The University of Maine at Presque Isle will present an action-packed, fun-filled Homecoming 2016 weekend—complete with an inflatable obstacle course, block party, fireworks, movie under the stars, and the annual Hall of Fame dinner—from Thursday, Sept. 29 to Sunday, Oct. 2. Alumni, friends, and campus and community members are invited to attend all events.
Activities get underway on Thursday, Sept. 29, with an Athletics’ Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser from 5-7 p.m. in the Campus Center’s Multi-Purpose Room. Tickets can be purchased for $7.50 at the Athletics Department or at the door. That night, beginning at 10 p.m. in the MPR, the Homecoming Dance for Students will be held.
Festivities kick into high gear on Friday, Sept. 30. A Homecoming BBQ will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Campus Center lawn (rain location will be in Kelley Commons). Faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends and community members can enjoy a delicious, all-you-can-eat meal for just $8 (free for students with meal plans). In the afternoon, there will be a Coloring for All Ages event sponsored by Cary Medical Center from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Owl’s Nest. That evening, from 5 to 8 p.m., there will be a Block Party at the Gentile Hall parking lot (rain location is inside Gentile Hall) featuring live music by Free Fall, food vendors, vendor tabling, community activities such as face painting and tie dying, and a Beer Tent provided by Sodexo. At 8 p.m., all are encouraged to gather on the soccer fields to watch a fireworks presentation, immediately followed by a Movie Under the Stars—Despicable Me (rated PG)—sponsored by Cary Healthy You.
Saturday, Oct. 1 is just as jam-packed, with the Inaugural UMPI Alumni Hour—which will feature a “State of the University” address by Interim President/Provost Ray Rice, as well as Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Educator Alumni award presentations—at 10 a.m. in the MPR. All attending any part of this year’s Homecoming activities are asked to turn out to this new event and to take part in a large group photo to be taken at its conclusion. At 11 a.m. near the soccer fields, there will be a BBQ/Cookout Fundraiser sponsored by UMPI Baseball. Cookout items will be available for sale and all proceeds will benefit the team. Also at 11 a.m., an Inflatable Obstacle Course for adults will be set up near the soccer fields. There also will be an adventure obstacle course for kids sponsored by TAMC.
All are invited to come cheer on the Owls on the soccer fields starting at Noon when UMPI’s Women’s Soccer takes on Unity; UMPI Men’s Soccer plays Unity at 2 p.m. In the evening, the annual Athletics’ Hall of Fame Dinner will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the MPR. Tickets are $20; for more information about the event, contact Sandy McDougal at 207-768-9506 or email sandra.mcdougal@maine.edu.
The main event during this year’s Homecoming Weekend takes place at 8 p.m. in the Auditorium at Wieden Hall, when dance troupe Step Afrika! takes the stage. One of the top 10 African dance companies in the United States, this high energy group has been featured on ABC News and is an official U.S. Cultural Ambassador. Step Afrika! will take audience members on a journey through dance, from Chicago jazz dancing to traditional Zulu dancing to South African “gumboot dancing.” This event is free and open to the public, though donations will be accepted at the door for future cultural arts programming.
The final day of festivities, Sunday, Oct. 2, will begin with the Men’s Alumni Soccer Game at 10 a.m. on the Park Family Field. The Women’s Alumnae Soccer Game follows at 11 a.m. Also at 11 a.m., the Community Fun Run, hosted by Chris Smith, takes place on the Park Family Field. At Noon, there will be an Alumni Baseball Game at Presque Isle High School. Activities culminate with a TAMC Sunday Swim from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Gentile Hall pool. Cost for this event is $1 for children and $2 for adults.
For more information about Homecoming 2016, please contact Beth Olsen at 207-768-9582 or email elizabeth.olsen@maine.edu.