Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) will celebrate its 2015 Homecoming with a variety of activities held at the school’s Institute campus beginning Oct. 8 and concluding Oct. 10.
Homecoming weekend festivities officially kick-off on Thursday, Oct. 8, with WVSU President Brian O. Hemphill delivering the annual State of the University address at 12:30 p.m. in the P. Ahmed Williams Auditorium, located on the second floor of Ferrell Hall.
“Homecoming is always a special time for the West Virginia State family,” said President Hemphill. “Welcoming our alumni back to campus so that they can see for themselves the great strides we have made in recent years is always exciting, just as our students enjoy meeting and networking with alumni and forging new bonds that will last a lifetime.”
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. There will also be an art exhibit, featuring WVSU alumni artists’ work, with an opening reception at 5 p.m. in the Davis Fine Arts Building. The exhibit honors the artistic legacy of former WVSU faculty member Della Brown Taylor Hardman, in the Art Gallery that bears her name.
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. At 3 p.m. in the Ann Brothers Smith Conference Room of the Judge Damon J. Keith Scholars Hall, President Hemphill will hold an open forum and take questions from alumni. Friday at 7:30 p.m. the WVSU National Alumni Association will hold its annual Homecoming Awards Banquet at the Charleston Marriott Town Center. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased by visiting or by calling (304) 766-3387.
Saturday, Oct. 10, will start with the fourth annual Yellow Jacket 5K Run/Walk in front of the James C. 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 and costs $20. Registration will also be available on the day of the race for $25. All 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 and tickets will be sold at the event.
At 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 10 the annual Homecoming Parade will begin at Shawnee Park and proceed along Route 25 before turning onto campus and continuing along the red road through the heart of campus to the football field.
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 Dickerson Stadium where the WVSU Yellow Jackets will square off with the Notre Dame College Falcons.
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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