Homecoming 2025: Vikings Show Up in Full Force
See all photos from Homecoming here.
King School’s campus came alive in a sea of school colors as the community gathered for this year’s Homecoming. Students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff turned out in full force to celebrate Viking pride, proving once again that when it matters most, Vikings show up.
“Homecoming reminds us that Vikings always show up, whether it’s to cheer, to play, or to reconnect. The energy and pride this weekend capture everything we love about King,” said Head of School Carol Maoz.
The festivities began on Friday with a spirited Pep Rally. “I want you to be loud,” Student Council President Stephen Blanco ’26 urged his classmates. And loud it got, setting up the tone for a vibrant weekend. “This being my 13th homecoming (and last as a student), I came in with aspirations to make it memorable,” said Steven; He got his wish.
That night, alumni explored campus updates, gathered at a cocktail party, and those who attended the original all-boys King School celebrated the 150th anniversary of their school, with a special evening for the alumni of the Classes of 1875-1988.
The dinner honored King School’s rich history: founded in 1875 by Dartmouth graduate Hiram King at the request of several local families, the school began as a private boys’ school in downtown Stamford.
It was at this event that Rick Fulcher K’85 shared, “I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for King.” Bob Benjamin shared his perspective as a faculty member at the time: “King gave me a sense of belonging, where everyone knew your name.”
“Here, I got to try and explore and experience everything that King had to offer, everything that this community had to offer. We came from all different walks of life, but here we were 'Kingsmen.' Now we're alumni, and that connection hasn't broken over 45 years,” added Jim Becker K’80.
Saturday brought families together for a full day of Viking spirit.
The first-ever Remembrance Ceremony took place early in the morning, offering a reflective moment, honoring alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees whose contributions continue to strengthen King today. “King gave me the confidence I have today,” said Kathy Ditesheim Krieger KLHT’81 after the service.
The day continued with waves of blue, gold, and red setting the backdrop as children enjoyed games and inflatables, athletes played with might, food trucks and bake sales buzzed, and parents, teachers, and alumni reconnected.
“Homecoming is one of my favorite days on campus,” said Board Chair Mi-Sun Freeman P’22,’29. “It’s a great day to support our teams, catch up with friends, and welcome new families.”
PA President Hillary Rosenthal P’32 agreed: “King Homecoming is where memories are made, friendships are celebrated, and Viking Pride is unstoppable.”
“Joy and belonging, that’s what it means,” said Alexia Vassiliou P’28. James Kramer P’36 added, “I’m excited to see all the great school pride here at King, and to see all the students being as excited as they are, and showing all their Viking pride.”
Throughout the day, parents and faculty continued to echo the spirit.
“Seeing everybody come together is really special, and such a great example for the children, from my little ones all the way up to the seniors,” added Prekindergarten teacher Adrienne Peddy.
“Homecoming is my favorite King event. It brings our entire community together, from lower school students to upper school students, to families and alumni, and it just shows what a great community we have here at King and how all of our involvement together brings forth just such fun, light, and energy,” said Danuree Gambino P’27, ’29.
For Aya DeSimone P’28, attending her fifth Homecoming, the joy was in reconnecting: “What I love about it is that I get to connect with people that I don’t see as often.”
The bands filled the campus with music. “We're really excited to have both our middle school bands and our upper school bands representing us today. It's always a great way to show off the wonderful music program that we have,” noted Performing Arts Chair Garrett Mendez.
Mendez also reflected on the power of the King School community. “Homecoming is always just such a great representation of what it means to build a community over a long period of time, because you get people who are just starting in this community to alumni who have graduated in the 1960s, all coming back because of what this community means.”
Mia Little ’31, who plays the trumpet and performed during the day. “It’s a really fun experience where you can hang out with friends and get to know new students,” she said.
Romany Shoemaker ’31 reflected on the many years of Homecomings she has enjoyed at King. “I’ve been at King since pre-K, and I’m in seventh grade now, so it’s been a real tradition, and it’s a lot about friendships and teamwork.”
Director of Dining Services Lelio “Junior” Vieux captured the spirit of the day after delighting attendees with a delicious culinary showcase. “After 18 years, I am always looking forward to this day. Whenever we have the alumni here, the kids who started from prek and kindergarten, from middle school, and high school, I enjoy seeing them coming back to the school.
Athletics were the heartbeat of the weekend, with families lining the sidelines. “It’s great how we line up all of the athletic events and get everyone on the sidelines cheering and supporting our athletes. It means a lot to the spirit of our school,” said college counselor and coach Emily Prince.
A highlight of the day took place during the halftime of the football game. Kingsmen alumni were invited to the field and presented the school with a football from the 1962-63 undefeated football team, and the first team to play on the now Segalas Family field. The school, in return, gifted the alumni with a current football.
Alumni Daniel Kulaguz ’19 and Dean Pigott ’19 came back to support the teams. “It’s always joyful. It’s good to see the community and to see everyone coming out, and you know, you have the different sporting events. Takes me back to a time when I made some of my best friends in my life,” said Kulaguz. Pigott added, “I look forward to seeing all my old teachers, all the role models that helped me along the way. I really look forward to coming; I played on the soccer team my whole time here, from fifth grade onwards. And I was really looking forward to coming to see the boys who followed my footsteps.”
From pep rally cheers to the roar of the sidelines, Homecoming 2025 was a living display of school spirit.
“There’s something remarkably joyful about more than 1,000 people gathering around a shared experience. King unites generations and lasts a lifetime,” said Colleen Dealy, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at King.
In just a few months, Steven Blanco will graduate from King School, but he knows this won’t be his last homecoming. “I look forward to the new memories I can make as an alumnus at Homecoming in the future.”
King School is very grateful to the Parents' Association members for their dedication, time, and effort in making the 2025 Homecoming Weekend a great success. Their responsibilities included managing the School Store, coaching the Spirit Squad, and baking and selling delicious treats. Kudos also to the King School staff who helped organize this community event.