University News

Calling Alumni to WIU's 88th Homecoming Weekend, Sept. 30 - Oct. 1

September 14, 2011

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MACOMB, IL – Homecoming 2011 – with the theme "Past, Present and Future: Once a Leatherneck, Always a Leatherneck" – will welcome alumni, parents and friends back to Western Illinois University Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1.

The weekend calls for a full-course of activities. On Friday (Sept. 30), visit the Alumni House between 5-10 p.m. for the All-Alumni Social, with complimentary food and beverages.

Saturday's (Oct. 1) Homecoming Day is filled with opportunities to celebrate Western Illinois University. Runners and walkers get ready for the 25th annual Homecoming Old Stompin' Ground Runaround 5K Fun Run/2 Mile Walk, which starts and ends in the Sherman Hall Circle parking lot. Registration is from 7-7:45 a.m. at the Alumni House and the race begins at 8 a.m. An advance registration form, including an order for a T-shirt ($10), is available on the Alumni Association website, wiu.edu/alumni/homecoming.php.

Coffee and donuts will be served at the Alumni House from 9 a.m. and throughout the Homecoming Parade. Alumni, faculty, staff and friends are welcome to stay and watch the parade from the Alumni House lawn and the adjacent Gwendolyn Brooks Park.

The Homecoming Parade, which kicks-off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from downtown Macomb, will be extra special this year. Bruce Bricker '39 of rural Macomb, who turned 94 in August, was Western's first Homecoming King in 1938. This time, Bricker will lead the 2011 Homecoming Parade as Grand Marshal.

From 12-3 p.m. it's the alumni cookout at "The Right Place" tent, in the campus mall, directly west of Hanson Field. Each of the academic colleges – Arts and Sciences, Business and Technology, Education and Human Services and Fine Arts and Communication – as well as the Centennial Honors College, University Libraries, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (BGS) Degree program, Student Services and the Center for International Studies will have faculty and staff members to greet alumni and tables with information and giveaways.

At 3 p.m. cheer on the Fighting Leathernecks against Missouri Valley Football Conference rival, the Southern Illinois Salukis. Following the football game, head back to the Alumni House for an All-Alumni Social and Reunion Recognition Event when the classes of 1961, 1971 and 1986 will be honored. New to Saturday night's event is an invitation to all alumni to join in celebrating their Western ties and recognizing our reunion attendees. A short program will be held at 7:15 p.m. to introduce reunion attendees and give each an opportunity to tell a favorite WIU memory, and the newest members of the Half-Century Club will be inducted.

Homecoming reservations may be made online through the Alumni website, wiu.edu/alumni/homecoming.php. Tickets and prices are as follows: Alumni cookout at "The Right Place" ($5 each); general admission football tickets ($10 each); registration for the 5K run/2 mile walk ($10); a Homecoming T-shirt ($10); a mum is ($5); and tickets to the Saturday night All-Alumni Social and Reunion Recognition Event ($10 each).

Football tickets will be available in the morning through the parade at the Alumni House, then at "The Right Place" tent until 3 p.m. After that, unclaimed tickets will be held at "Will Call" at the south entrance to the stadium.

For more information, visit the Alumni Homecoming web page at wiu.edu/alumni/homecoming.php, phone Alumni Programs at (309) 298-1914 or email A-Association@wiu.edu.

Homecoming information for students is available at wiu.edu/student_services/university_union_board/homecoming/index.php.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing