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'Celebrate Traditions, Build Memories' At WKU Homecoming
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University will “Celebrate Traditions, Build Memories” during Homecoming 2005 festivities Oct. 10-16.
"Our Homecoming theme for 2005 is very fitting because Homecoming weekend will be our final event before the kickoff of Western’s Centennial Celebration," said Ginny Hensley, Homecoming co-chair and associate director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. "Beginning in November, WKU will celebrate its 100th birthday. For this year’s Homecoming, we want to recognize the great traditions that have led up to this milestone." Homecoming Week will include traditional events such as reunions of campus groups and organizations; induction ceremonies for the Hall of Distinguished Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame; a parade and Big Red Street Fest; Big Red’s Roar, which will precede midnight madness activities for WKU basketball; and crowning of the Homecoming Queen at halftime of the WKU vs. Missouri State football game. “Homecoming continues to grow each year, and our goal is give Western Kentucky University alumni and friends a reason to return home,” Hensley said. “With more than 100 events scheduled for Homecoming week, we hope there’s something special for everyone.” Among the groups celebrating this year are seven Greek organizations marking their 40th anniversary -- Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Nu fraternities and Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi and Chi Omega sororities. Others celebrating anniversaries include the WKU Volleyball team, 25 years; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 35 years; and the Big Red Marching Band, 80 years. “Homecoming at Western is more than the football game,” Hensley said. “We encourage all alumni and friends to come early and attend the activities that take place early in the week.” Events kick off on Oct. 11 with the annual tailgate party and bonfire at the WKU-Glasgow campus. “Western’s roots originated in Glasgow and so do our Homecoming week festivities,” Hensley said. “Coach David Elson will join the Glasgow student body, WKU cheerleaders and Big Red, as we light the gigantic bonfire and cheer on the Toppers.” The complete Homecoming Week schedule is available online at http://www.wkualumni.org/hc.cfm; here are some of the highlights: Monday, Oct. 10 Homecoming Coloring Contest: Bowling Green and Warren County elementary students will participate in this annual contest. Winners will be announced on Friday, Oct. 14, at the Wachovia Securities Big Red Street Fest. Tuesday, Oct. 11 Glasgow Homecoming Tailgate Party: 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. at Glasgow Regional Center on Trojan Trail. Wednesday, Oct. 12 Office Decorating Contest: Faculty, staff and students can build their own Homecoming memories by decorating their campus office. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated departmental office. Thursday, Oct. 13 Chili and Cheese Luncheon and Pep Rally: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at State Street Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $5. Seventh Annual Summit Awards: 6 p.m. at Knicely Conference Center, WKU South Campus. WKU honors its outstanding volunteers. Homecoming Concert: 8 p.m. at Diddle Arena. Featuring Trapt, Blindside and Aphasia. Tickets are $10 for WKU students; $15 for others. Friday, Oct. 14 Hall of Distinguished Alumni Luncheon and Induction Ceremony: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Sloan Convention Center. Tickets are $25 each and $350 for a corporate table. The inductees in 14th class are Neil Budde, an innovator in the online news publishing business; Lee Robertson, one of WKU’s greatest ambassadors who gave the Alumni program a national focus; and Col. Ed Stansbury, who has maintained his ties to WKU for about 80 years. (For more on the inductees, visit http://www.wku.edu/news/releases05/july/hoda.html) Homecoming Parade: 5:30 p.m. Parade begins at 15th and State streets (across from Hardin Planetarium) and proceeds down Normal Drive. Wachovia Securities Big Red Street Fest: 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at Downing University Center South Lawn. Big Red’s Roar: 8:30 p.m. at Diddle Arena. Featuring Coach David Elson and the 2005 Hilltopper football team. Midnight Madness: 9:30 p.m. at Diddle Arena. Featuring the WKU basketball teams. Saturday, Oct. 15 Reunions: Several campus organizations, clubs and departments will meet for reunion activities, including College of Health and Human Services, College Heights Herald, Gordon Ford College of Business, Consumer and Family Sciences Department, Agriculture, Geography and Geology and School of Journalism and Broadcasting. WKU Band: As part of the WKU Band’s 80th anniversary, band alumni are invited to perform with the Big Red Marching Band during the Homecoming football game. Rehearsal will be held the morning of Homecoming Day, followed by lunch at the WKU Band tent at the Festival of Friends. Residence Hall Open Houses: 10 a.m.-noon. W-Club Athletic Hall of Fame and Brunch: 11 a.m. at Diddle Arena’s Hall of Champions. The inductees in the 15th class are Jeff Cesarone (football), Wayne Chapman (basketball), Charlie Osborne (basketball), Jim Richards (basketball, baseball, golf) and Porter Williams (football). (For more on this year’s inductees, visit http://www.wkusports.com/news.cgi?article=3721) Festival of Friends: 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at Downing University Center South Lawn. Various departments and campus groups will have reunion tents. The band Exit 4 will provide music. The School of Journalism and Broadcasting will conduct a photo auction at 2 p.m. near the President’s Tent. Big Red Shed Competition: 1:30 p.m. on football practice field. Habitat for Humanity of Bowling Green/Warren County and the WKU Habitat Chapter are joining together in this fund-raising event to build storage sheds. Completed sheds will be donated to Habitat homeowners in Warren County. Proceeds will benefit the local Habitat chapter and hurricane relief efforts. WKU vs. Missouri State: 4 p.m. at L.T. Smith Stadium. Homecoming Queen will be crowned at halftime. Step Show: 8 p.m. at Diddle Arena. Society of African American Alumni Dance: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Carroll Knicely Center, WKU South Campus. Sunday, Oct. 16 Ninth Annual Jim Wayne Miller Celebration of Writing: 2 p.m. at Garrett Conference Center Auditorium. Featuring a reading by Sallie Bingham and announcement of the winners of the Jim Wayne Miller Writing Contest. Annual WKU Homecoming Concert: 3 p.m. at Van Meter Auditorium. Featuring the WKU Choir and Symphonic Band and Music Department’s Wall of Fame presentation. More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
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