By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. –Campbellsville University’s Homecoming, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3 and 4, promises to be a time of “remembering, renewing and reconnecting” as alumni and friends return to their alma mater.
Shannon Thomas Clark, director of alumni relations, said Homecoming is a “perfect” time to “remember your college days, renew friendships with former classmates and reconnect with faculty.”
“All of our Homecoming activities are open to the public, and we invite the Campbellsville-Taylor County community to join us as we celebrate ‘Back to the Future,’ the theme for this year’s Homecoming,” Clark said.
The two-day activities revolve around the Homecoming football game which is at 2 p.m. Saturday on HIG Field when Coach Perry Thomas’ Fighting Tigers try to “restore the roar” when they take on Shorter College’s Hawks.
The Homecoming queen will be crowned at half time of the game.
This year’s activities offer everything from reunions, a car and motorcycle show, a parade and festival, athletic events, an art exhibit, pancake breakfast and a theater production.
Clark said, “We hope Homecoming 2008 will be our biggest year yet. Campbellsville University has many new facilities to show to our alumni. If you haven’t been back to CU in awhile, you will be amazed at all of the changes.”
Reunions are an important part of any Homecoming, and one of the many reunions this year will consist of one for CU Veterans at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, in the Little Auditorium of the Student Union Building.
Other reunions feature alumni of cheerleaders, Bethel College, business and economics graduates, baseball team, education graduates, theology alumni, Baptist Campus Ministry alumni, Golden Heritage Club and the class of 1958, who graduated 50 years ago and will be inducted in the Golden Heritage Club, and classes of 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008.
The annual Homecoming Banquet is at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, when David Garrard, minister of children at St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville, will speak. For tickets, contact the Office of Development at (270) 789-5211.
A highlight of Friday is the traditional barbeque which will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the lawn of Montgomery Library. “This is truly a fun-filled gathering of the entire Campbellsville University family,” Clark said. Cost is $7, and the public is invited.
A play, titled “43 Plays For 43 Presidents,” will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Alumni Theater. For tickets, call (270) 789-5266.
A Homecoming pep rally will be at 9 p.m. Friday on Stapp Lawn. The last activity of the night Friday is a showing of the movie “Back to the Future” on Stapp Lawn.
The Homecoming Festival Saturday is an annual event run by student organizations who offer items for sale in order to make money for their organization’s events and activities throughout the year. It takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Stapp Lawn. There will lots of free food, and inflatables for the children.
This is the ninth year for the revised parade in downtown Campbellsville. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. “Everyone is invited to come downtown and experience the excitement of an old-fashioned Homecoming parade,” said Andrew Ward, director of student activities and intramurals who is in charge of the parade.
Another annual event in which the community can participate is the annual Homecoming Car and Motorcycle Show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of Montgomery Library. Participants in the car and motorcycle show can be in the Homecoming parade and are eligible to win $100 by being in the parade. Trophies will be given to winners in several categories.
An alumni art exhibit will be displayed by Robby Hayden, class of 2001, in the Art Gallery, across from the Gosser Fine Arts Center, beginning at 10 a.m.
Another event that has become a favorite is the Pancake Breakfast and Department Reunions Saturday at 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. when you can enjoy breakfast and fellowship with former professors and classmates.
There will be tours of the campus available also.
A complete schedule of Homecoming is available here.
For information about these activities, contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at (270) 789-5211. You can also call 1-800-264-6014 ext. 5211.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.