Alumni, families and friends will converge upon Wilmington College on Sept. 26 and 17 to interact with the campus community for the time-honored tradition of Homecoming. The fall rite promises a weekend of festivities, pageantry, reunions, special recognition and activities for the entire family. The greater community is invited to join in the fun.
Those who arrive on Friday can witness the annual Mud Volleyball Tournament at 4 p.m. on the lower athletic fields. Sports start in full force with the volleyball and men’s soccer teams hosting competitions versus Berea College and Wittenberg University, respectively, at 7 p.m., in their sports venues, followed by a pep rally on Collett Mall at 9 p.m.
Saturday will offer a full day of activities. Alumni from the men’s lacrosse, softball and swimming teams will gather to meet and compete, while the College’s agriculture alumni will meet with current students and faculty at Aggieville, which will be set up at the corner of Elm and College streets beginning at 11 a.m. Also, alumni of the Concerned Black Students, Multicultural Student Union and Black Student Initiative will gather for a tailgate from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the CSA parking lot. That lot has been set aside for all tailgating activities.
At the Alumni Awards Brunch, several alumni will be recognized, including Dale Molnar, Class of ’75, Alumni Citation for Distinguished Professional Achievement; Lara Hamilton ’93, Alumni Citation for Distinguished Contributions to Education; Fadi Al-Gahwi, The John Frazier Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service; and Shelby Guthrie, Young Alumni Award.
The College will hold a groundbreaking for the Scheve Athletic Center and Scheve, Ramseyer, Lewis Hall of Champions at 11 a.m. near the front of Hermann Court. The new facility’s construction is part of the record $23 million gift from the late, legendary basketball coach and accounting professor, Jerry Scheve. Also, that day, Scheve will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame posthumously.
Also, at 11 a.m., the Alumni Tent will be open for alumni registration, along with Alumni Vendor Alley and several family-friendly games and activities, all on Collett Mall. Food Truck Alley will be featured on Elm St. in front of Williams Stadium. The annual Greek Bed Races will commence at the east end of that area at 11:45 a.m. At noon, the Quaker Testimony Gardens will be dedicated on the north side of Boyd Cultural Arts Center.
WC’s Homecoming football game with Ohio Northern University kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Halftime activities will include recognition of Scheve’s Hall of Fame induction and the announcement of the Homecoming court and naming of the king and queen.
Greek organization and other reunions will be held throughout the day. Culminating the formal activities will be the women’s soccer team taking on DePauw University at 7 p.m.
