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Octavia cheers into a microphone while Aubie and the cheerleaders cheer behind her

Academy Award-winning actress and alumna Octavia Spencer led cheers during the pep rally on Friday evening.

Homecoming 2025 welcomed members of the Auburn Family back to the Plains for a weekend of festivities and a friendly showdown between the Auburn Tigers and the University of South Alabama Jaguars.  

One very special guest returned to her alma mater to lead the festivities: award-winning actress Octavia Spencer. 

Spencer graduated from Auburn in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in English and minors in journalism and theatre. In 2011, she won Best Supporting Actress awards from the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild for her role as Minny Jackson in “The Help.” In 2017, she earned Best Supporting Actress nominations for her portrayal of Dorothy Vaughan in “Hidden Figures.” 

Spencer held the title of both Parade Grand Marshal and Honorary Mic Person for the weekend.  

On Friday afternoon, Spencer sat down with students in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the Telfair B. Peet Theatre for an informal Q&A session, where she offered candid stories and heartfelt advice to students hoping to pursue a career in the arts. 

A young woman holding roses hugs Aubie the Tiger

Mallory Holland, a senior from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in industrial and systems engineering, was named Miss Homecoming 2025 during halftime at the game. 

Later that evening, Spencer led the vibrant Homecoming Parade through downtown Auburn. Students, alumni and members of the community gathered to celebrate the occasion. The parade was followed by a pep rally on Samford Lawn and an evening of live music by Nashville Nation. 

On Saturday morning, Spencer led the cheerleaders in their run onto Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium and the first “War Eagle” chant before kickoff. 

The environment in Jordan-Hare Stadium was electric as fans took part in pregame festivities and cheered when the marching band and athletes entered the field. Mallory Holland, a senior from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in industrial and systems engineering, was named Miss Homecoming 2025 during halftime at the game.