Southeastern celebrates Homecoming Week Oct. 12-17

Wednesday, September 30, 2015
by: Tonya Lowentritt


     HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University celebrates Homecoming Week, as well as its 90th anniversary, Oct. 12 – 17 with an abundance of spirited activities capped by tailgating, reunions, a parade and football action in Strawberry Stadium.
     With a theme of “Roomie’s Big Night on Broadway,” Homecoming 2015 will feature an abundance of awards and recognitions, too. Sponsoring this year’s Homecoming festivities are FeLions and Alpha Sigma Tau with the Southeastern Student Government Association sponsoring all student-related activities. The week culminates with Homecoming Day Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Lions take on Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m.
     Homecoming Week will offer a number of time-honored traditions, such as the Gumbo YaYa fest for students, campus and community decorating contests, an alumni art exhibit, and the FeLions’ Homecoming luncheon.
     Homecoming week begins with Business Week, Oct. 12-14, which features a variety of lectures by specialists in numerous phases of business. The Southeastern Family reunion will cap off the day on Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union.
     On Tuesday, Oct. 13, 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 Ballroom. The day closes out with the student competition “Minute to Win It” in Strawberry Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
     On Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students will enjoy food and fun at the Gumbo YaYa festival, where the 2015 Homecoming court will be introduced.  
     Also on tap at 12 p.m. is the annual Lyceum Lights faculty lecture in the Student Union Ballroom C, featuring Southeastern Alumna, actress, playwright and former Director of Fanfare and the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts Donna Gay Anderson. She will present “From the Borden to Broadway: Creating a Path for Success.” Anderson is the daughter of the late Vonnie Borden, who founded Southeastern’s theatre program and for whom the program’s D Vickers Hall theatre is named. Anderson’s first full length musical, “High and Mighty,” is scheduled to premiere at Vonnie Borden Theatre in November.
     The Student Government Association’s Ready, Set, Glow 5K race for St. Jude’s at 6:30 p.m. in North Oaks Park will conclude the day.
     On Thursday, Oct. 15, the FeLions will host their Homecoming luncheon at Trey Yuen at noon. Also at noon is the Alumni Art Lecture by Maudie Cusimano, “How I met Alex Katz: Adventures in Museum Work,” in the Contemporary Art Gallery. And an opening art reception in the Contemporary Art Gallery at 5 p.m. rounds out the afternoon activities.    
     Thursday evening kicks into gear with a block party, bonfire and Roar like a Lion Yell Competition sponsored by SGA at 6:30 p.m. at Cook field. Spectators can also enjoy music by the Spirit of the Southland Band, followed by a Lip Sync contest for students at 8 p.m.
     Also on Thursday evening, the Southeastern Volleyball team takes on Stephen F. Austin in the University Center at 7 p.m.
     Friday, Oct. 16, begins with the Homecoming Golf Tournament at Carter Plantation at 1 p.m. Cost of the event is $150 per person or $600 per four-man team. Participants will receive lunch prior to play. All proceeds from the event will benefit Southeastern Golf. For more information, contact Jake Narro at 985-549-5186 or jnarro@southeastern.edu. In addition, the African-American Alumni Chapter will host its annual mixer beginning at 9 p.m.
     The Southeastern Pennington Student Activity Center will be offering free workouts for Alumni all day Friday and Saturday.
    Also, the Alumni Association will host the annual Alumni Awards Evening at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. Tickets for the event are available at the Alumni Association, (985) 549-2150 or 1-800-SLU-ALUM.
     On Homecoming Day, Oct. 17, the focus shifts to Friendship Circle, where visitors can enjoy live entertainment starting at 2 p.m. There will be booths manned by area merchants and performances by the Southeastern Community Music School students at the Pottle Performance Circle from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Activities for children include “Kids Run with Roomie” at 2 p.m. around Friendship Circle and a variety of crafts, face painting, train rides and inflatables. Attendees are asked to leave pets at home.
     The annual Educators Honor Roll will start at 11 a.m. in the Teacher Education Center, and a dedication ceremony for Southeastern donors who have endowed scholarships and professorships will be held at 1 p.m. in Sims Memorial Library. At noon marketplace shopping in Friendship Circle and hayride tours of the campus will begin, while the campus bookstore will open at 11 a.m.
     At 2 p.m. the Southeastern Volleyball team takes on Northwestern in the University Center.
     The Homecoming parade rolls at 3 p.m. Following the parade, Lion fans can cheer on Head Coach Ron Roberts and his team as they do the traditional “Lion Walk” through Friendship Circle to Strawberry Stadium at 4:30 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 Former Football Players, Seventies Black Alumni, Lionettes, ROTC, and Greek organizations. The Alumni Association tailgate will take place in Friendship Circle from 4 – 6:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the Lion Athletic and Alumni associations, with the Livingston Alumni Chapter hosting the event.
       After pre-game activities, the Lions will kick off against Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. The 2015 Homecoming queen and king will be announced and crowned at halftime.
     Immediately after the game, the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce will host “Railroad Roar,” an evening of dining and entertainment by participating downtown businesses. For more information contact the chamber at (985) 345-4457.           
     For a complete schedule of Homecoming 2015 events, visit www.southeastern.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Center, 1-800-SLU-ALUM or (985) 549-2150.




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