Southeastern celebrates Homecoming Week Oct. 8-14 with a super hero spin
Friday, September 28, 2018
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HOMECOMING SPONSOR - Southeastern Louisiana University celebrates Homecoming Week, Oct. 8 – 14, with a theme of “Have No Fear, Roomie is Here!” Hammond Square is sponsoring this year’s Homecoming festivities. From left are Assistant Director of Alumni Programming Jenni O’Neil, Executive Director of Alumni Relations Michelle Biggs, Owner of JC Consultants Charlotte Lyons, and Assistant Property Manager at Stirling Properties Claire Draper.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University will celebrate Homecoming Week Oct.
8 – 14 with a myriad of spirited activities capped by tailgating, reunions, a parade
and football action in Strawberry Stadium.
With a theme of “Have No Fear, Roomie is Here,” Homecoming 2018 is being sponsored
by Hammond Square, with the Southeastern Student Government Association sponsoring
all student-related activities. The week culminates with Homecoming Day Saturday,
Oct. 13, when the Lions take on Houston Baptist at 4 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
Homecoming Week will offer a number of time-honored traditions, such as Gumbo
YaYa for students, campus and community decorating contests, an alumni art exhibit,
and the FeLions’ Homecoming luncheon.
The celebration begins on Monday with Business Week, Oct. 8-12, which features
a variety of lectures by specialists in numerous phases of business. The National
Pan-Hellenic Council Black Family Reunion is set for Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Student
Union Mall.
On Tuesday, Oct. 9, the action begins at 2 p.m. when students and faculty battle
it out in the Phi Kappa Phi Quiz Bowl in the Student Union Theater. Tuesday evening
is also “Give Back Night” at LaCarreta, where a portion of the sales generated from
loyal Lion fans from 5 – 9 p.m. will be donated to the Alumni Association.
On Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students will enjoy free food
and fun on campus at Gumbo YaYa, where the 2018 Homecoming court will be introduced
to the student body.
Also on tap from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. is a book signing at the Southeastern Bookstore
by Southeastern Alumna, author and life coach Erin Wheeler, who will be signing copies
of her book “Geaux Wiser: Secrets of College Success.” Sponsored by the Office of
Multicultural and International Student Affairs, the Nu Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc., and Project PULL, the event will also include door prizes, giveaways
and free mini coaching sessions.
At 7:30 p.m. that evening the student competition “Minute to Win It” will be
held in the University Center.
On Thursday, Oct. 11, the FeLions will host their Homecoming luncheon at The
Mezzanine in downtown Hammond at 11:30 a.m., and Gamma Beta Phi will host a food drive
in the Student Union Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursday evening begins at Santa Fe Cattle Company at 5 p.m. when the Alumni
Association and Homecoming sponsor Hammond Square officially kick off Homecoming reunion
weekend with a free alumni pep rally. Attendees can register in advance to be entered
to win a homecoming tailgate prize pack from Hammond Square and Southeastern. Registration
is available at southeastern.edu/alumni_donors/foundation/giving/alumpeprally; however, registration is not required to attend the event.
Thursday will also feature a Lady Lion Volleyball match scheduled at 7 p.m. in
the University Center followed immediately by a Lip Sync contest for students at 8
p.m.
The Southeastern Pennington Student Activity Center will be offering free workouts
for alumni all day Friday and Saturday.
New this year is an Alumni Awards luncheon at the recently opened One Thirteen
Restaurant in Hammond. The event is set at 11:30 a.m. and will honor some of Southeastern’s
finest alumni.
Friday evening kicks into gear at 7 p.m. at Cook Field on North Campus next to the
Alumni Center with a bonfire and Roar Rally spirit competition sponsored by SGA. Spectators
can also enjoy music by the Spirit of the Southland Band. Also at 7 p.m., the Lady
Lions soccer team will host Stephen F. Austin in a matchup in Strawberry Stadium.
The Alumni Association will host its annual Alumni Awards Evening Friday at 7
p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. Tickets for the event are available at the Alumni
Association, (985) 549-2150 or online at www.southeastern.edu/RegisterAlumniAwards.
Tom Akers, retired president of trading at Metal Exchange Corporation and a 1969 and
1973 graduate of Southeastern, will be recognized as Alumnus of the Year, while Joni
Smith, a 7th grade science teacher, STEM educator and the 2017 Louisiana State Teacher
of the Year, will be honored as the Young Alumnus of the Year. In addition, the African-American
Alumni Chapter will host its annual Homecoming mixer beginning at 9 p.m. in the Alumni
Center.
On Homecoming Day, Oct. 13, the focus shifts to Friendship Circle, where visitors
can enjoy tailgating, reunions and entertainment starting at 12 p.m. There will be
booths manned by area merchants and activities for children that include a variety
of crafts, face painting, mobile video game units and inflatables. Attendees are asked
to leave pets at home.
Southeastern donors who have endowed scholarships and professorships will be
honored at a reception at 10 a.m. in the President’s Residence. The campus bookstore
will be open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The annual Homecoming parade rolls at 12 p.m. Following the parade, Lion fans
can cheer on Head Coach Frank Schelfo and his team during the “Lion Walk” as they
make their way through Friendship Circle to Strawberry Stadium at 1:30 p.m. Also,
the Lady Lion volleyball team will face McNeese in a 12 p.m. match at the University
Center.
Reunions and tailgating will be hosted by many of the university’s colleges and
divisions, as well as by groups such as the Former Football Players, ROTC, and Greek
organizations. The Alumni Association tailgate will take place in Friendship Circle
from 12 – 3:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Hammond Square, with food and drink sponsored
by Gnarly Barley, Fidelity Finance, and the newly formed Alumni GOLD (Graduates Of
the Last Decade) Council.
After pre-game activities, the Lions will kick off against Houston Baptist at
4 p.m. The 2018 Homecoming queen and king will be announced and crowned at halftime.
Immediately after the game, the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown
Development District will host “Railroad Roar,” an evening of dining and entertainment
with specials offered by participating area businesses. For more information, call
the Greater Hammond Chamber at (985) 345-4457.
For a complete schedule of Homecoming 2018 events, visit www.southeastern.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Center, 1-800-SLU-ALUM or (985) 549-2150.