2024 Homecoming Weekend Set for Oct. 11-12
Published Tuesday, September 24, 2024
The 2024 Southwest Minnesota State University Homecoming weekend is set for Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12. This year's theme is Southwest State of Mind.
A variety of events will be held on campus throughout the week of October 7-13. On Monday, Oct. 7, the week begins with the annual donut drop in the Bellows Academic Plaza. New this year, a pep rally is planned to kick start Homecoming spirit at 4:00 p.m. in the PE Gym. The comedy hypnotist event on Tuesday, Oct. 8 will showcase the Homecoming Royalty candidates at 7:00 p.m. in the PE Gym.
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, SMSU will hold the 4th Annual Mustangs Give: Day of Service sending students, faculty, and staff around the community to engage in wide variety of volunteer service projects. Volunteers from the community are welcome to participate. Sign-up at: www.SMSU.edu/go/mustangsgive
The Homecoming royalty coronation is set for Thursday, Oct. 10 in the Conference Center Lower Ballroom.
The weekend will kick off on Friday, Oct. 11 with SMSU President Kumara Jayasuriya presenting the State of the University Address at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Center Upper Level. The address is open to the public. Visitors can park in the A Lots; parking permits are not required.
Also on Friday, Oct. 11, the Southwest Celebration is a new event that will recognize the 2024 Alumni Award recipients, showcase special projects in several academic program areas, and kick off the Homecoming weekend with a social at 5:30 p.m. and formal dinner to follow.
Four recipients will be honored with awards. The 2024 Alumni Achievement Award honorees include: Deborah (Geiver) Norlin ’84 from Brainerd, Minn. and Steven Klein ’75 from Marshall, Minn. The Honorary Lifetime Membership Award recipient is Gary Dahms from Redwood Falls, Minn. Doria Drost ’19/MBA ’21 from Sioux Falls, So. Dak. is the 2024 GOLD (Graduate of the Last Decade) Award recipient. Feature stories on each of the recipients will be posted in the days leading up to Homecoming week.
The Southwest Celebration will be held 5:30–9:00 p.m. in the Conference Center Upper Level. Tickets are available in advance at www.SMSU.edu/go/southwestcelebration
Friday will also feature SMSU Soccer at 3:00 p.m. and Volleyball at 6:00 p.m. SMSU Swimming & Diving will host the Brown & Gold Scrimmage. The Planetarium will host a laser light show starting at 8:00 p.m. Seating in the Planetarium is limited to 60 people.
The SMSU Veterans Club sponsors their annual 5K/10K run. The run will begin at 8 a.m. from the Track and Field Complex on the north end of campus. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.
The Homecoming parade will begin at 11 a.m., with the lineup starting at 10 a.m. The intersection of Lyon and Jewett Streets serves as the check-in for all parade participants. The parade will run its usual route, from Lyon to Main Street and ending at 5th Street. Any groups interested in participating in the parade should contact Scott.Ewing@SMSU.edu.
The Classes of 1974, 1999, and 2014 will gather for their 50th, 25th, and 10th reunions at 1:00 p.m. in the Alumni Heritage Gallery, Student Center. SMSU Volleyball will take on Minot State at 1:00 p.m. in the PE Gym. A Planetarium star show will be held at 1:00 p.m.
Alumni Tailgating and the Homecoming Game Day Roundup will be held from 3-5 p.m. in the R/A Facility parking lot area. It will feature family games, food, and music.
The SMSU Football game vs. Wayne State begins at 5:00 p.m. at the Schwan Regional Event Center. A short ceremony recognizing the Homecoming Royalty and Alumni Award recipients will be held prior to the kickoff.
After the game, alumni and friends are invited to stop by the Wings Axe for the SMSU Alumni Social.
The weekend concludes with SMSU Soccer taking on USF at 1:00 p.m.
To inquire about any of the scheduled Homecoming events, email Alumni@SMSU.edu. For more information visit, www.SMSUAlumni.com. SMSU Students can participate in Royalty Voting Online: https://southwestmsu.campuslabs.com/engage/
The full line-up of events is also posted on https://www.smsualumni.com/homecoming/homecoming-schedule.html
Monday, Oct. 7
- 8:30-10:00a.m. Donut Drop, Sponsored by Graduate Studies, BA Plaza
- 4:00 p.m. Pep Rally, PE Gym. Open to the public!
Tuesday, Oct. 8
- 12:15 a.m. Royalty Voting Opens Online at https://southwestmsu.campuslabs.com/engage
- 7:00 p.m. Candidates Night, Comedy Hypnotist Freddie Justice, PE Gym
Wednesday, Oct. 9
- 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Campus Decorating Contest Judging. Enter at www.smsu.edu/go/decorating
- 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mustangs Give: Day of Service, Volunteers Check-in at 9:30 a.m. in the FH Lobby. Sign up: SMSU.edu/go/mustangsgive
- 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Stuff-A-Critter, Student Center Patio Lounge
- 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Traveling Trivia (Teams of 4) Upper Student Center
- 11:45 p.m. Royalty Voting Closes
Thursday, Oct. 10
- 6:30 p.m. Homecoming Coronation & Social with YSA musician and emcee, Conference Center Lower Ballroom
- 9:00 p.m. Student Bonfire, RA Parking Lot
Friday, Oct. 11
- 10:00-11:00 a.m. State of the University Address, Conference Center Upper Level
- 3:00 p.m. SMSU Soccer vs. Minnesota State. SREC
- 3:00 p.m. Swimming & Diving Brown and Gold Scrimmage, Pool
- 5:30-9:00 p.m. Southwest Celebration, CC Upper Ballroom
- 6:00 p.m. Volleyball vs. UMary, PE Gym
- 8:00 p.m. Laser Light Show, SMSU Planetarium, SM 108
Saturday, Oct. 12
- 7:30 a.m. 5K/10K Run, sponsored by the SMSU Veterans Club, Check-in Track & Field Complex
- 10:00 a.m. Parade Line-Up Begins, Lyon/Jewett Streets Check-in
- 11:00 a.m. Homecoming Parade, Lyon Street to Main Street to 5th Street
- 1:00 p.m. Planetarium Star Show, SMSU Planetarium, SM 108
- 1:00 p.m. Classes of ‘74/’99/’14 Reunion, Alumni Heritage Gallery, Student Center
- 1:00 p.m. Volleyball vs. Minot State, PE Gym
- 3:00-5:00 p.m. Homecoming Game Day Roundup and Alumni Tailgating, SREC Plaza, Green Lot, RA Parking Lot
- 4:45 p.m. Pre-game Introduction of Homecoming Royalty, Schwan Regional Event Center
- 5:00 p.m. Football vs. Wayne State, Schwan Regional Event Center
- 8:00-10:00 p.m. Alumni Social, Wings Axe
Sunday, Oct. 13
- 1:00 p.m. SMSU Soccer, SREC
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