Central College will host alumni, family and friends for Homecoming Sept. 22-24. Guests of all ages can participate in events including Friday’s street festival, Saturday’s tailgate lunch and football game, and several music performances.
This year, Central celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Lemming Race. This Homecoming tradition was created in 1977, when the first group of students raced to the campus pond in costume. Now led by the Theta Kappa Alpha fraternity and this year’s Grand Lemming, the race begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 22. Before the race, alumni are invited to Happy Hour from 4:30 – 6 p.m. on the Maytag Student Center Patio.
Friday evening, Central’s vocal combo ensembles perform at 8 p.m. in Douwstra Auditorium. Led by professor of music Gabriel Espinosa ’79, the concert also features Molly Lehr ’08, founder of Red Cloud Studio in Chicago’s Logan Square. Tickets cost $5 (free with Central ID).
Three of Central’s all-America athletes will be added to the college’s Hall of Honor during Homecoming, including Donell Hotze Kvaal ’00, Molly Parrott ’02 and Angie Nielsen Sears ’02. This marks the first year Central has inducted three female athletes into its Hall of Honor, established in 2002. The ceremony is Saturday at 10 a.m. in Schipper Fitness Center lobby and is free to attend. Reservations are required for the Hall of Honor banquet, held Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Harry and Bernice Vermeer Banquet Hall in Graham Conference Center.
Four alumni award winners will also be honored Saturday, including Richard and Mary Glendening ‘62, Ammanuel Mehreteab ‘70 and Kellie Markey ‘88. The award presentation, followed by lunch, begins at 10:30 a.m. in Maytag Student Center’s Boat, Moore and Weller rooms, and reservations are required.
When the Dutch go against Nebraska Wesleyan in Saturday’s football game, fans will meet the newest music sound on campus — the Dutch Boom Drumline. Led by senior lecturer of music Stan Dahl, the new ensemble will be bringing energy to football games and events throughout the year. The game begins at 1 p.m. in Schipper Stadium, and admission costs $6.
On Sunday, alumni of the Flying Pans Steel Drum Band are invited to participate in the 11th annual Homecoming alumni concert at noon in Douwstra Auditorium. Also, Central’s A Cappella Choir will present a free concert at 1 p.m. in the Chapel, followed by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s performance at 1:30 p.m. in Douwstra Auditorium.
For a complete Homecoming schedule, visit https://www.central.edu/alumni/homecoming/.
