Wilmington College expects record attendance for homecoming festivities; many open to community

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WILMINGTON — This year, Wilmington College is combining its traditional Homecoming, Alumni Reunion Weekend and Family Weekend into one big, festive and event-packed Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 19 to 21.

The College anticipates breaking attendance records with the expectation of pleasant, late summer weather and the combination of the three popular activities that, until recent years, had been held on separate weekends. WC is making a special effort in welcoming the community to join WC alumni, students, parents, families, faculty and staff in the celebration.

The Homecoming triad features such family-friendly activities as an inflatable game park, zip-lining, dunking booth, face-painting and kids’ activity tables, a food truck rally, music with a live DJ, Homecoming Court pageantry, Greek Bed Races and, of course, an afternoon of college football.

While students get a head start on Homecoming Thursday evening (Sept. 19) with the Mud Volleyball Tournament and subsequent pep rally and bonfire, alumni will begin arriving Friday (Sept. 20) for a host of class and affinity group reunions held throughout the weekend.

Saturday is prime time for activities and attendance.

The day kicks off with a 9 a.m. breakfast featuring a “State of the College” message from President Jim Reynolds. (Reservations required, $10).

Also, the baseball team is having an intra-squad scrimmage and batting practice at 9 a.m., at Delaney-Tewksbury Field with the annual Alumni Swim Meet beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the natatorium.

Dr. Monte Anderson will present his popular “Gardening with Monte” at 10 a.m. at the entrance to Hazard Arboretum on Elm St., followed at 11 a.m. with a tour of the arboretum led by alumnus Brad Schwamberger titled “A Journey with Our Needled Friends.”

In addition to the arboretum programs, a number of “Back to the Classroom” events are planned to engage alumni and friends. On Friday, Reynolds will head a roundtable at 11 a.m.; and Dr. Tanya Maus will present “The Atomic Bombings in American History: Then and Now,” at 1 p.m., in the Peace Resource Center. On Saturday, alumna Dr. Noris Price, at 10 a.m. in CSA 149, will share student success strategies she developed that helped increase her Georgia schools’ graduation rates from 66 to 92 percent.

Opening at 10 a.m. will be Harcum Art Gallery featuring an exhibit of realist paintings by Jonathan Evans and the Meriam R. Hare Quaker Heritage Center’s exhibit on “Water Justice” highlighting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s resistance to an oil pipeline.

The always-popular Greek Bed Races begin at 10:30 a.m. in front of Hermann Court and the aforementioned family-friendly activities will commence from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Collett Mall with the Food Truck Rally starting at 11 a.m.

Food trucks will include: EAT, Rock Stop-N-Roll, Beaugard’s Southern BBQ, Generations Pizzeria, Kona Ice, Billie Gold Bubble Tea, Nyce Treats and Son of a Biscuit.

“Rockin’ on the Mall, featuring The Quake radio station, will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Elm Street in front of Robinson Communication Center.

Kick-off is set for 2 p.m. for the football game pitting the Fightin’ Quakers and the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University. Halftime will feature the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen, and introduction of the court.

A number of WC alumni will be honored for achievement throughout the weekend.

Friday’s 50-Year Anniversary Class and Alumni Awards Dinner will honor the 50-year Class of 1969 along with special award recipients: Bill Kincaid Jr., Class of 1986, Alumni Citation for Distinguished Professional Achievements; Martha Ventolo, ’69, John Frazier Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service; and Bruce Stewart, Alumni Citation for Distinguished Achievement in Education. (Reservations required)

Also, a Saturday brunch will be held in honor of the five new inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame: Rebekah Opalek Poeppelmeier ’98, soccer; Robert Hess ’01, football; Jacob Pence ’02, football; Dana Crow Williams ’02, track & field; and Judy Doyle, retired athletics business manager. (Reservations required)

A full schedule including reservation information for paid events can be found at: www.wilmington.edu/homecoming/

The Quaker Thunder pep band played during last year’s pep rally on homecoming weekend.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/09/web1_DSC_0663.jpgThe Quaker Thunder pep band played during last year’s pep rally on homecoming weekend. News Journal file photo

Last year’s Wilmington College homecoming festivities got underway on a Thursday evening with the traditional student mud volleyball tournament followed by a pep rally on the lower fields.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/09/web1_DSC_0635.jpgLast year’s Wilmington College homecoming festivities got underway on a Thursday evening with the traditional student mud volleyball tournament followed by a pep rally on the lower fields. News Journal file photo

The Sigma Zeta/Kappas take on Delta Theta Sigma/DTS Lil Sis in last year’s annual Homecoming Bed Races.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/09/web1_BedRaces-copy.jpgThe Sigma Zeta/Kappas take on Delta Theta Sigma/DTS Lil Sis in last year’s annual Homecoming Bed Races. Courtesy photo
Homecoming, family fun for community as well as alumni

By Randy Sarvis

Wilmington College

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