By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – “Welcome to Paradise” is the theme for the 2015 University of Nebraska at Kearney Homecoming Week, Family Day and Band Day events, which are Monday through Saturday (Sept. 21-26).
“For students, Homecoming Week is the first time they get to participate in events that connect them back to campus,” said Heather Wolf, assistant director for Student Activities. “Many former students share the memories that they’ve made because of Homecoming Week. They create memories of carrying out a team goal or winning or losing an event.”
There will be events each day of Homecoming Week.
On Monday, the Lawn Display Contest is at 3 p.m. on the Campus Greens. Loper FEUD, an event based on the game show Family Feud, is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Nebraskan Student Union Ponderosa Room.
Canned Food Build allows students to compete and create the best sculpture from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday on the Campus Greens. Teams are given donations or purchase their own perishable food items to create structures based on the homecoming theme. Canned goods are then donated to area food banks. Last year, 3,624 pounds of food was donated to Mid-Nebraska Food Bank and 400 pounds of food was donated to UNK’s Big Blue Cupboard, which provides non-perishable food items to students in need.
On Thursday, the Lip Sync Competition begins at 7 p.m., and Homecoming Royalty Crowning is at 9 p.m. at the Health and Sports Center. The Lip Sync Competition features special performances by a cappella group Six Appeal. The group will also serve as the event’s master of ceremonies.
On Friday, students will compete in an adventure race across campus beginning at 5 p.m.
Karst earned his bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Wichita State University, his master’s in animal physiology and his Ph.D in physiology, both from University of Arizona. He researches motor control, kinesiological EMG, and education, and has clinical work with outpatient orthopedics. He has been with UNMC for 25 years.
Mertz’ career has been focused on helping clients, families, nurses, organizations and students reach their highest potential and achieve their goals. Mertz received her Bachelor’s in Nursing from the University of Missouri, Columbia; her Master’s in Nursing from the University of Washington, Seattle; and, her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seattle University, Seattle. She has 30 years experience as a nurse, director and administrator.
They are the lead UNMC faculty/administrators at the new Health Science Education Complex and represent the collaboration between the two campuses and the new programs.
Saturday’s Homecoming Week events feature the Homecoming Parade, Band Day and Family Day activities.
The parade begins at 10 a.m. at the Museum of Nebraska Art and progresses south on Central Avenue before finishing at the West Co. parking lot at 923 W. Railroad St. Greg Karst, UNMC professor of physical therapy education and assistant dean for academic affairs in the College of Allied Health Professions, and Mary Ann Mertz, UNMC assistant professor/College of Nursing and assistant dean for the Kearney Division of the College of Nursing, are grand marshals for the parade.
Area bands taking part in Band Day will then participate in the Bearcat Marching Festival, which begins at 1 p.m. at Kearney High School.
The homecoming football game against the University of Central Missouri kicks off at 3 p.m. at Foster Field.
Homecoming royalty will be honored at halftime of the football game. Other halftime activities include recognition of new inductees into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame, Band Day parade awards and announcement of homecoming sweepstakes winners. The UNK Sapphire Dance team and UNK Pride of the Plains marching band will also perform.
UNK Homecoming Highlights
Monday, Sept. 21
3 p.m. – Lawn Display contest (Campus Greens)
Tuesday, Sept. 22
5 to 7 p.m. – Loper FEUD, based on game show Family Feud (Student Union, Ponderosa)
Wednesday, Sept. 23
5 to 7 p.m. – Canned Food Build (Campus Greens)
Thursday, Sept. 24
11:45 a.m. – Loper Luncheon (Health and Sports Center)
7 to 9:30 p.m. – Lip Sync Contest, Royalty Crowning (Health and Sports Center)
Friday, Sept. 25
11:30 a.m. – Distinguished Alumni Awards luncheon. Tickets $25. Call 308.698.5271. (Student Union, Ponderosa)
2:30 p.m. – Chemistry Department: Don Fox Lecture (Copeland 131)
3:30 p.m. – One Room, One Teacher awards ceremony (College of Education Atrium)
5 to 6:30 p.m. – Adventure Race (Entire Campus)
5:30 p.m. – Athletic Hall of Fame banquet. Tickets $40. Call 308.698.5271. (Student Union, Ponderosa)
7 p.m. – Women’s soccer vs Missouri Southern (Foster Field)
Saturday, Sept. 26
10 a.m. – Homecoming and Band Day Parade (Downtown Kearney)
11:30 a.m. – Alumni barbecue. Tickets $10. (Alumni House)
Noon – LoperVille Tailgate (Cope Stadium)
3 p.m. – Football vs Central Missouri (Foster Field)
-30-
Source: Heather Wolf, 308.865.8057, wolfhn@unk.edu@unk.edu
Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
