Posted on Friday, October 11, 2024
It’s showtime!
In just a couple of weeks, the stage will be set for a Homecoming celebration that will bring hype and energy as well as campus pride.
“We’re all about creating an atmosphere for our Panther community to have memorable experiences,” said Martha Pirkle, Director of Alumni and Community Relations. “This year’s lineup will combine new and traditional elements that are sure to pique the interest of students and alumni alike.”
One of the headlining events will take you down the yellow brick road and on the way to the Emerald City in LC Musical Theatre’s production of the “Wizard of Oz.” The show opens Oct. 24 and runs through Oct. 27. Performance times are 6 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Throughout the week, there will be an array of student activities happening at the college, including a Panther ball, a pep rally, a silent headphone party and a bonfire.
Graduate student Stevie Nix ’23, who is assisting with the Homecoming campus events, said she has enjoyed playing a role in making this week come together.
“Since I started working with Housing and Student Life, I appreciate so much more the work that goes into making Homecoming special,” she said. “This year, we have a lot of fun new things in store. I encourage current and former students alike to come out and enjoy themselves!”
Once a Panther, always a Panther
Whether it is the first or 50th Homecoming, the feeling of nostalgia is always there for alumni returning to a place they hold close to their hearts.
“I love reconnecting with friends I haven’t seen in years,” Alumni Association President Spencer King ’00 said. “I also like engaging with current students who share in the pride and love we all have for LaGrange.”
Elizabeth White ’14, a coordinator of the 10-year reunion, loves to relive cherished memories from her time as a student.
“The memory that stands out the most are the weeks leading up to Homecoming when we would work on our floats for the parade,” she said.
Caitlyn McCollough ’19 looks forward to the tailgate on Homecoming weekend.
“I love it when everyone comes together to celebrate, eat, drink and catch up,” she said.
Keeping traditions alive
At the beginning of Homecoming week, there will be a special worship service for students and alumni on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., at the Chapel.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, there will be a Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the Dickson Assembly Room at Turner Hall. This year’s inductees are Zak Turner ’06, Men’s Soccer; Caroline Brashier ’14, M’15, Women’s Tennis and Women’s Basketball; Cory Howard ’15, Men’s Golf; and Ryan Broaderick ’17, Baseball. Tickets are $40 for adults, $20 for children 12-17 and free for children under 12. The cost includes dinner that starts at 5 p.m. Registration information can be found on the Homecoming website.
The following day, the 40th Tom Duckett Memorial Golf Classic will begin with registration at 9 a.m. and a shotgun start at 10 a.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Sports Management Club.
Next, the Alumni Awards luncheon will be held at noon at Turner Hall. The event will feature the presentation of the 2024 Honorary Alumni Award to David McCollum and Dr. John Williams, the 2024 Outstanding Young Alumni Award to Emily Arnold ’17 and the 2024 Shackelford Alumni Achievement Awards to Rachel Samples Jones ’08 and Dr. Michael Thomas ’05. RSVP is requested. The cost is $25 per person.
Later in the evening, the Homecoming festivities will move downtown for the annual Flashback Friday party at Overlook Plaza, next to Wild Leap Brewing Company. The River City Horns, an R&B Soul and Contemporary band from Columbus, Georgia, will return to perform.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, Men’s Basketball will host a meet-and-greet event for alumni at 10 a.m. at Mariotti Gym.
Other Saturday events include the “Crafting Collections” exhibition at Lamar Dodd Art Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Red and Black Reunion Row with a registration tent that will be in the Callaway Auditorium parking lot from 10 a.m. until the end of halftime. The Panther football team will take on Greensboro at 1 p.m. at Callaway Stadium. Halftime will feature the announcement of the 2024 Homecoming King and Queen.
Following the football game, a cornhole tournament will make its debut at Panther Field. The tournament will begin at 5 p.m.
“Last year, a group of us added cornhole to the tailgating and then decided to have a tournament for this Homecoming,” said coordinator Tracy Caldwell ’89. “We are all excited about this and hope that others will join us.”
The week will be capped off with the annual Memorial Service on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 10:30 a.m., at the Chapel. It will honor the lives of alumni and members of the LC community who have passed away since Homecoming 2023. For a list of those being remembered, visit here.
For a complete schedule, visit the Homecoming website.
Time Management: A Tool or a Mindset?
Wednesday, Oct. 16
11 a.m., Corn Auditorium
Mix & Match: Majors and Minors
Thursday, Oct. 17
11 a.m., Corn Auditorium
Career Assessment
Thursday, Oct. 17
3 p.m., Bailey Room
Football
The Panthers fell 38-13 to Maryville on Saturday, Oct. 5. The team will be on the road to compete against North Carolina Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 12, at noon.
Men’s Soccer
LC took 3-0 losses to Maryville and Sewanee the weekend of Oct. 5-6. The Panthers beat Piedmont 3-1 on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The team takes on Asbury at home on Saturday, Oct. 12, (tomorrow), at 2 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
The Panthers lost 3-0 to Belhaven on Saturday, Oct. 5, but beat Tougaloo 12-0 the following day. The team will compete against Maryville on Saturday, Oct. 12, (tomorrow), following the conclusion of the men’s game.
Volleyball
LC dropped its matches to Covenant, Piedmont and Middle Georgia this past week. The team will travel to Tennessee to play in a tri-match at Maryville on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Men’s Golf
The Panthers placed 17th overall at the West Pines Invitational Oct. 7-8. The team will compete in the Chick-fil-a Invitational hosted by Berry Oct. 21-22.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Saturday, Oct. 12 – Volleyball Tri-Match vs. Maryville and Agnes Scott @Maryville, noon and 2 p.m., Maryville, Tennessee
Saturday, Oct. 12 – Football at North Carolina Wesleyan, noon, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Saturday, Oct. 12 – Men’s Soccer (Home) vs. Asbury, 2 p.m., Panther Field
Saturday, Oct. 12 – Women’s Soccer (Home) vs. Maryville, 4 p.m., Panther Field
Tuesday, Oct. 15 – Women’s Soccer (Home) vs. Huntingdon, 7 p.m., Panther Field
Wednesday, Oct. 16 – Volleyball Reserves (Home) vs. Huntingdon, 4:30 p.m., Richter Gym
Wednesday, Oct. 16 – Men’s Soccer (Home) vs. Huntingdon, 7 p.m., Panther Field
Wednesday, Oct. 16 – Volleyball (Home) vs. Huntingdon, 7 p.m., Richter Gym
LaGrange College to perform Wizard of Oz, LaGrange Daily News, Oct. 5
Category: Community, Students, College
Keywords: Festival, Alumni
