2014 Homecoming Ignites Blazer Spirit, Celebrates the Arts

VALDOSTA - Valdosta State University’s homecoming celebration will feature numerous activities throughout the week of Oct. 20 to Oct. 25 for alumni, students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.

The week begins Monday, Oct. 20 with a student kickoff carnival.  The College of Arts will also host a “Celebration of the Arts” reception and gallery opening followed by the opening concert for the brass ensemble. A t-shirt exchange will also be held Monday through Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. at a tent in front of Odum Library

Faculty and staff are encouraged to decorate their offices while students will adorn the residence hall lobbies to show campus spirit. Decorations must encompass the “Ignite” homecoming theme. Students also have the chance to showcase their artistic talents with sidewalk chalk displays and sheet signs.

Other events include the president’s cookout, pep rally, and lip sync competition as well as the Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament, Blazin’ Downtown Throwdown, and College of Arts Reunion.

Full List of Events (Also available at www.valdosta.edu/homecoming )

Note: Student T-Shirt exchange will be held Monday through Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. at the tent in front of Odum Library. The first 500 VSU students may bring a gently worn t-shirt representing any other university and exchange it for a VSU t-shirt. Used shirts will be donated to charity.

Monday, Oct. 20
“Red-Out Day”

Student Kickoff Carnival
5 p.m. VSU Front Lawn

College of the Arts Kickoff Reception & Openings
6:30 p.m. Fine Arts Gallery
Reception for Opening of the “Celebration of the Arts” Homecoming Week Festivities & Gallery Opening of the Matt Mitros & Laura Tanner Art Exhibit. Event is open to the community.

8 p.m. Whitehead Auditorium
Annual Brass Ensembles Opening Concert Featuring a brass & percussion fanfare especially written for the occasion by VSU student Miller Moor. Event is open to the community.

Tuesday, October 21
“Costume Day”

Departmental Spirit Competition
Around Campus, Judging All Day
To acknowledge staff and faculty support of VSU each department on campus will be asked to decorate for homecoming.  The Council on Staff Affairs will assist with participation.  Decorations must encompass the homecoming theme.  The winning department will be announced at the pep rally on Thursday.  Judging will take place Tuesday all day by mystery judges.  A traveling trophy will be displayed in the winning department for the year.

Residence Hall Lobby Spirit Competition
Around Campus, Judging Held Afternoon
To acknowledge student support of VSU interested residents will be asked to decorate their lobby for homecoming.  Decorations must encompass the homecoming theme.  Judging will take place on Tuesday afternoon and the winner will be announced at the pep rally on Thursday night. A traveling trophy will be displayed in the winning lobby for the year.

Spirit Sheet Competition                                                                                 
Around Campus, Judging Held Afternoon
In the time-honored VSU tradition of communicating via sheet-signs, student organizations will be invited to display sheet-signs decorated for homecoming.  Signs must incorporate the Homecoming theme.  Judging will take place on Tuesday afternoon and the winning organizations will be announced at the Pep Rally on Thursday.

Sidewalk Chalk Competition                                                                        
Palms Dining Hall Walkway, Judging Held Afternoon
In this time-honored VSU tradition, Greeks and organizations will be paired to decorate the walkway leading up to Palms Dining Hall with chalk for homecoming.  Designs must incorporate the homecoming theme.  Judging will take place on Tuesday afternoon and the winning organizations will be announced at the pep rally on Thursday.

Mini-Trike Relay Race
6 p.m. VSU Pedestrian Mall
In a new twist to Homecoming, students and faculty/staff will enter to compete in the inaugural Mini-trike Relay.   Taking place in the pedestrian mall, the teams will race down a designed path and at specific locations will trade off with members of their team to complete the race.   Teams will run in 3-team heats and we will track the winners in a bracket-style system to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners awarded with prizes from the VSU Bookstore.   Teams are also asked to dress in a uniform fashion that incorporates the artistic theme of Homecoming with the best team design winning a prize.

College of the Arts Concert
7:30 p.m. Whitehead Auditorium
Annual Brass Ensembles Tuba/Euphonium Quartet Concert Featuring an Ensemble opening with fanfare from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Event is open to the community.

Wednesday, Oct. 22
“Black-Out Day”

Wild Adventures Night
VSU students can enjoy a night at Wild Adventures. Bus will leave VSU Oak Street parking lot (west end) beginning at 5:30 p.m., with last pickup at 9:00 p.m.  The bus will also return students to same location at various intervals. (Only students with a valid VSU ID will be admitted)

Thursday, Oct. 23
“Organizational/VSU Roll Call and White-Out Day”

President’s Cookout
5:30 p.m. Reames Field (next to VSU Tennis Courts)
What’s Homecoming Week without a cookout? VSU students, faculty, staff, & alumni are invited to a cookout hosted by VSU President Bill McKinney & First Lady Dr. Dacia Charlesworth. This event is free of charge but attendees must register online by Monday, October 20^th.  Facepainting & games will be available for the kids.REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Please visit www.valdostastate.org/homecoming to register.

Pep Rally & Lip Sync Competition
VSU's annual homecoming pep rally begins at 7 p.m., in the P.E. Complex. Following the pep rally, stay for the lip sync competition where the talents of our VSU students and staff will be showcased. Event is open to the public and no registration to attend is required. It will be necessary to register to participate in the contest through student life.

Friday, Oct. 24
“Red Hat & Red Shoes Day”

Alumni Golf Tournament
Four-person scramble with lunch and drink tickets included. Entry fee is $100 per person, or $400 per team. Mulligan packages are available for $15. Hole Sponsorships are $100 and due by Friday, October 17th. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. with tee times at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to winning teams, and early registration is encouraged. Tee times are first come, first serve. Event is open to the community. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Please visit www.valdostastate.org/homecoming to register.

Blazin' Downtown Throwdown 
6:30 p.m. Courthouse Lawn
Join downtown merchants who will be decorating their storefronts and providing specials and discounts to VSU students, faculty, staff, & alumni in support of the Blazers! Bring the whole family to watch the VSU Red Hots, Band, Blaze and the Cheerleaders perform at 6:30 pm on the Courthouse Lawn. VSU Bookstore will be on location for all your game day needs, including game tickets. The Community is invited to attend.

Alumni Recognition Dinner
7 p.m. University Center Magnolia Room
$35 per person
This annual event recognizes the accomplishments of the recipients of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award and the G.O.L.D. (Graduate of the Last Decade) Award winners. Cocktails will begin at 7 pm with dinner served at 7:30 pm. Drinks and a 3 course dinner. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Please visit www.valdostastate.org/homecoming to register.

Saturday, Oct. 25

Campus Tours
9:30 a.m. Office of Admissions
For any alumni coming with high school age students – or those who just want to catch up on all the changes, tours of the campus will be provided by the Office of Admissions. Please contact the Office of Admissions at 229.333.5791 or admissions@valdosta.edu if you are interested.

Reunion Breakfast for Graduates of the “4s”
9:30 a.m. University Center Executive Dining Room
$10 per person
Alumni who graduated in years ending in a “4” are invited to attend a gathering in their honor to reminisce and visit with long lost friends. The fee includes a full breakfast and registration will be required before Wednesday, October 22^nd.  Yearbooks will be on hand and pictures submitted from graduates prior to Homecoming week will be compiled into a slide show. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Please visit www.valdostastate.org/homecoming to register.

College of the Arts Mass Media & Speech Communication Reunion
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Communication Arts/Mass Media Building
Bring your family and join fellow alumni & current students to watch the Homecoming parade at their new building located on the corner of Patterson & Brookwood—right across from Drexel Park and the University Center. Come early, bring your lawn chairs, tour the new facilities, meet the new head of the Communication Arts Department, and join us for food, fun, door prizes, surprises, and a memorable reunion with friends on our back patio. Follow us on Twitter @VSU_speechcomm and like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/VSUspeech to watch the event unfold!

Homecoming Parade
11 a.m., Surrounding Campus
Make plans to bring the family and lawn chairs to watch the Homecoming parade featuring the Blazin’ Brigade, VSU Cheerleaders, Red Hots, & floats entered by student and community organizations.  Winning floats will be judged on spirit and incorporation of the Homecoming theme centered around celebrating the Year of the Arts.  The parade will begin in Oak Street Parking Lot, turn left onto Oak Street, right onto Georgia Avenue, right onto Patterson Street, right onto Brookwood and return to Oak Street Parking Lot. Event is open to the community but parade entrants will need to register by Friday, Oct. 17

Alumni Tailgate
Noon to 2:45 p.m. Corner of Brookwood and Slater Street
$5 – children 12 & under; $10 – adult BBQ only; $15 – adult BBQ & beer.
Situated on the corner of Slater and Brookwood next to the stadium and across from Drexel Park, alumni are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers for a big-time college football tailgate.  Traditional BBQ tailgate fare will be available for purchase or bring your own picnic.  Live entertainment will be on hand, as well as cornhole and face painting. Attendees will have the option to just come and visit for free or to purchase 1 of 3 ticket packages. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Please visit www.valdostastate.org/homecoming to register.

Blazer Walk
1:30 p.m. Main gate Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
Show your school spirit by cheering on the Blazers as they enter Bazemore-Hyder Stadium prior to the game against Shorter Hawks.

Blazers vs. Shorter Hawks
Event is open to the community. Tickets may be purchased by calling 229-333-SEAT (7328) or by emailing tickets@valdosta.edu. They are also available online at: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/team.asp?SponsorID=6551#.VBDunPldWM0

Blazer Gear
Buy all your VSU apparel and gear online through the VSU Bookstore  vsuonlinebookstore.com or visit the remote bookstore at the stadium before and after the game. You can also purchase an official VSU cell phone case for iPhone and Samsung models by visiting www.edu-cases.com/shop/schools/vsu. A portion of the proceeds from your purchase goes right back to your alma mater and the Alumni Association!

For more information about Homecoming, contact us at 229.333.5797 or alumni@valdosta.edu, or visit our webpage at www.valdosta.edu/homecoming.

Alpha Phi Alpha Step Show
The Mu Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. presents the VSU homecoming step show, 7:06 p.m., P.E. Complex. For more information, please contact Juwan Andrews at sjandrews@valdosta.edu . (This event is held in conjunction with homecoming, but is not VSU sanctioned event.)