Southeastern celebrates Homecoming October 18-23
Contact: Tonya Lowentritt
10/5/10
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University and its Alumni Association will welcome back alumni and friends with a week of spirited activities capped by tailgating, reunions, a parade and football action in Strawberry Stadium during Homecoming Week Oct. 18-23, in this, the 85th anniversary of Southeastern.
This year’s theme “Roomie to the Rescue” will feature heroes real (such as military personnel, firemen and police men) and imagined (such as Superman or Spiderman). Roomie is Southeastern’s lion mascot.
Since Homecoming Week 2010 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 www.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 contest, an alumni art exhibit, and the FE-Lions’ Homecoming luncheon.
Activities begin on Monday, Oct. 18, when Southeastern African American groups will sponsor the Southeastern Family Reunion at 7 p.m. in the Student Union mall. Also on tap is the Southeastern Theatre/Opera production of South Pacific at 7:30 p.m. in Pottle Music Building Auditorium. The production will run through Oct. 22.
Tuesday, Oct. 19, will include the Lyceum Lights lecture and luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at Twelve Oaks featuring guest speaker Lillian Stiegeler, professor of communication sciences and disorders. Following is the annual Phi Kappa Phi Homecoming Quiz Bowl at 2 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre, where faculty teams will take on student teams.
The Dream Team, the committee that plans student Homecoming activities, will sponsor its version of the popular game show “A Minute to Win It” at 6:30 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium, followed at 7:30 p.m. by the third annual students vs. staff flag football match, also in the stadium.
On Wednesday, Oct. 20, beginning at 11 a.m. students will enjoy food, fun and a mini-pep rally at Gumbo YaYa. The 2010 Homecoming queen and beau courts will be introduced, and the winners of campus door decorating contest will be announced. Judging for the downtown decorating contest will begin at noon.
On Thursday, Oct. 21, the action begins with Gamma Beta Phi holding its annual “A Ton of Fun Food Drive” from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Student Union mall, and the FE-Lions will host their Homecoming luncheon at noon at Trey Yuen. Also on tap are the Huddle Session at the Victory Club suites at 6 p.m. and a Lady Lions volleyball game vs. Nicholls State in the University Center at 7 p.m.
The big finale Thursday will be a pep rally at 7:30 p.m. followed by the bonfire, which will be torched at the traditional spot adjacent to the Alumni Center at 8 p.m. Spectators can also enjoy music by the Spirit of the Southland Band, followed by a Lip Sync contest..
Friday, Oct. 22, begins with the Homecoming Golf Tournament at Carter Plantation at 8 a.m. Cost of the event is $150 per person or $600 per four-man team. Participants will receive tournament logo gifts including a shirt, cap, golf balls and a luncheon following play. A silent auction will be available where participants can bid on outstanding items. All proceeds from the event will benefit Southeastern Athletics. For more information about the golf tournament, contact Tim Baldwin at 985-549-5186 or tbaldwin@selu.edu.
Also scheduled Friday is the second annual ROTC Homecoming Skeet Tournament at 8 a.m. at the Florida Parishes Skeet and Gun Association in Amite. Participation is $125 per shooter, which includes ammunition, a continental breakfast and a steak lunch. For more information, contact Gary Sandifer at 985-542-0483 or Preston Rodrigue at 504-430-6846.
The Alumni Association will host the Alumni Awards Evening at 7 p.m. in Twelve Oaks. The evening will include announcements of several Alumni Association awards and recognition of the 2010 Alumnus of the Year, ¬¬¬ Donald George, a 1969 graduate. He is an operatic tenor and currently serves an associate professor of voice at State University of New York, Potsdam’s Crane School of Music.
Awards Evening tickets are available at the Alumni Association, (985) 549-2150 or 1-800-SLU-ALUM.
At 9 p.m. the African American Alumni Chapter will sponsor the Homecoming Ball, in the Student Union ballroom. Tickets are available at (985) 549-3850.
On Homecoming Day, Oct. 23, 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. At noon the campus bookstore opens, and Marketplace shopping in Friendship Circle and campus tours begin. The Decorate Your Tailgate contest will be judged beginning at 1 p.m, entertainment in Friendship Circle begins at 1:30 p.m., and Senior Day will take place from 2 – 4 p.m.
In conjunction with its reunion, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences will host a health fair at 1p.m. in Friendship Circle, featuring a virtual exhibit of the dangers of texting while driving and STD prevention. Also at 1 p.m., the Lion Volleyball Team will take on Sam Houston State in the University Center.
The Homecoming parade will roll at 3 p.m. Lion fans can cheer on Head Coach Mike Lucas and his team as they “Lion Walk” through Friendship Circle to Strawberry Stadium at 3:20 p.m.
The Alumni Art Exhibit will open to the public from 2-5:30 p.m. in the Contemporary Art Gallery at 100 East Stadium. In honor of the university’s 85th year, the exhibit will feature a pictorial display of Southeastern throughout the years.
Beginning at 3 p.m. reunions and tailgating will be hosted by many 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, such as Alpha Sigma Tau celebrating its 70th anniversary. The Alumni Association tailgate will take place in Friendship Circle from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
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 McNeese State at 6 p.m. The 2010 Homecoming queen and king will be announced and crowned at halftime, and the Alumnus of the Year will be presented.
Immediately after the game, the Downtown Development District will host “Downtown Bound,” 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 2010 events, visit www.selu.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Center, 1-800-SLU-ALUM or (985) 549-2150.
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