September 21, 2005
Purdue Homecoming events kick off on Oct. 12
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A pep rally, parade, fireworks display, and plenty of food and music will lead up to Purdue University's Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Oct. 15.
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"This year we want to encourage not just Purdue students and alumni, but also members of the community to join in the celebration," said Todd Coleman, executive director of the Purdue Alumni Association. "The theme of this year's Homecoming is 'Home is Where it's Happening.' With a wide array of family-friendly festivities planned the preceding week and on the Saturday morning before the game, we encourage local families to come to campus to see what Purdue has to offer."
Events begin on Wednesday, Oct. 12, with a blood drive in the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom. The drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the public. Members of participating student organizations will be given points for donating blood that will count toward Purdue's total in the annual Blood Donor Challenge against Indiana University. Students will be given a free T-shirt for donating blood.
At 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at Slayter Hill, student groups will sponsor a carnival, which will include three "inflatables" – a football obstacle course, a Velcro wall and Sumo wrestling – music and free food. At 7 p.m. a pep rally, also at Slayter Hill, will feature performances by the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band, Spirit Team and Dance Team. The Homecoming king and queen's court also will be introduced. Elvis Moya, spirit coordinator for intercollegiate athletics, will serve as emcee.
On Friday, Oct. 14, the fifth annual Boilermaker Night Train Homecoming Parade will feature more performances by the marching band, Spirit Team and Dance Team. The theme of this year's parade is "All Eyes on Purdue: Purdue Mascots Starring in Your Favorite Movie." Each participating organization will choose a movie and then must include one of three Purdue mascots in their float designs: Purdue Pete, Rowdy or the Boilermaker Special train. A fireworks display is planned after the parade.
This year's parade grand marshal is the Class of 1979 Gift Committee with chairman Keith Krach. Earlier that day, the Class of 1979 will announce a gift to the university.
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Also this year, student organizations can carry over the "All Eyes on Purdue" theme in a window-painting contest, in which the groups pair up with businesses in the Chauncey Hill and Purdue Village area and paint their windows for the week leading up to Homecoming. There also will be a competition in which banners will be hung on the parking garages around campus.
In addition on Friday, the Army Cinema Van, an 18-wheeler that shows movies related to the history of the military and the nation, will be parked at Third Street and Intramural Drive from noon to 9 p.m. and is open to the public. It will make a return appearance Saturday at the Purdue Mall from 9-11 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15, will feature a range of events from 9-11 a.m. on the Purdue Mall. Schools, departments and organizations will have more than 50 tents set up with interactive displays, highlights of research and programs, activities for adults and children, and food.
Live musical performances by various groups will be featured on the stage on Stadium Mall Drive between Schleman Hall of Student Services and Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering. Among the groups performing will be the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band, Alumni Band, Purdue Varsity Glee Club, the Black Cultural Center's Black Voices of Inspiration, a student juggling group and the Purdue Jazz Band combo group.
Five area restaurants – Pizza Hut, Subway, Dairy Queen, Sgt. Preston's and Seattle Beanery – will operate the Boiler Food Court, located near the stage.
From 9-10 a.m., parents can enter their children in a new event called the Most Spirited Kid Contest. Children ranging in age from newborn to teen-agers will be judged on who looks the most like a Boilermaker fan. Prizes will be given to winners in multiple age categories. The winners will be announced around 10 a.m., just before Purdue President Martin C. Jischke takes the stage to make remarks and introduce the band for the march to Ross-Ade Stadium for the noon kickoff of the Purdue-Northwestern football game. This year about 300 Purdue band alumni members will join the "All-American" Marching Band and Jischke in leading the crowd to the stadium.
The Homecoming king and queen will be announced during halftime at the game.
Members of this year's Homecoming queen's court are: Diana Daniely, Greenwood, Ind.; Christina Jackson, Vermontville, Mich.; Megan Keffaber, North Manchester, Ind.; Ashley Meadows, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Jodi Stephens, Valparaiso, Ind.; Stephanie Tieken, Wadesville, Ind.; and Lindsey Vacek, Riverside, Ill.
Members of this year's Homecoming king's court are: Dave DeMarzo, Wheaton, Ill.; Jake Eisterhold, Poseyville, Ind.; Alex Fenske, Richton Park, Ill.; Erik Gardstrom, LaGrange, Ill.; Peter Lazarz, Indianapolis; Andrew Schmelz, Corydon, Ind.; and Nathan Taulman, Remington, Ind.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purrdue.edu
Sources: Margie Stoltz, Purdue Student Union Board program adviser, (765) 494-8907, mcstoltz@purdue.edu
Todd Coleman, (765) 494-5179, toddcoleman@purdue.edu
Catharine Adair, Homecoming committee co-chair, (765) 496-2160, cadair@purdue.edu
Chad Johnson, Homecoming committee co-chair, (765) 494-2603, chadj@purdue.edu
Nicole Reas, Homecoming committee co-chair, (765) 496-6193, nreas@purdue.edu
Robin Shanks, manager of Elliott Hall of Music, (765) 496-1381, rshanks@purdue.edu
Brandy Jensen, Homecoming activities team leader, (765) 494-5486, bjensen@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Related Web sites:
Purdue University Special Events
Related release:
Purdue lights up for Homecoming parade, rally
PHOTO CAPTION:
Alexis Denz, at left, and Calerie Sirek, both juniors majoring in mechanical engineering, paint a window for Purdue's Homecoming celebration at the former Veno's restaurant in Purdue Village West. The theme of this year's window painting, banner competition and float contest is "All Eyes on Purdue: Purdue Mascots Starring in Your Favorite Movie." Denz and Sirek are members ofÊPhi Sigma Rho sorority. Homecoming activities begin Thursday (Oct. 13) with a carnival and pep rally, continue Friday (Oct. 14) with a parade and fireworks display, and culminate Saturday (Oct. 15) with a celebration on the Purdue Mall before the Purdue vs. Northwestern football game. (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger)
PHOTO CAPTION:
Martin and Patty Jischke sing with Golden Girl Christy Stallings during last year's Homecoming. This year's Homecoming includes a blood drive Wednesday, Oct. 12, in the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom, a carnival and pep rally at Slayter Hill on Thursday, Oct. 13, and on Friday, Oct. 14, the fifth annual Boilermaker Night Train Homecoming Parade with the theme "All Eyes on Purdue: Purdue Mascots Starring in Your Favorite Movie." A fireworks display is planned after the parade. The Homecoming game is Saturday, Oct. 15, against Northwestern. The Homecoming king and queen will be crowned during halftime of the game. (Purdue News Service file photo/David Umberger)
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