Date:
9/25/2006
Contact: Janice Cowen at 505.562.2125
Reporter: Erin Griffith
PORTALES—This year during Homecoming weekend, Friday and Saturday, Sep. 29-30, Eastern New Mexico University will host many events that bring together current students, alumni and community members. Events include the 50th reunion of 1956 ENMU graduates, the alumni choir reunion, the homecoming parade and the dedication of the Communication Center/Broadcast Center.
The 50-year reunion will begin on Friday, Sep. 29, with registration in the Campus Union Lobby followed by a luncheon in the Pecos Room in the Campus Union Building. According to Janice Cowen, coordinator of Alumni Affairs, "This will be a great time for everyone to relive their memories and renew ties with old friends."
The ENMU Alumni Association Awards will be presented to the 2006 recipients during the ENMU Foundation 31st Annual Breakfast in the Campus Union Ballroom at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sep. 30. Awards are given in three categories: Outstanding Alumni, Distinguished Service and Honorary Lifetime.
"Many of the events are geared to bring alumni back to reconnect with the University. The 50th-year anniversary celebration of the class of 1956 will be one of the special highlights of the weekend," said Cowen.
The Homecoming Golf Experience will begin at 8 a.m. (with a second tee time at 1 p.m.) on Sept. 29 at the Portales Country Club.
ENMU has consistently had a very strong choral program and in honor of that Eastern invited its alumni choir members back for a special concert at 6 p.m. on Sept. 29 in Buchanan Hall in the Music Building. There will be alumni in attendance who graduated from ENMU 60-70 years ago. The concert will be made up of the Alumni Choir, as well as ENMU's current choir.
"I think it's a very important event; one of the most important things is to connect with our traditions. It is good for the students to meet the graduates we've sent into the world and see what they have done with their lives, and it is good for the alumni to see our continued choral excellence," said Jason Paulk, choir director.
Directing the Alumni Choir will be Dr. George Umberson, director of choirs from 1960–1970, and Dr. David Gerig, director of choirs from 1984–2004. The Alumni Choir will also sing the National Anthem at the homecoming game.
The Greyhound football squad will face the Abilene Christian University Wildcats in the homecoming game at 6 p.m. At halftime, the 2006 Greyhound Hall of Honors recipients will be inducted.
At 1 p.m. on Sept. 30, the 5th place World Series 2001 Zia softball team will be recognized along with current players at the Zia Softball Field. Following the ceremony, a game featuring alumni vs. the 2007 Zia softball team will be played.
The Zia volleyball team will play Texas A&M-Kingsville at 2 p.m. on Sept. 30 in Greyhound Arena.
At 2 p.m. on Sep. 29 the communication department will have a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting in front of the new Communication Center/Broadcast Center. Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony and the following tour of the building. That night at 6:30 p.m. there will be a dedication banquet titled "Live from the New Studio A." The cost of the banquet is $17 a person with RSVPs required by Sept. 18.
"This is such an exciting time for us to be in the new building and to have the opportunity to share it with students who came in the past as well as those who will come in the future," said Sheryl Borden, Development Officer at KENW.
At 1 p.m. that day, preceding the building dedication, there will be a press conference, open to everyone, to unveil a new peanut campaign in which Eastern students will sell ENMU-labeled peanuts to raise funds for scholarships.
Along with these special events, there will also be the usual homecoming activities like the bonfire at Greyhound Arena at 8 p.m. on Sep. 29, preceded by a picnic at 5 p.m. at the Dallan Sanders Memorial Patio.
The Homecoming Parade, with the theme of "Under the Big Top," will begin on West First Street in Portales at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 30. Several other events are also planned.
All alumni are encouraged to register for homecoming with the Alumni Association either in the Campus Union Lobby on Friday, or before the homecoming game at Greyhound Stadium on Saturday. Those doing so will receive a free spirit pack.
For a complete listing of the weekends activities go to http://www.enmu.edu/homecoming.
For more information, call the Alumni Office at 505.562.2125.