Southeastern celebrates Homecoming Week Oct. 7-12
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HOMECOMING SPONSOR - Southeastern Louisiana University celebrates Homecoming Week, Oct. 7 – 12, with a reality TV theme of “Keeping it Real with Roomie.” Hammond Square is sponsoring this year’s Homecoming festivities. From left are Assistant Director of Alumni Programming Jenni O’Neil, Owner of JC Consultants Charlotte Lyons, Assistant Property Manager at Stirling Properties Claire Draper, and Executive Director of Alumni Relations Michelle Biggs.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University will celebrate Homecoming Week Oct.
7 – 12 with a myriad of spirited activities capped by tailgating, reunions, a parade
and football action in Strawberry Stadium.
With a reality TV theme of “Keeping it Real with Roomie,” Homecoming 2019 is
being sponsored by the Alumni Office and Hammond Square, with the Southeastern Student
Government Association sponsoring all student-related activities. The week culminates
on Homecoming Day Saturday, Oct. 12, when the Lions take on Incarnate Word at 4 p.m.
in Strawberry Stadium.
Homecoming Week will offer a number of time-honored traditions, such as Gumbo
YaYa for students, a campus decorating contest, and the FeLions’ Homecoming luncheon.
Additionally, the Southeastern Pennington Student Activity Center will be offering
free workouts for alumni all week.
The celebration begins on Monday with activities as part of Business Week, Oct.
7-10, which features a variety of lectures by specialists in numerous phases of business.
Also, the National Pan-Hellenic Council Black Family Reunion is set Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
in the Student Union Mall.
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, 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 both Hammond Raising Cane’s locations, where a portion
of the sales generated from loyal Lion fans from 5 – 9 p.m. will be donated to the
Alumni Association to support young alumni programming.
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students will enjoy free food and
fun on campus at Gumbo YaYa, where the 2019 Homecoming court will be introduced to
the student body.
Wednesday also launches a new tradition from University Advancement —Southeastern
Giving Day, a 24- hour, one-day event for both the community and Lions everywhere
to come together in support of Southeastern and its students.
At 6 p.m. that evening the student competition “Minute to Win It” will be held
in the University Center.
On Thursday, Oct. 10, the FeLions group will host its 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 but not required via southeastern.edu/reunionpeprally.
Also on tap Thursday is the ROTC’s 50th anniversary celebration at Oak Knoll
Country Club at 6 p.m. Join the Southeastern ROTC Alumni Chapter as they celebrate
the 50th anniversary of the installation of the Army ROTC program on campus. Registration
is available online at southeastern.edu/rotcanniversary.
Thursday will also feature a Lady Lion Volleyball match against Northwestern
State scheduled at 7 p.m. in the University Center, followed immediately by a Lip
Sync contest for students at 8 p.m.
The Sigma Tau Gamma Alumni Memorial Brick Installation and Eternal Ritual at
Friendship Circle Memorial Plaza is scheduled Friday at 5 p.m., followed at 6 p.m.
by a Lady Lions Soccer game vs. Lamar in Strawberry Stadium.
Friday evening kicks into gear at 6:30 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.
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 southeastern.edu/RegisterAlumniAwards. Michele Sutton, president and chief executive officer of North Oaks Health System
and a 1984 and 1988 graduate of Southeastern, will be recognized as Alumnus of the
Year, while Northshore Technical Community College Provost and Vice Chancellor of
Academic Affairs Daniel Roberts, 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. 12, 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, and inflatables. Attendees are asked to please leave pets
at home.
Southeastern donors who have endowed scholarships and professorships will be
honored at a brunch 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 will roll 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.
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, the Lionettes
and Greek organizations. This year, the Alumni Association is hosting a special reunion
experience for those who graduated in years ending in 4 or 9. By registering for the
class reunion, those graduates will enjoy special recognition, tours and VIP access
during the Homecoming tailgate. Registration is available at southeastern.edu/reunion.
The Alumni Association tailgate will be officially open in Friendship Circle
from 12 – 3:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Hammond Square, with food and drink sponsored
by Fidelity Finance. The band the Fabulous CJ’s will perform in Pottle Performance
Circle from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
After pre-game activities, the Lions will kick off against Incarnate Word at
4 p.m. The 2019 Homecoming queen and king will be announced and crowned at halftime.
After the game at 7 p.m., 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 2019 events, visit southeastern.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Center, 1-800-SLU-ALUM or (985) 549-2150.
