The Lee University annual tradition of Homecoming will have a centennial theme this year. The university anticipates more than 2,000 alumni and friends to be on campus for the weekend of celebration.
Lee alumni spanning more than 50 years will gather on campus Nov. 2-4 to reminisce and celebrate the school’s history and future.
“If alumni ever intend to come back to campus for Homecoming, this is the year to do it,” said Dr. Jerome Hammond, vice president for university relations. “We have some alumni who haven’t been back for almost 70 years, and they’ve already registered for this Homecoming.”
The weekend begins with check-in on Friday morning and afternoon. Following are an array of events to make alumni feel at home. The celebrations begin with a series of Centennial Seminars, followed by the campus-wide Service of Celebration in the Conn Center and subsequent lunch on the Pedestrian Mall.
Among the many events, Homecoming guests are invited to attend “Lee History Told Through the Various Eras,” a multipart presentation on Lee’s journey as an institution, occurring throughout the afternoon in the Walker Lecture Hall.
Alumni and students will also be able to choose from a variety of exciting events Friday evening. For example, “Music Makers: 100 Years of Music” will be presented in Pangle Hall, while the Dixon Center will host the premiere of the Centennial documentary film. Lee Theatre’s production of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” will be held in the Buzz Oates Black Box Theater. All three are ticketed events, and the latter two will reoccur throughout the weekend.
Friday’s schedule will conclude with a Centennial Party at the Forum on Lee’s newly developed south campus quad.
“We think the party at the Forum will be a big hit,” said Dr. Jayson VanHook, chairman of the Centennial Committee. “It will be a multi-generational event on the newest part of the campus in front of the beautiful Forum.”
Saturday’s events will include the highly anticipated department breakfasts, Greek club gatherings, and student organization booths. Throughout the morning and afternoon, the Centennial Walk, a historical campus tour, will occur every 30 minutes.
Alumni and students will also have the opportunity to attend a variety of athletic events throughout the weekend. The Walker Arena lawn will host an athletic alumni reception on Saturday morning, followed by the Tailgate Party and the Flame Walk. The Lady Flames will face off against Faulkner University at noon, and the Flames will take on Piedmont College at 2 p.m. During halftime, the Homecoming Court will be announced and the queen crowned.
This year marks important anniversaries for several student organizations. Campus Choir will be celebrating its 60th year with a reception, dinner, and anniversary concert on Saturday afternoon. Epsilon Lambda Phi will celebrate its 30th with a reunion softball game on Friday afternoon, a dinner, and a worship service and brunch on Sunday morning. The Student Leadership Council will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a reunion in the new School of Business on Saturday afternoon.
Centennial celebrations will continue with a special Centennial Performance of Life at Lee on Saturday evening in the Conn Center, along with an Ellis Hall fire remembrance on Sunday morning. The weekend’s festivities will conclude with a Centennial chapel service on Sunday morning.
“Even if an alum has been to Homecoming recently,” Dr. Hammond said, “we’ve created a very different weekend this year, and I’m confident alumni are going to be glad they were here to experience it.”
Childcare will be available on Friday evening and throughout the day on Saturday for a one-time $20 fee per family.
For a complete schedule or to register, visit www.leeucentennial.com.
Party at the Forum 2017