Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) will celebrate its 2014 Homecoming Oct. 9-11 with a variety of activities held at the school’s Institute campus.
One highlight of the weekend will take place Saturday, Oct 11, immediately following the Homecoming Parade at approximately 11:15 a.m. in front of the James C. Wilson University Union when WVSU President Brian O. Hemphill will be joined by business and education leaders, members of the WVSU Foundation and the WVSU Board of Governors as he makes an exciting announcement about the future of the University.
Homecoming weekend festivities officially kick-off on Thursday, Oct. 9, with President Hemphill delivering the annual State of the University address at 10 a.m. in the P. Ahmed Williams Auditorium, located on the second floor of Ferrell Hall.
“This is an exciting time for West Virginia State University, as our enrollment has increased for the second consecutive year, and we continue to make investments, thereby improving the college experience for our students,” said President Hemphill. “We look forward to welcoming our alumni back to campus so they can see some of the exciting changes for themselves, including the completed Judge Damon J. Keith Scholars Hall, and our world-class athletic facility in the D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker Convocation Center, both of which were completed since last year’s Homecoming festivities.”
Other activities scheduled for Thursday include a WVSU National Alumni Association Board Meeting set for 3 p.m. at the Charleston Marriott Town Center, and a Young Alumni Mixer at 7 p.m. in the Erickson Alumni Center on campus. Friday’s Homecoming activities will include a Golf Outing at Little Creek Country Club in South Charleston with registration at 10 a.m. and a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Cost is $50 per player and proceeds benefit the WVSU men’s basketball team.
At 11 a.m. on campus in the auditorium of the Davis Fine Arts building, new members will be inducted into the WVSU ROTC Hall of Fame. Following this ceremony, a dedication ceremony will take place in the Ferguson-Lincoln Building to name a conference room in memory of Cadet John Douglas Silvera, Jr. Silvera was a freshman in the West Virginia State Army ROTC program during the fall semester in 1948 when he lost his life during an automobile accident. He along with 13 other cadets were travelling to Charleston to participate in a Preparedness Day Parade when the accident occurred. He is the only known Cadet to lose his life while training with the WVSU Army ROTC program.
At 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, a Planned Giving Seminar will take place in the Dr. Ann Brothers Smith Conference in the Judge Damon J. Keith Scholars Hall. The seminar will cover how individuals can make future commitments to support University students through estate planning with the WVSU Foundation.
Saturday, Oct. 11, will start with the third annual Yellow Jacket 5K Run/Walk in front of the Wilson University Union. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. and the race will start at 7:30 a.m. Preregistration is available online at connect.wvstateu.edu/5k and costs $20. Money raised goes to student scholarships.
At 8:30 a.m. inside the Wilson University Union, the National “W” Club will induct new members into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Cost to attend the induction brunch is $10.
At 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 11 the annual Homecoming Parade will begin. This year, the parade route has changed and will begin at Shawnee Park, continue down Barron Drive to Athletic Drive and travel up the center of campus to the Wilson University Union where at its conclusion, President Hemphill will make his announcement. Immediately following the announcement, a reception for alumni will be held at the Erickson Alumni Center. On hand for the reception will be Parthenia Edmonds, a 99-year-old alumnae of the University who graduated in 1939.
Beginning at 11:30 a.m. there will be tailgating and family friendly activities campus wide, before kickoff of the Homecoming game at 1:30 p.m. at Lakin Field at Dickerson Stadium where the WVSU Yellow Jackets will square off with the West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats.
Following the game, there will be a free pig roast on the Student Plaza in front of the University Union hosted by President Hemphill.
For more information, and a complete schedule of Homecoming events, visit or call (304) 766-3387.
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