With Homecoming festivities on the horizon, Northwestern is preparing for one of the most eventful weekends on campus.
Many favorite traditions are set to return, such as the Red Raider Road Race and Morning on the Green, with home sporting competitions for volleyball, football, soccer and women’s tennis taking place as well. This year features reunions for the classes of 1974, 1984 and 2004.
Activities kick off Friday, Oct. 4, with the dedication of Christy Suites planned for 4 p.m., followed by an open house. The Celebration Banquet, which commemorates NW donors, will be held in the RSC that evening at 5:15 p.m., offering food and live music.
Saturday has an even fuller schedule than Friday, with events going on constantly, such as the Red Raider Road Race, which is a 5k run or 1 mile walk beginning at 9 a.m., and Morning on the Green from 10 a.m. until noon.
A new addition to the festivities is Raiders Reconnect, a social time in the recently opened Gezellig event space in Orange City, where alumni and friends can enjoy appetizers from 4 to 6 p.m. Earlier that morning, a service of hymns performed on the pipe organ is set for 10:45 a.m. in Christ Chapel. Former Coly residents can walk the halls of the dorm a final time in Farewell to Coly, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Besides the aforementioned Celebration Banquet on Friday, other meals on the schedule this weekend include the tailgate lunch from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., prior to the football game against Concordia, and the Distinguished Alumni Banquet that night at 5:30 p.m., which honors former NW attendees for achievements and service.
Morning on the Green, a carnival put on by various student organizations, provides an opportunity for the public as well as students on campus. “It draws a large number from the local community, as well as alumni visiting campus – often with their families – to enjoy a fun morning of games and activities,” said Carrie Anderson, who helps coordinate the Homecoming events along with Ross Fernstrum. It is also a chance for student organizations to raise funds.
One of the student organizations involved is the Social Work Club. Grace Harre, President of the Social Work Club, appreciates the wide variety of booths that are displayed and how the event welcomes residents of the area.
“Some booths may evoke a competitive spirit, while others allow you to laugh at yourself or the people you are with,” Harre said. “Even if some of the games are geared more towards the younger student demographic, overall, the Morning on the Green is a time where everyone is having fun, smiling, and just enjoying fellowship with one another. When a community can get together and have fun like we do, it can bring everyone together, not in terms of geographical proximity, but together emotionally and socially.”
La Mosaic, the multicultural student club, will have a booth where they will serve apple cider and offer prizes for a bean bag toss. “This is a great opportunity for the community to learn about our clubs, programs and events,” Martha Draayer, director of intercultural development, said. “These opportunities also support and encourage student clubs to share their vision and develop leadership skills.”
With all the busyness, it is easy to forget the purpose of the events going on. At the heart of it all, it is a weekend full of opportunities for those who were shaped at Northwestern years ago to come back, remember and celebrate their time here and the ways God has used this college.
“As the name implies, the weekend is about coming home,” Anderson said. “We want alumni to see the many exciting changes that have been made on campus. It is an opportunity to connect with old friends and reminisce. We also hope it’s fun for current students, faculty, staff, and parents.”
From banquets to carnivals to sporting events, there is something for everyone on campus this Homecoming, and you will not want to miss out!
