It’s a celebratory kind of week at Mississippi Valley State University today through Saturday, with a packed lineup of homecoming events.
This year’s homecoming theme is “Back to the Yard,” and the campus expects to welcome back a large number of alumni as well as plenty of locals, faculty, staff and students.
Kicking off the festivities is tonight’s “Valley Madness Basketball Game” at 8 p.m. in the R.W. Harrison Athletic Center, Fans will have a chance to meet this year’s Devils and Devilettes.
Here are some highlights for the rest of the week:
nSeveral events will celebrate campus royalty, including the crowning of Theodore Johnson III and Symone Daniels as Mr. and Miss MVSU on Thursday. A reception will follow the 7 p.m. coronation at the Charles R. Lackey Recreation Center.
Homecoming Princes and Princesses will be honored at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Jacob Aron Student Center Royal Room with a reception immediately following.
nAlumni can enjoy a number of events, including the President’s Alumni Scholarship Reception on Thursday in the Business Education Building auditorium.
The annual Homecoming Golf Classic at Greenwood Country Club tees off at 7 a.m. Friday. An alumni Day Party at The Alluvian in Greenwood starts at 3 p.m. that afternoon.
The MVSU National Alumni Association’s general body meeting is at 9:30 a.m. Friday, followed by the NAA’s Mortgage Burning Ceremony at the Alumni House in Itta Bena at 11 a.m.
nSome serious academic discussion, philanthropy and fundraising will take place as well. On Tuesday Valley will host a Race and Unity Town Hall Meeting at 3 p.m. in the W.A. Butts Social Sciences Building auditorium.
Friday’s schedule will include the NAA Green and White Scholarship Luncheon at noon in the Ivy Cafeteria, Dining Room IV, and the Douglas T. Porter Athletic Scholarship Banquet at 7 p.m. that night in the same location.
The annual First Lady’s Scholarship Luncheon will be held in Greenwood at the Historic Elks Lodge at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Everyone is invited to participate in the 5th Annual Breast Cancer Walk on Wednesday. Meet at 11 a.m. in front of the Sutton Administration Building.
nThere also will be entertainment. The Homecoming Comedy Show with host Lav Luv will take place at the H.G. Carpenter Building auditorium at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and admission is free.
The Homecoming Party is at 8 p.m. Friday at the Charles R. Lackey Recreation Center gym. MVSU students with valid ID get in free.
A Gospel Extravaganza Concert is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium of the H.G. Carpenter Building. The concert is free and open to the public.
nTraditionalists will not want to miss the Homecoming Kick-Off Bonfire, beneath the full moon tonight at 10 p.m. on the parking lot of the Edna Horton Residence Hall.
The 2016 Homecoming Parade will commence at 9 a.m. in downtown Itta Bena with Lafayette Stribling, former head men’s basketball coach, and the 1984 basketball team serving as parade marshals.
The Valley Delta Devils face off with the Grambling State University Tigers at Totten Stadium at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Finally, the Homecoming Step Show will officially close Homecoming Week at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door at the H.G. Carpenter Building auditorium.
For more information, contact the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement at 254-3526.
For football tickets, contact the Cashier’s Office at 254-3313.
To see the full schedule of homecoming events, visit: www.mvsu.edu/homecoming-2016-schedule-events.
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
