NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University will present Homecoming 2019 Oct. 17-19 with activities, reunions, recognition programs and other events. This year’s Homecoming theme is “Disney.”
Student events will take place throughout the week and will include the Disney Springs Kickoff, Hollywood Studios Lipsync, Epcot Fun Run and Animal Kingdom Goat Yoga.
Homecoming weekend will begin with the 53rd annual J. Walter Porter Forum hosted by the College of Business and Technology. The forum, which promotes ethics in business, will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the David Morgan Room 107, Russell Hall. The forum is open to the public.
NSU’s Alumni Association and the NSU Foundation Board will hold separate meetings at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18.
The annual Homecoming Golf Tournament will begin with lunch for golfers at noon at Northwestern Hills, NSU Red Complex. Tee-off will be at 1 p.m.
The Magic Kingdom Homecoming parade will feature the NSU Honor Court, spirit groups, the Spirit of Northwestern marching band and Registered Student Organizations riding colorful floats with music and throws in a family-friendly event. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. and make its way from the NSU campus’s main gate down Second Street to Rue Touline, making its way to the Natchitoches downtown riverbank where the Magic Kingdom Homecoming Pep Rally will begin at about 6 p.m. on the Fleur de Lis stage. The Natchitoches community and all visiting alumni are invited to the parade and pep rally.
Following the Pep Rally, the popular Rockin’ on the Riverbank Homecoming Festival will take place on the downtown riverbank featuring Dallas-based Live 5 Band (www.live5band.com), a party band that covers a variety of genres and artists like Bruno Mars, Earth Wind and Fire, Run DMC, Beyoncé, Outkast, Whitney Houston, Justin Timberlake, and Ariana Grande, dance, pop, funk and rock.
The NSU Black Alumni Association will host a mixer with music and refreshments beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at The Loft, 530 Front St.
Breakfast and Bingo will begin 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at Collins Pavilion.
Induction ceremonies for the N Club Hall of Fame will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in Magale Recital Hall.
NSU alum and children’s author Perry Anderson will host a book signing at NSU Marketplace bookstore from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 19. The NSU Marketplace is located at 912 University Parkway
The Black Alumni Association will hold their annual meeting and membership drive beginning at 11 a.m. in the Cane River Room in the NSU Student Union. The group will tailgate at the NSU Practice Field starting at 1 p.m.
The College of Business and Technology will host a reception for 2019 inductees into NSU’s Business Hall of Distinction. The reception will begin at 11 a.m. in the Natchitoches Room in Russell Hall.
The Department of Social Work will host an open house from 11 a.m.-noon to showcase the new Child Welfare Scholar’s Room. Alumni are invited to drop in Kyser Hall Room 345B to view materials from the archives of Matilde Bradford, MSW, LCSW, and meet current faculty.
The XI Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is celebrating 45 years on NSU’s campus with a Homecoming reunion. The group will host a banquet from noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at Ben Johnson Auditorium and will tailgate on campus from 2 p.m. until game time at 6 p.m.
The Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development reunion and reception will begin at 1 p.m. in the Teacher Education Center Commons. Induction ceremonies for the Hall of Distinguished Educators will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the Teacher Education Center Auditorium.
NSU Alumni tailgating will begin at 2 p.m. at Collins Pavilion and around the Practice Field.
The 70th Demon Regiment will host an Open House from 2-4 p.m. at the James A. Noe Military Science Building.
“To Victory and Beyond” Student Tailgating will begin at 3 p.m. in the student tailgate area.
NSU’s Department of English, Foreign Languages and Cultural Studies invites all alumni, faculty and staff to the first-ever departmental Homecoming tailgate from 3-6 p.m. A spot is reserved next to the tennis courts and will include good, music, games, a bounce house for children, a scavenger hunt and more. Families are encouraged to attend and bring their own ice chest. Water will be provided. Those who want to attend should RSVP by emailing vascocus@nsula.edu.
Pregame activities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with on-field recognition of N Club inductees, Distinguished Educators and College of Business honorees and a pre-game show by the Spirit of Northwestern Demon Marching Band. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. Half-time ceremonies with the presentation of the 2019 Honor Court will take place at approximately 7:30 p.m.
BAA will wrap up their festivities with a Homecoming After Party starting at 10 p.m. after the football game.
Alumni and friends are encouraged to check with each sponsoring organization to confirm times and locations for all events. For more information, visit northwesternalumni.com.
