The University of Maine at Presque Isle is hosting another jam-packed Homecoming celebration from Thursday, Sept. 12 to Sunday, Sept. 15, offering everything from socials and athletic events to alumni games and the annual Hall of Fame dinner. As a special part of this year’s Homecoming weekend, the Inauguration of UMPI’s Eleventh President, Dr. Linda Schott, will take place.
Festivities begin on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 5:30 p.m. with the annual Women’s Soccer Spaghetti Supper. The fundraiser, sponsored in part by ARAMARK Dining Services, will cost $5 for adults and $3 for children. At 9 p.m., a Homecoming Dance will be held in the Campus Center.
On Friday, Sept. 13, activities get underway with the Homecoming Kickoff and BBQ lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Campus Center, which will include food, games, and prizes. Cost is $5 per person. In conjunction with the lunch, there will be a “Healthy You” make-your-own-smoothie bar hosted by Cary Medical Center’s Healthy You team. The event includes smoothie samples, recipe takeaways, health information, and a buzzer-beating tournament of one-minute games.
That afternoon at 3 p.m., the Presidential Inauguration takes place in Gentile Hall. The campus and community are invited to attend and be a part of this special event. The theme of the Inauguration is Linking Generations Through Teaching and Learning and the ceremony will include delegations from more than a dozen elementary and secondary schools in the region, as well as many other officials and distinguished guests. A reception will follow in the Campus Center with refreshments.
Evening activities include an Alumni Basketball Game in Wieden Gym at 6:30 p.m. and a performance by Peter Boie, a “magician for non-believers,” at 7:30 p.m. in Wieden Auditorium. The night will cap off with the annual Alumni and Friends Social in “The Connection” at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center starting at 8:30 p.m. Festivities include giveaways and refreshments.
The fun continues on Saturday, Sept. 14, with art, awards, games and music. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., art enthusiasts can view the exhibit Wise Women by world renowned photographer Joyce Tenneson, which will be on display in the Campus Center’s Reed Fine Art Gallery. Tenneson’s exhibit is presented through Canon USA’s Explorer of Light program. As a special treat, the UMPI Bookstore, which has a fresh new look, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a 20% discount on clothing and glassware.
The Homecoming Alumni and Friends Brunch begins at 10 a.m. in the President’s House. During the brunch, the classes of 2003 (10 years), 1988 (25 years), and 1963 (50 years) will be honored. In addition, Michael Thibodeau, Class of 1966, will receive the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award and Christine Smith, Class of 2005, will be presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
The day includes many more events, such as: Greek Games at 11 a.m.; the Women’s (Noon) and Men’s (2 p.m.) soccer games vs. Maine Maritime Academy at the Park Family Field; three volleyball games—UMPI vs. Unity College at 12 p.m., University of Maine at Machias vs. Unity at 1:30 p.m., and UMPI vs. UMM at 3 p.m.—in Wieden Gym, and the Alumni and Families “Swim and Gym” from 2-5 p.m. in Gentile Hall. A new event gets underway at 5:30 p.m. when Kappa Delta Phi NAS holds its 40th anniversary dinner.
That evening, the annual Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner will be held in the Campus Center at 5:30 p.m. (reception starts at 5 p.m.). Three alumni will be inducted in the UMPI Athletics Hall of Fame during the event: Jocelyn Dill ’73, Paul Bouchard ’75, and Stephanie (Thurlow) Dubay ’02. Cost for the dinner is $16 per person.
A returning favorite of Homecoming Weekend, the band Too Far North will play in “The Connection” starting at 8:30 p.m. The classic rock and roll band takes the stage for its third annual reunion concert. Several members of the band, which performed between 1994 and 2008 throughout Maine, are UMPI alums. There will be a $5 cover at the door and proper ID is required. This event is sponsored in part by the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center and proceeds will benefit Alumni Scholarship and Outreach.
The last day of Homecoming, Sunday, Sept. 15, serves as an Alumni Sport Day. Alumni will have the opportunity to compete against students in soccer and cross country events during the morning and early afternoon. There will be refreshments and T-shirts for all participating alumni team members.
For more information about Homecoming 2013, contact Keith Madore at 768-9568.