The historic Indiana Wesleyan University Homecoming pep rally, parade and torch run returns to downtown Marion, on Friday, October 5. The public events begin at 7:45 p.m. on 1st Street between Adams and Washington streets with the IWU Homecoming Court coronation ceremony. The pep rally, parade and torch run follow immediately and end at the President's Home where an alumni/student bonfire will be held. The IWU Homecoming is October 5 and 6.
"I grew up seeing the Marion College torch run make its way through Marion," said Gale Richmond, director of Church Relations and Homecoming co-chair. "There was a great energy from the combination of community pride and school spirit. This may be a little known fact, but in 1979 Marion College set a Guinness record for having the largest marching kazoo band.
"Our hope in returning the event to Friday is that we will not only allow more community members to participate, but also allow returning alumni to join in the celebration," Richmond said. "We hope to recapture some of their college memories in the process."
A public cornerstone dedication ceremony is planned for the Science and Nursing Building at 11:15 a.m. Friday. The dedication will be held at the southwest corner of the construction site next to the Burns Science and Nursing Building. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Chapel Auditorium. The five-story, $43 million facility will be completed spring 2014.
About 400 IWU alumni and friends are registered for the Alumni Banquet. The banquet is at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Luckey Arena, Recreation and Wellness Center.
Other Homecoming weekend highlights include:
- The President's prayer breakfast is schedule for 7:30 a.m. Friday in the Barnes Student Center Banquet Rooms. Dr. Brian Bradford, '00, lead pastor of Horizon Church, The Colony, Texas, will speak on Transformed through Prayer.
- The Homecoming chapel service at 10 a.m. Friday in the Chapel-Auditorium features interviews with two families with multiple generations of IWU students, the Williams and Shigleys.
- Reunion luncheons for the classes of '52, '57, and '62 are scheduled for noon Friday in the Barnes Student Center banquet rooms. The classes of '72, '82, '92 and '02 will meet at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Teter Café, Barnes Student Center. The classes of '86, '87 and '88 will meet at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the Barnes Student Center banquet rooms.
- Students will present Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, at the Black Box Theater in Phillippe Performing ARts Center. There also will be a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets are available at the IWU Box Office or by calling 765-677-2610.
- Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter Jon McLaughlin will be performing at 10:30 p.m. Friday in the Phillippe Performing Arts Center auditorium. McLaughlin is a native of Anderson, Indiana. Tickets are $5; proceeds benefit student scholarships. Tickets are available at the IWU Box OFfice or by calling 765-677-2610.
- Grammy Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band will again entertain a sold-out audience. The vocal band, with guests Greg Ritchie and Kevin Williams, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Chapel-Auditorium. The band performed during the 2010 Homecoming.
Athletic teams competing at home Saturday include men's and women's cross country, women's volleyball and men's soccer. The women's cross country invitational begins at 10 a.m. The men's cross country invitational begins at 11 a.m. Women's volleyball plays Bethel College at 3 p.m. The men's soccer plays Goshen College at 3:15 p.m.