As Lincoln University celebrates its Centennial Homecoming, the university’s traditions serve as a reminder that the college experience extends far beyond the classroom. For generations of Lincoln Lions, campus organizations have provided spaces for students to discover their passions, build lifelong connections, and express themselves.
Community Stage, an annual Homecoming event showcasing student performance organizations, brings those experiences together, giving students an opportunity to represent their organizations while celebrating the talent and culture that define Lincoln.
Through stepping, dancing, and modeling, students transform the stage into more than a place for entertainment. It becomes a reflection of their dedication, creativity, and connection to the university. For performers like Ramiah Anderson, Lovette Saah, and Ka’rynn Hawkins, Community Stage represents the importance of coming together as a community while contributing to a tradition that continues to shape the Lincoln experience.
Anderson, a sophomore business management major and dancer with Inferno Dance Company, said Community Stage is an opportunity for students to celebrate the work that happens long before the curtain rises.
“A moment where we come as a Lion community and really be there for each other,” Anderson said. “We support one another, and weeks of practices pay off. The moments of being on the stage as an Inferno Dance member come into light.”
Anderson believes the significance of the events extends beyond performing. By bringing together students who participate in campus organizations and those who do not, Community Stage creates an environment where the university community can connect through a shared experience.
“It’s a time where we come as a community,” she said. “People who aren’t in orgs and people who are in orgs come together. It brings a community of people and friends, and it unites us as one instead of being individuals.”
Anderson said that unity is part of what makes performing during Homecoming meaningful. She explained that Community Stage gives some students their first opportunity to perform in front of the Lincoln community, allowing them to experience the excitement of seeing their preparation pay off.
As a member of Inferno, Anderson has learned that being part of a performance organization requires more than talent. It also demands time management, responsibility, and commitment. Through her involvement, she has developed relationships that make her feel connected to campus.
“Dancing and being with my sisters and brothers make me happy, and it helps me feel centered,” she said.
That sense of belonging is reflected in her view of Lincoln’s campus culture. Anderson believes student showcases provide a break from academic responsibilities while allowing students to support their friends and celebrate the differences that make each organization unique.
“Every organization has a different type of swag to it,” Anderson said. “Just watching that show that we are not all the same, but we are all Lions.”
While dance gives Anderson an opportunity to express herself through movement, stepping offers another way for students to demonstrate teamwork, discipline, and school pride. Saah, a sophomore business management major and captain of Reconstruction Step Team, sees Community Stage as a platform for organizations to connect with the university community.
“To me, Community Stage means to have a platform and bring people together to enjoy representing their community for a positive impact,” Saah said.
As the only step team on campus, Reconstruction has a distinctive role in Lincoln’s performance culture. Through their routines, the team showcases the creativity and dedication required to step up while contributing to the energy of Homecoming.
“Being that the Reconstruction Step Team is the only step team on campus, we have a unique opportunity to build, bring energy, creativity, and unity to Lincoln University,” Saah said. “We represent by showcasing our talent, dedication, and school spirit.”
For Saah, representing Reconstruction isn’t just about a strong performance. Being part of the team has allowed her to develop leadership skills, build relationships, and become more involved in university life. As captain, she also understands the importance of representing an organization whose members work together toward a common goal.
Her participation in Community Stage during Homecoming carries a personal meaning, reflecting both her growth and the history of the institution she represents.
“Participating in a campus tradition means being part of something bigger than ourselves,” she said. “It is an opportunity to honor the history, culture, and legacy of our university while creating new memories for future generations.”
That connection between personal growth and institutional legacy also resonates with Hawkins, a senior mathematics major and model with WeAreOne Modeling. Through modeling, Hawkins sees Community Stage as an opportunity to show a different form of artistic expression while representing her organization and connecting with other students.
Hawkins believes the event allows the Lincoln community to recognize the talent students develop outside their academic pursuits. Beyond attending classes and working toward degrees, students have opportunities to explore their interests, build relationships, and discover passions that shape their college experiences.
“Community Stage gives student organizations a chance to contribute to that celebration and show everyone what makes Lincoln special,” Hawkins said.
For Hawkins, participating in a performance organization also creates a sense of family and belonging. Being part of a team has allowed her to pursue opportunities she once hoped to experience while building memories that have become part of her Lincoln journey.
She also believes student showcases are important because they allow Black students to demonstrate their talents in spaces beyond the classroom while balancing their academic responsibilities with their extracurricular interests.
“I think the performance brings excitement and energy for students to come together and celebrate Lincoln and create a passion for not only pursuing a degree but also a passion for extracurricular activities or hobbies,” she said.
Although stepping, dancing, and modeling each provide different ways for students to express themselves, the three performers share a belief that Community Stage represents something larger than an individual performance. It creates space for students to celebrate their interests, support their peers, and contribute to the culture that makes Lincoln distinctive.
That shared experience takes on added meaning during the university’s Centennial Homecoming. As students participate in traditions that connect them to the institution’s past, they also create memories that become part of their own college experiences. For the performers, being on stage means contributing to a celebration that includes students, alumni, and members of the wider Lincoln community.
Hawkins hopes audiences recognize that attending an HBCU means embracing the experiences and traditions that exist beyond the classroom.
“I hope everyone takes away from Community Stage that being a part of an HBCU is more than just going to class,” Hawkins said. “It’s an experience for us as Black students to enjoy what being a part of an HBCU means, the traditions we share, and that we can enjoy the art of being a college student in many different ways.”
