September 24, 2004
Purdue packs spirit into Homecoming events Oct. 13-16
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Four days of events, including a pep rally, parade and fireworks, will lead up to Purdue University's Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Oct. 16.
"The highlight will be the transformation of the Purdue Mall into a gathering place for thousands of alumni from11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday," said Todd Coleman, executive director of the Purdue Alumni Association. "Schools, departments and organizations will have more than 50 tents set up with interactive displays, highlights of research and programs, activities, and food. There's a section just for the kids, too.
"Alumni can visit with old friends and catch up on the latest at Purdue."
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For example, the tent sponsored by School of Liberal Arts will highlight the workings of the ear and works of art from Purdue Galleries. Visitors can experience an archeological dig and a theatrical performance by students in the theater program.
Former astronaut Guy Gardner, director of superproject development at Purdue's Discovery Park, will be on hand at the park's tent, and the Latino Cultural Center will entertain with music and salsa lessons. Many former Purdue Golden Girls will be on hand at the University Bands tent, where they will sign autographs from 1-2:30 p.m. Five hundred commemorative Golden Girls posters will be available for free at the Purdue Alumni Association tent. In the College of Engineering tent, author John Norberg will be on hand to sign copies of his book "Wings of Their Dreams: Purdue In Flight."
Live performances will be featured on the stage between the Engineering Administration Building and the Purdue Bell Tower by groups including the Black Voices of Inspiration, Alumni Jazz Band and Purdue cheerleaders. Five area restaurants – Pizza Hut, Subway, Dairy Queen, Sgt. Preston's and Seattle Beanery – will operate the "Boiler Food Court," located between the Mechanical Engineering Building and the Engineering Administration Building.
Two buildings will be named and donors recognized that day: the Millennium Building at 10 a.m. at Stadium and Northwestern avenues, and the Computer Science Building from 2-2:30 p.m. on the Purdue Mall stage.
At 3:30 p.m. the "All-American" Marching Band and Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will lead the crowd from the Purdue Mall to Ross-Ade Stadium for the start of the Homecoming football game.
Across campus, alumni also can visit the university's first alumni center, at Grant and Woods street. In addition to banquet, meeting and office rooms, the 67,000-square-foot, state-of-the art Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center showcases points of pride and achievements of the university in its Spurgeon Hall of Spirit.
Located on the first floor of the center, Spurgeon Hall includes changeable showcases that feature photographs, memorabilia and other objects that highlight the university's history and future.
Several events are planned leading up to Homecoming. On Wednesday, Oct. 13, a mud (or sand) volleyball tournament starts at 5 p.m. on Vawter Field. A flag football tournament will get under way at 7:30 p.m. on the Intramural Fields. Both events are open to student teams, and registration is required. To register, students can pick up an application in the Purdue Student Union Board office in the Purdue Memorial Union, Room 268, or an application can be downloaded from the Student Union Board Web site.
A Homecoming carnival will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, on Slayter Hill. Carnival games and activities will be open to the student body and community and include inflatable toys for jumping on and crawling through, a football obstacle course, a bungee run and a bounce house. All activities, as well as snow cones and popcorn, will be free.
At 7:30 p.m., following the carnival, the annual pep rally will begin at Slayter Hill, featuring an appearance by coach Joe Tiller and members of the football team. The rally, open to all Purdue supporters, will include Purdue athletics' mascots Purdue Pete and Rowdy. The Purdue spirit team will join the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band for the event.
Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady will lead the Homecoming parade, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, at Stadium Avenue and Russell Street and ends at Slayter Hill. The parade will travel south down Russell and take a right on First Street, where it will continue to MacArthur Drive and take another right. The parade will then make its way up MacArthur Drive to Third Street, where it will take a right and head up to North Intramural Drive. There, the route turns left toward Slayter Hill.
This year's parade theme is "Purdue Around the World." All floats will resemble a specific place in the world and will include the university mascot or a Purdue athletics mascot. Fireworks will cap off the evening at Slayter Hill.
Purdue Convocations has scheduled an 8 p.m. performances of the musical "Miss Saigon" that Friday and Saturday in Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster or from Purdue Convocations by calling (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-7469.
The Homecoming king and queen will be announced during halftime at the game on Saturday, Oct. 16, between the Boilermakers and the Wisconsin Badgers. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m.
Members of this year's Homecoming queen's court are: Gina Bassetto, Munster, Ind.; Heather Fausnaugh, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Katie Kickertz, Rockford, Ill.; Erin Kightlinger, Indianapolis; Maggie Kleinhenn, Noblesville, Ind.; Stephanie Rhoads, Danville, Ind.; and Stephanie Sikora, Schererville, Ind.
Candidates for Homecoming king are Drew Brinkoetter, Decatur, Il.; Ryan Dupuis, Bradley, Ill.; Tim Jones, Evansville, Ind.; John M. Owen, Clayton, N.C.; Aaron Roberson, Greenwood, Ind.; Kurt Henke, Washington Crossing, Pa.; and Celex Thomas, Orland Park, Ill.
Updates on Homecoming activities are available online. Online student voting for Homecoming king and queen will begin on SSINFO at 8 a.m. Oct. 1 and close at midnight Oct. 12.
Writers: Jeanne Norberg, (765) 494-2084; jnorberg@purdue.edu
Reni Winter, (765) 496-3133; rwinter@purdue.edu
Sources: Todd Coleman, (765) 494-0764, toddcoleman@purdue.edu
Heather Owen, Purdue Memorial Union program director and director of the Purdue Student Union Board, which is responsible for many of the student-related events, (765) 494-8909, owenh@purdue.edu
Christine Sharp, School of Liberal Arts alumni relations coordinator and member of Homecoming publicity committee, (765) 494-7884, ctsharp@sla.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Fans fill Purdue Mall to listen to the traditional Homecoming concert on the steps of Hovde Hall and visit tents set up on the mall to house a variety of displays and activities. After the concert, those attending follow the "All-American" Marching Band to Ross-Ade Stadium. The same tradition will take place on Oct. 16 for the 2004 Purdue Homecoming game against the Wisconsin Badgers. (Purdue News Service file photo/Dave Umberger)
A publication-quality photograph is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2004/homecoming-04preview.jpg
PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue President Martin C. Jischke and first lady Patty Jischke share their school spirit during Homecoming festivities with members of the "All-American" Marching Band in front of Hovde Hall. This year's Homecoming will begin with a pep rally on Thursday, Oct. 14. A parade and fireworks will be on Friday, Oct.15, with the Homecoming game against the Wisconsin Badgers kicking off on Saturday, Oct. 16. (Purdue News Service file photo/Dave Umberger)
A publication-quality photograph is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2004/homecoming-jischkes.jpg
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