A crowd of alumni, students and other community members gathered in the Campus Rec Center for the Black Alumni Council (BAC) SneakerBall Friday night, but these visitors weren’t dressed for a workout. 

Guests were clad in formal attire from the ankles up, but from the ankles down, the dress code called for ditching the dress shoes and high heels in favor of sneakers.

The SneakerBall was part of this year’s homecoming programming. This was the second year the BAC held the event, according to President Rensha Allen, who graduated from the Haile College of Business in 2006. 

“The SneakerBall is basically a party with a cause. You can get dressed up but keep it casual with your bottoms, so wear your best sneakers,” said Allen. 

The proceeds from the event are being donated to the council’s scholarship. Allen said that the BAC has been raising funds to create an endowed scholarship since 2022. Once $25,000 is accrued, Allen said the council can begin awarding the scholarship to help students with tuition, housing and book expenses. 

At the event, attendees enjoyed drinks from the bar, light bites and a 360-degree photo booth. DJ Pretty Boy Troy imbued the room with tunes while guests danced and interacted. 

The event was an opportunity for alumni to stay in touch with the campus and students to connect and network with past generations of NKU students.

Glennesha Mudd, who graduated from NKU in 2011 with a degree in psychology, said that her time at the university formed a foundation for her career. She said that the people and groups she formed bonds with, like NKU R.O.C.K.S., were integral to her growth as a person and student. Mudd went on to earn her Master’s degree in social work and is now a licensed therapist in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, she said.

Angel Chichester, who graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in marketing and communications in 2001, attended the ball with her son, Darius Briscoe, who is a current student at NKU.

“We have a legacy thing going on,” said Chichester.

And, of course, people’s outfits and sneakers stood out throughout the night. 

“People love to get fancy and dress up, but you know every now and then people don’t want to be walking around with their feet hurting , so it’s like, let’s put on a nice pair of sneakers and kind of jazz those up,” said Allen. 

Check out some of the night’s outfits that stole the show.