the gymnastics program at UAA.

“The skill set I’ve used to find success was developed in me through the university, through the community, through my professors and through the coaching staff — it really does take a village to develop someone and to set them up for success,” said Magiera. “That’s why the gymnastics program being reinstated is so pivotal, because so many student-athletes are going to continue having the same opportunities I had.”

Read more about Lauren Magiera’s previous role as a sports anchor in Green & Gold News.