The 2018 Homecoming Reunion and Family Weekend will be held from Thursday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 7.
Pre-registered and walk-in guests will check in at the Registration and Hospitality Lounge located in the Wright Room, on the first floor in the Waldron Campus Center, to receive their name badge.
The name badge will serve as your “ticket” into Homecoming events, discounts and services throughout the weekend. Villa Maria College and Gannon alumni will also receive a complimentary souvenir T-shirt.
The alumni T-shirts are provided free of charge by the Gannon University Alumni Association. Additional shirts will be available for purchase for $15 at registration.
Hours for registration and hospitality for Homecoming weekend are as follows: from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
The first event of Homecoming will be the Villa Maria School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Robert H. Morosky Center Thursday. There will be tours beginning at 4:30 p.m., dinner served at 5:15 p.m. and the lecture beginning at 6 p.m.
The Homecoming Kick-off, Knights Around Town, is the next event on the first day of Homecoming Reunion Weekend. It will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bourbon Barrel, 1213 State St.
Knights Around Town is a network of Gannon alumni in Erie County who meet the first Thursday of every month.
Throughout the weekend, Gannon’s Schuster Theatre will present “Trojan Women” at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The final performance will be 2 p.m. Sunday.
If you show your Homecoming badge at any performance during Homecoming Weekend, your ticket will be $5 instead of $7.
All guests for Homecoming are invited to the Alumni Association’s “Who’s Who at Voodoo” from 8-10 p.m. at Voodoo Brewery at Boston Store Place.
All alumni registered for this event will receive one free beverage and snacks. If you bring your business card, you’ll be entered for a Gannon gear raffle.
Tami Faram, director of Alumni Services, said that the Alumni Association is thrilled to be working with the students of APB to coordinate the events of Homecoming and Family weekend for the Gannon community.
Faram said alumni return to their alma mater for Homecoming to meet with fellow classmates and friends.
“While in Erie, Gannon Alumni will also be able to witness all that Gannon is doing to make the GU experience even better for today’s students,” Faram said.
“It’s important for alumni to return to see all that Gannon has to offer those who were once in their shoes and to be assured that the institu
tion is moving forward in a positive direction.”
Saturday kicks off with the Homecoming Tailgate Celebration from 9 a.m. to noon at Sassafras and West Fourth streets.
Alumni and families can join the tailgate celebration that will occur at the Recreation and Wellness Center parking lot and marked areas outside of McConnell Family Stadium.
Student performances for the Talent Show will begin at 10 a.m. Food trucks and snacks will also be present for the tailgate.
90.5 WERG will be present at the tailgate to emcee the Talent Show.
Chet LaPrice, operations manager for WERG, said that Homecoming is a major Gannon event every year.
“Our participation gives the event front-of-mind awareness to our listening audience,” LaPrice said. “It also gives us promotional exposure all over Gannon that weekend.
“Our student staff learns how to do all of this, gaining valuable experience,” LaPrice said.
In advance of Homecoming weekend, LaPrice said that WERG talks it up on-air, and a link for the list of events is posted on its website.
WERG’s social media also actively promote from around campus all weekend.
TRAVEL, Academic Affairs, the Edge Magazine, Greek Life and other organizations from campus will have tents set up as well.
Following the tailgate is the Homecoming football game from noon to 3 p.m. at McConnell Family Stadium. The entrance fee is $5 for adults and $3 for students, school-age children and college students with a valid ID, and seniors 62 years of age and older.
A Gannon family and student Mass will be held at 11 a.m. at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel Sunday. All are welcome to attend.
To end Homecoming weekend, join President Keith Taylor, Ph.D., for Brunch with the University President. Brunch will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday in the Yehl Ballroom in the Waldron Campus Center.
LaPrice said that the overall purpose of having a Homecoming weekend is to have fun.
“Our alumni share deep emotional attachments and connections to [Gannon and] the School of Communication and the Arts,” LaPrice said.
“Many of them relay stories of very happy memories during their undergraduate years in our various programs, as they learned to hone and enhance their creative skills.”
A full list of events for Homecoming and Family weekend can be found on the Gannon Alumni Association website.
VERONICA KOWALSKI
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