WILSON, N.C. — It’s that time of the year! Autumn leaves and a crisp breeze will welcome alumni back to Barton College’s campus for Homecoming this weekend, and the schedule promises an array of events for young and old. Catch the Bulldog fever at Barton’s Homecoming Weekend, scheduled for Oct. 26-28.
The weekend activities will begin with the Barton College Bulldog Club Superball Tournament, held at Wilson Country Club on Friday, Oct. 26. Golfers will hit the links at 1 p.m. But, if golf isn’t their thing, then alumni can check in at the Hospitality Tent on Friday afternoon beginning at 2 p.m. at the Centennial Alumni Bell Tower and enjoy a leisurely afternoon with fellow alumni and friends.
Friday evening festivities include the annual Bulldog Club and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Reception and Banquet beginning at 7:15 p.m. This annual Hall of Fame event offers walks down memory lane for four new inductees, Robert “Rocky” Covington, ’69, basketball; Richard “Dick” Swanker, ’70, track and field; Johan Sturen, ’83, tennis; and Michelle McClure Pittman, ’91, basketball. The reception will be held in the Bulldog Club Room in Wilson Gymnasium followed by the dinner and program in Hardy Alumni Hall.
Don’t sleep late, because the Hospitality Tent opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, and so does the bidding at the Silent Auction on center campus. There promises to be some spectacular auction items for a steal this weekend, including an autographed basketball from the NCAA D-II National Men’s Basketball Championship Team, a custom copper-roofed bird house, artwork, gift certificates, and much more!
While other alumni are deciding on their bids, the Class of 1957 will gather for their 50th year reunion in the Sarah Bain Ward Parlor in Harper Hall at 9 a.m. And, at 10 a.m., the Alumni Reunion and Awards Brunch will bring together alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students in Hardy Alumni Hall to salute the reunion classes of 1957 (50th), 1967 (40th), 1977 (30th), 1982 (25th), 1997 (10th) and 2002 (5th). This year, there also will be a special recognition of alumni from the 1940s.
Individual honors will be bestowed upon the 2007 Alumna of the Year Nan Mattox Cheek, ’54; 2007 Alumni Achievement honorees Tom Arrington, ’73; Eddie Ferguson,’77; and Russell Rawlings, ’78; and 2007 Young Alumnus of Year Kim Denton Almkuist, ’02. There also will be a special recognition for Wilson’s Lee Gliarmis who will be named an Honorary Alumnus of Barton College.
At noon, the “40’s Hurrah!” celebration will take center stage in the Sarah Bain Ward Parlor in Harper Hall as members of the classes of 1940-1949 and their guests gather to reminisce and catch up.
It’s all Greek at the Greek Life Town Hall Meeting, scheduled at noon, where Greek alumni will hear the latest and greatest about their sororities and fraternities. The place to be is Hardy Alumni Hall to hear new plans for enhancing these programs on campus from the Greek Life Task Force.
The Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority will host their annual Homecoming Tea for collegiate and alumnae sisters in The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center at 1 p.m. And, the School of Business also will be hosting a networking session at 1 p.m. in the Hines Hall lobby as their alumni “get back to business.”
Sports are a must for Homecoming enthusiasts, and the Barton College Bulldogs will deliver plenty of entertainment and excitement with women’s soccer against North Greenville University at 1 pm. and men’s soccer beginning at 3 pm. at the Barton College Athletic Complex on Kincaid Avenue. Between these hot matches, enjoy a cool break with alumni and friends at the ice cream social scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Alumni Greek Games will be on tap at 2 p.m. on center campus. Collegiate Greek games have been an annual event for decades on campus, and now, the Greek alumni will see if they still have what it takes to win! Alumni can catch their second breath at the social hour following the Greek games at 3 p.m.
A “must see” for everyone will be the latest art exhibition in the Barton Art Galleries showcasing alumni artwork at 4 p.m. Meet art faculty and alumni artists at this exhibit reception in the Case Art Building.
Homecoming attendees need to bring their appetites as they gather at 4 p.m. for the Low Country Boil in Hardy Alumni Hall. What goes better with good food than good music, and “Spare Change” promises to have toes tapping and folks dancing to the a variety of tunes from beach to boogie.
Bulldog Fever will take over at 5:30 p.m. for those who want to meet and greet the members of the 2007-08 Bulldog Basketball men and women’s teams. They promise to provide some sensational basketball this season.
Saturday’s sunset will bring a conclusion to the Silent Auction at 7 p.m., while the Classes of 1967, 1977 and 1982 will be just gearing up for their own reunions to enjoy throughout the evening in Hardy Alumni Hall, Hamlin Lobby, and Hardy Alumni Hall Multipurpose Room, respectively.
And, the night is still young for all who want to join students for the annual Homecoming Dance at 9 p.m. in Wilson Gymnasium. Their King and Queen will reign over the evening’s festivities.
As the weekend comes to a close, Dr. and Mrs. Norval C. Kneten will host an alumni breakfast at the Barton-Graves House at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Then, alumni are invited to join the Barton community as it celebrates Barton College Sunday with their host – First Christian Church (DOC) in Wilson. Dr. Kneten is the featured speaker for the service, and a covered dish luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall.
Don’t miss Homecoming 2007. These new activities are sure to complement the traditional favorites that alumni look forward to each year. For additional information, please contact Summer Brock, director of alumni programs, at 252-399-6383.
Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.