Homecoming to include hoedown and barbecue

Northwestern College will celebrate Homecoming Sept. 26 and 27 with numerous family-friendly activities, including Morning on the Green carnival, football, reunions, and a Saturday night hoedown and barbecue.

With a theme of “All Country Roads Lead Home,” Homecoming 2008 begins Friday, Sept. 26, with campus tours and an invitation for visitors to join students for classes, chapel and lunch. Tour and class schedules—along with other Homecoming information—will be available at a hospitality table in the Rowenhorst Student Center from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

At 6:30 p.m., the Distinguished Alumni Dinner will honor the professional, humanitarian and Northwestern service achievements of Dr. Charollene Coates ’51, Rapid City, S.D.; Rob Rozeboom ’01, Sheldon; and Dr. Ron Juffer ’56, Orange City. Reservations are required.

Friday evening students and alumni will take the Christ Chapel stage for the college’s traditional Air Band competition. Cost is $1, payable at the door.

Homecoming events continue Saturday morning with the 15th annual Raider 5K Run/Walk. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. near Christ Chapel. Pre-registration is $10; cost is $15 the day of the race.

From 9:30 a.m. to noon, enjoy Morning on the Green in the center of campus. The annual carnival will include games and prizes, a petting zoo, a puppet show, and antique tractors. Other Saturday morning events include alumni tennis, baseball, softball and wrestling competitions.

A picnic lunch will be served at Jaycee Park near Hospers Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $6 per person; children under 5 eat free. A tent will be designated for the reunions of the classes of 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2003.

The Raider football team will kick off against Dana College at 1:30 p.m. on Korver Field. Alumni A cappella Choir members who want to sing the National Anthem before the game should meet at the 50-yard line at 1 p.m.

During halftime of the game, a retirement party for Dr. Dick Van Holland, professor emeritus of business and economics, will be held in Jaycee Park, north of the stadium.

At 6 p.m., members of the 1983 championship football team are invited to a reunion at the Landsmeer Golf Club. RSVP to Karen Vander Pol in the athletic office: 707-7280 or karen@nwciowa.edu.

Homecoming concludes Saturday evening with a country hoedown on the campus green from 5 to 9 p.m. The event includes a Texas-style barbecue meal: $10 for all you can eat. Children ages 6–12 eat for $7; 5 and under eat free. The hoedown will also feature mechanical bull-riding, lawn mower races, hayrides, and country line and square dancing.

All alumni and friends of Northwestern are invited to Homecoming events. For more information or to register for any activities, visit www.nwciowa.edu/homecoming, or contact the Northwestern College alumni office at 712-707-7134 or alumni@nwciowa.edu.