Ashley Dickinson, Director of Marketing & Communications at Columbia Academy, believes the traditions that shape a school community are rarely confined to a classroom. They live in the moments that students carry with them long after graduation, the sounds, sights, and shared experiences that become part of a community’s identity for generations. At Columbia Academy, few traditions capture that spirit more powerfully than Homecoming Friday night.
For students, families, alumni, and longtime supporters, Homecoming is far more than a football game. It is a reunion, a celebration, and a reminder of the connections that continue to bind generations together. Dickinson says one of the most emotional parts of the evening is watching families return to the same campus that once shaped their own childhoods. “It has a special feeling,” she explains. “Families bring their children back to a place that meant so much to them growing up.”
That sense of continuity is woven into every detail of the night. The Homecoming court parade, the presentation of kindergarten girls escorted by cheerleaders, and the kindergarten boys leading the football team onto the field all create moments where the youngest students begin participating in traditions that have existed for decades.
And then there is the cannon.
Before kickoff, the sounding of the cannon signals more than the start of a football game. For alumni returning to campus, it is a nod to the former Columbia Military Academy. Dickinson describes it as “a thrilling start to every football game- a sound that you can feel in your chest.” It reconnects generations through shared memory and excitement.
The tradition symbolizes both reflection and renewal, honoring the memories of former students and cadets while creating new ones for current players, families, and children experiencing those traditions for the first time.
While Friday night football remains a centerpiece of school culture, the atmosphere surrounding Homecoming extends far beyond athletics. Columbia Academy intentionally creates opportunities for connection throughout the evening. Alumni and new families gather in designated areas with food and fellowship, allowing old friends to reconnect while newcomers begin building their own ties to the school community.
Children race around “the hill” beside the football field while alumni classes celebrate reunions and former graduates are recognized during halftime festivities. The school’s Alumni of the Year is also announced during the game, emphasizing the lasting relationship between the school and those who once walked its halls.
Those relationships are deeply connected to the school’s history as the former Columbia Military Academy. Though Columbia Academy has evolved over the years, many traditions from the CMA era continue to shape the school’s values and identity today.
The school’s red, white, and blue colors remain an homage to Columbia Military Academy, and each year CMA Day invites former cadets back to campus for chapel and lunch with current students. Dickinson says these gatherings are among the most meaningful traditions the school maintains.
“The CMA alumni are wise, knowledgeable men who usually served in our U.S. armed forces,” she says. “They are a powerful reminder of our school’s and country’s foundation.” During these visits, alumni share stories about their experiences at CMA, discussing the discipline, brotherhood, and preparation that shaped their lives. Students listen intently as the older generations recount wartime experiences, campus memories, and lessons learned long before smartphones and social media existed.
In today’s fast-moving world, Dickinson believes preserving these intergenerational relationships matters more than ever. The conversations between students and alumni help young people develop a deeper appreciation for history, service, sacrifice, and community. They also create a sense of belonging that stretches far beyond a single graduating class.
That enduring connection is perhaps most visible during graduation ceremonies when the CMA scholarship is presented. The scholarship, awarded to students entering the armed forces or those with family members who served, represents the continuation of service-minded values passed from one generation to the next. “It is always a special time during each graduation ceremony when a CMA alumnus presents the scholarship to the accepting student,” Dickinson says.
Even as communities across the country struggle with increasing disconnection, Columbia Academy continues investing heavily in traditions that strengthen relationships both on and off campus. The school recently created a dedicated alumni coordinator position to ensure former students remain connected to the school and its mission long after graduation.
Through athletic events, performances, reunions, and campus gatherings, Columbia Academy continues proving that traditions are about far more than nostalgia. They create anchors in people’s lives, reminders that they are part of something larger than themselves. For many families, the memories made under Friday night lights become lifelong touchstones, moments that define not only their school experience, but their sense of home, community, and belonging for years to come.
CABulldogs.org