Homecoming Week at Mississippi Valley State University has kicked off with a swarm of student activity and some vigorous fundraising plans by alumni.
Today’s on-campus events will include a ceremony honoring homecoming princes and princesses at the Jacob Aron Student Union and an outdoor concert, “Rave Reloaded III,” sponsored by the Student Government Association, tonight at 8 on the L.S. Rogers Building lawn.
Students and staff will participate in a campuswide Community Service Day on Wednesday.
At 11 a.m., the 6th Annual Breast Cancer Walk will commence from the Sutton Administration Building, with a speech by Freddie White-Johnson, founder and president of the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation. Valley’s Mean Green Marching Machine will lead a walk around campus to be followed by a balloon release.
On Wednesday evening, there will be a comedy show, free for students with ID, at the H.G. Carpenter Building auditorium. The show starts at 9 p.m.
Alumni events kick off on Thursday with a two-day National Alumni Association Summit starting at 8 a.m. in the W.A. Butts Social Science Building auditorium and classrooms 103 and 108. A full schedule of Summit events can be viewed on the alumni website, www.mvsunaa.org.
Also on Thursday, at The Historic Elks Building in Greenwood, the Augusta White Scholarship Luncheon will honor a scholarship recipient and raise funds for merit-based and need-based scholarships.
Portia Collins, special events manager for the Office of University Advancement, said the luncheon, previously called the First Lady’s Scholarship Luncheon, has been renamed in honor of the wife of Valley’s first president, James Herbert White.
The event was launched by former MVSU first lady Deborah Bynum and raised over $65,000 last year to support a scholarship endowment.
This year’s scholarship recipient is D’Japreal Christian, a speech and communications major and political science minor from Memphis.
Honorary chairs for the event are Jean Cadney, Margaret Clark, Mayor Carolyn McAdams and Dr. Dorothy Smith-Nelson. Alums, donors and supporters of the institution are asked to give generously to the scholarship fund.
Premier sponsors are the City of Greenwood, Fred and Margaret Clark and Priority One Group, Inc.
Later on Thursday, the President’s Alumni Scholarship Reception will take place at 5 p.m. in the Business Education Building foyer. Tickets are $10.
At 7:30, students and university friends can attend the coronation ceremony of 2017-18’s Miss MVSU, Laderka Coats of Belzoni, and Mr. MVSU, Tommy King of Greenwood.
Semi-formal attire is required for the coronation at the Charles R. Lackey Recreation Center (the old gym), and a reception will follow immediately after.
Friday morning, bright and early, alumni will take to the links at the Greenwood Country Club for the annual golf tournament benefiting Valley programs and scholarships.
Organizer Fred Clark said last year’s tournament raised $75,000 through admission fees and generous sponsorship.
Sponsoring this year’s tournament are Nike, Capital City Beverage, Cannon Motor, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Lawrence Printing, Trustmark Bank, Guaranty Bank, Planters Bank, the Bank of Commerce and No Way Jose.
The morning starts with a continental breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
Clark said 130 participants have registered, including 120 men and 10 women, and capacity for the tournament is 144, so spaces are still open.
Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places closest to the pin and longest drives in both men’s and women’s categories.
“There’s really no such thing as wining this tournament, except to the degree that we are able to contribute to the university,” Clark said. “A lot of people want to contribute to the school and get in a good round of golf at the same time.”
On campus, alums will enjoy the National Alumni Association Green and White Luncheon at the H.M. Ivy Cafeteria. Tickets are $40.
At 3 p.m., a campus parade followed by a pep rally will start at the H.G. Carpenter Building parking lot and conclude at the campus quadrangle. Dr. Jacqueline Gibson, vice president of students affairs, will be the parade marshal.
The Douglas T. Porter Athletic Scholarship Banquet will take place Friday at 7 p.m., also at the cafeteria. Tickets are $50 and funds raised will support athletic scholarships.
The Valley Panhellenic Council will sponsor a step show Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Walter Roberts Auditorium in the Carpenter building. Tickets for students with valid ID are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the show, and general admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the show.
Homecoming Week concludes on Saturday with the 2017 parade through downtown Itta Bena at 9 a.m., led by MVSU Pioneers, followed by the Green Out Game at 2 p.m. Valley’s Delta Devils will meet Virginia University of Lynchburg at Rice-Totten Stadium.
The week will cap off with the Bad and Bougie Affair at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening at the Charles R. Lackey Recreation Center. Tickets for music, dancing and food are $40.
To find out how to purchase tickets for any homecoming week events, call the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement at 254-3526.
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
