News Release
Southern Virginia to Host Homecoming Events Oct. 10-11
Southern Virginia University will welcome alumni, current students, faculty and staff to participate in a variety of activities, from the annual Homecoming Concert to Southern Virginia’s first home football game at The Fields, to celebrate Homecoming Oct. 10–11.
“Between the classes being offered, the concert being performed, the sporting events that will take place, and the opportunities to visit with alumni and current students at receptions and the pre-game celebration, it will be one homecoming you don’t want to miss,” said Kristen Jones, Southern Virginia’s alumni relations coordinator.
One of the new elements of Homecoming this year is a Student-Alumni Competition, which will span the entire weekend. Students and alumni will generate points as they participate in activities, including the Pre-Game Celebration, Quiz Bowl and Scavenger Hunt. In order to reserve a place in an event, participants may register online or at check-in areas on both Friday and Saturday. The winner of the competition will receive a trophy at the Homecoming Dance.
The Homecoming events will begin on Friday, Oct. 10, with a forum address by Rodney K. Smith, former president of the university, titled, “Investing in the Miracle of Southern Virginia University,” in the Stoddard Center.
Following the address, mini-classes will be offered by some of Southern Virginia’s professors and clubs, including Professor Barbara Crawford, Dr. Jan-Erik Jones, Provost Madison U. Sowell, and the Southern Virginia Multicultural Club. Alumni and visitors are invited to experience firsthand the education and extracurricular activities offered at Southern Virginia. The classes will be held at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. There will also be a presentation about the history of the university’s campus in the Von Canon Library during this time, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
After the mini classes, there will be women’s and men’s tennis matches at 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Friday evening, alumni will meet in the Ballroom for a networking event with current students, followed by an alumni reception in the Dance Studio. There, alumni may reunite with fellow classmates, meet members of the university’s administration, enjoy refreshments and hear an address given by Ryan Lenahan, the current president of the Alumni Association.
“It was important to the alumni association to sponsor events during Homecoming that would help students and alumni form relationships so when students graduate, the alumni are there to help them succeed in their chosen career,” said Kristen Jones. “The Alumni Association is presenting the networking event so current students can talk to alumni about career options and have a chance to establish relationships with Southern Virginia alumni that already work in their fields of interest.”
The annual Homecoming Concert, featuring Southern Virginia’s choirs and orchestra, will be held in the Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Following the concert, alumni and students will gather at The Fields for the Homecoming Bonfire, which will include music and refreshments.
Saturday morning will begin with a breakfast with the university’s football team, the Annual Golf Tournament, a Quiz Bowl hosted by Dr. Francis MacDonnell and a Pre-Game Celebration in preparation for Southern Virginia’s first home football game on campus. The celebration will take place at The Quad and will include games, a bouncy house, a mechanical bull, train rides, refreshments and face painting. Afterward, the football game will begin at 12 p.m. at The Fields.
Following the football game, there will be a women’s volleyball game at 4:00 p.m. in the Knights Sports Arena.
Saturday evening, students and alumni may meet on the steps of Main Hall to join in a photo scavenger hunt. The hunt will lead participants all over campus and Buena Vista, earning points that will be tallied and count toward the Student-Alumni Competition. Following the Scavenger Hunt, the Homecoming Dance will begin in the Ballroom at 9:00 p.m.
“I’ve been amazed at how many alumni, administration members, faculty, and students have come forward asking how they can help with Homecoming,” said Kristen Jones. “This will be a great homecoming event because so many people involved with the university have worked so hard to make it happen.”