Kelsi Worrell, a 2016 graduate and Olympic champion swimmer, will serve as grand marshal for the 2017 Homecoming Parade on Oct. 13. The family-friendly is one of several signature events planned for the week-long “Welcome Home”-themed celebration from Oct. 7-14.

The week also includes several opportunities to give back. Alumni across the country are encouraged to participate in UofL Alumni/Cardinal Day of Service. Volunteer opportunities are available nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 7 through various UofL Alumni councils and chapters. Thanks to a partnership with UofL’s Office of Community Engagement, local alumni can also volunteer at locations across Louisville on Friday, Oct. 6. Register for either date. 

Cardinal supporters can “Raise Some L” during the annual UofL Day of Giving on Oct. 11. The 24-hour call to action helps fund essential areas of need across campus. Become a Raise Some L Ambassador to help spread the word and track your impact.

The Homecoming Golf Scramble tees off Monday, Oct. 9 at the UofL Golf Club in Simpsonville. The scramble is presented by Alumni Association board member and 1993 graduate Chris Puffer of Creative Capital Group. 

Other events for the week include the annual , the Class of 1967 and the Homecoming against Boston College.

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At the Olympic Swimming Trials this week in Omaha, Nebraska, Worrell pulled off a bit of an upset over Olympic veteran and 2012 gold medalist Dana Vollmer to win the 100 butterfly and punch her ticket to the Olympic Games in Rio in August. With her 100 butterfly victory, Worrell will also swim the third leg on the U.S. medley relay team.

She is the first Cardinal swimmer to ever qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team, and the second UofL athlete to represent the U.S. at these Games, along with now-WNBA player Angel McCoughtry.

During a after Monday night’s swim, Worrell said, “I don’t know if everything’s really sunk in, but I’m really excited and I have this huge relief off my shoulders … I wasn’t expecting to touch first so that was emotional; a dream come true.”

Worrell will also swim the 200 butterfly, 50 and 100 freestyle during the Olympic Trials this week. She is ranked third, fifth and seventh, respectively, in those events.

Prior to securing her status as an Olympian, the Mt. Holly, New Jersey, native established a long list of swimming and academic accomplishments. For starters, she is a four-time NCAA champion, an NCAA record holder, ACC Swimmer of the Year, Pan Am gold medalist, Arena Pro Series gold medalist, Honda Spirit Award winner, and two-time ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The Olympics are Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Swimming starts Aug. 6 and runs through Aug. 13.

UofL had 34 swimmers qualify for the Olympic Trials and is also sending swimmers Grigory Tarasevich (Russia), Joao De Lucca (Brazil), Marcelo Acosta (El Salvador), Carlos Claverie (Venezuela) and Tanja Kylliainen (Finland) to Rio. , Cardinal swimmers Alina Kendzior (Estonia) and Andrea Kneppers (Netherlands) are “on the bubble.”

Get to know more about Kelsi Worrell below: