Southeastern celebrates Homecoming October 12-17
Contact: Tonya Lowentritt
10/5/09
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University will celebrate Homecoming Oct. 12-17 with the theme “Roomie’s Got Game.”
The Alumni Association and the university welcome all alumni and friends with a week of spirited activities capped by tailgating, reunions, a parade and football action in Strawberry Stadium.
Since Homecoming Week 2009 falls during October, campus visitors can also take part in a variety of events included in Fanfare, the university’s annual festival of the arts, humanities and sciences. A complete Fanfare schedule is available at columbiatheatre.org.
Homecoming Week will offer a number of time-honored favorites, such as the Gumbo Ya Ya fest for students, campus and community decorating contests, including a kid’s shoebox “game” decorating contest, an alumni art exhibit, and the FE-Lions’ Homecoming luncheon.
Homecoming activities begin on Monday, Oct. 12, when Southeastern African American sororities and fraternities will again sponsor the Southeastern Family Reunion at 7 p.m. in the Student Union mall.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, will include the Lyceum Lights lecture and luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at Twelve Oaks, featuring remarks by Associate Professor of Marketing Mike Jones, the 2009 recipient of the university’s President’s Award for Excellence in teaching. At 2 p.m. in the Student Union ballroom, faculty teams will take on student teams in the annual Phi Kappa Phi Homecoming Quiz Bowl.
The Dream Team, the committee that plans student Homecoming activities, will sponsor its always zany “Fear Factor” games at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium, followed at 8 p.m. by the second annual students vs. staff flag football match, also in the stadium.
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, beginning at 11 a.m. students will enjoy food, fun and a mini-pep rally at Gumbo YaYa. The 2009 Homecoming queen and beau courts will be introduced and the winners of campus and community decorating contests will be announced. (The winner of the community contest will receive 10 free tickets to Saturday’s Lions vs. Sam Houston State Homecoming football game.)
The winners of the Homecoming children’s shoebox game decorating contest will be revealed Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Alumni Center, while at 5:30 p.m. more Dream Team student games, the “Homecoming Dorm Challenge,” will get underway in the parking area near Southeastern’s residence halls.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the action begins with the first ever ROTC Homecoming Skeet Tournament at 8:30 a.m. at the Florida Parishes Skeet and Gun Association in Amite. Gamma Beta Phi will hold its annual “A Ton of Fun Food Drive” from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Student Union mall, and the FE-Lions will host their Homecoming luncheon at noon at Trey Yuen.
The big finale on Thursday will be the annual bonfire, which will be torched at the traditional spot adjacent to the Alumni Center at 7:15 p.m. Spectators can also enjoy music by the Spirit of the Southland Band, followed by a Lip Sync contest at 8 p.m. in the University Center lot.
Friday, Oct. 16, begins with the annual Homecoming faculty/staff cook-off, scheduled for noon in the Student Union commons.
Friday is also the date for the Alumni Awards Evening, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Twelve Oaks. The evening will include announcements of several Alumni Association awards. The association will recognize its 2009 Alumnus of the Year, Roger Wang, Class of 1973 and chairman and CEO of Golden Eagle International Group. Wang, a Beverly Hills resident, is widely recognized for his philanthropy and investing skills.
Awards Evening tickets are available at the Alumni Association, (985) 549-2150 or 1-800-SLU-ALUM.
The Awards Evening will be followed at 9 p.m. by the Homecoming Ball, sponsored by the African American Alumni Chapter, at the Student Union ballroom. Tickets are available at (985) 549-3850.
On Homecoming Day, Oct. 17, fun and spirit will fill Friendship Circle. Alumni and visitors can enjoy tailgating and booths manned by area merchants and Southeastern art students in Friendship Circle and bands at the Pottle Performance Circle. Meanwhile, children can have fun with a variety of activities, crafts, and games, and everyone can browse a ceramics sale and display by Southeastern art students.
A reception and dedication ceremony for Southeastern donors who have endowed scholarships and professorships will be held at 10 a.m. in Sims Memorial Library. The Alumni Art Exhibit will open to the public from noon-2 p.m. in the Contemporary Art Gallery at 100 East Stadium.
Reunions and tailgating will be hosted by most of the university’s colleges and divisions, as well as by groups such as the U.S. Army ROTC, Greek organizations, and special anniversary reunions, including the classes of ‘68 and ‘69 celebrating 40 years, Delta Tau Delta celebrating 40 years, Sigma Tau Gamma celebrating 70 years, and the music department celebrating its 75th anniversary.
In conjunction with its reunion, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences will host a health fair at 2:30 p.m. in Friendship Circle, providing screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, vision, hearing, and body mass index.
The Homecoming parade will roll at 2 p.m. Following the parade, fans can cheer on Head Coach Mike Lucas and his team as they “Lion Walk” through Friendship Circle to Strawberry Stadium.
After pre-game activities featuring performances by the reunited Students of the States and Spirit of the Southland band and alumni, the Lions will kick off against Sam Houston State at 6 p.m. The 2009 Homecoming queen and king will be announced and crowned at halftime.
Immediately after the game, the Downtown Development District will host “Take It to the Tracks,” an evening of shopping, dining and entertainment by participating downtown merchants. For more information contact the DDD at (985) 542-3471.
For a complete schedule of Homecoming 2009 events, visit www.selu.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Center, 1-800-SLU-ALUM or (985) 549-2150.
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