Activities Announced for Homecoming 2006

A "fever" is expected to sweep across Sam Houston State University Oct. 9-14, and campus organizers hope current and former Bearkats and friends of the university will catch the "bug" as they celebrate Homecoming 2006.

"Kat Scratch Fever," this year's homecoming theme, was selected as part of a contest during the spring semester in which students voted for their favorite idea.   Plans have been under way for the traditional event since early in the year.

The week's activities will begin on Monday, Oct.   9, with a kickoff rally sponsored by the Office of Student Activities at noon in the Lowman Students Center Mall.   At 7 p.m. Damian the Hypnotist will entertain students in the LSC Ballroom with his comedy and his magic.

On Tuesday, Linda Armstrong-Kelly, the mother of Lance Armstrong, will be the guest speaker for the Student Activities Leadership Initiative at 11 a.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom. The seven-time Tour de France Champion has credited his mother as the unsung hero who assisted him in reaching his spectacular cycling victories and in his triumph over cancer.

Later that evening, Bearkats can Rock-N-Bowl at Huntsville Lanes at 9:30 p.m. as part of homecoming week events.

SamJam, a carnival featuring rides and midway-type games, will be held in the Bowers Stadium parking lot on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

The annual homecoming parade will begin on Thursday evening at 6:30 at the intersection of 19th Street and Sam Houston Avenue.   In addition to campus organizations and university dignitaries, a number of community groups and civic leaders are participating this year.   Awards will be given to winners in several categories.

On Friday, the class of 1956 will be honored at 11 a.m. in the LSC Ballroom as part of the Golden Circle Reunion, sponsored by the President's Office.   Later that evening, the traditional Distinguished Alumni Gala will take place, also in the Ballroom, beginning with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 7 p.m.   While former students are honoring their peers, a Drive-In Movie for current students will be shown at 8 p.m. at Colony Park.

Activities on a very busy Saturday will begin at 8 a.m. with the Raven 5K Run sponsored by Recreational Sports.   The run begins on campus at the Intramural Fields.  

The newly-completed Visitor and Alumni Center will be the site of an Alumni Coffee at 9:30 a.m.

At 10 a.m. the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences will host a reception on the second floor of the Academic II Building in honor of Mattie Bea Medford, who served for many years as chair of the department and for whom the department's Living Center is named.   

Also at 10 a.m., the Department of Agricultural Sciences will have a reception in the Thomason Building, the Department of Mass Communication will host "MassComfest" in the Dan Rather Communications Building, and the Office of Multicultural and International Student Services will sponsor a Multicultural Alumni Reception in room 320 of the Lowman Student Center.

SHSU President James Gaertner will greet visitors in Austin Hall at 11 a.m. during the "Pre-Game With the President Event," and the Lettermen Association will introduce newest inductees at a luncheon in the LSC Ballroom at 11:30 a.m.

At noon, homecoming activities will move to Bearkat Alley in the north parking lot of Bowers Stadium for a giant tailgate party.   This year, in addition to the Alumni Association and various student groups, all of the five colleges on campus will have tents to welcome alumni and visitors.   A tailgate competition for "Best Food" and "Best Use of Homecoming Theme" will take place, and winners will receive cash awards of $150 in each category.

The tailgate party will go on until 2 p.m. when the Sam Houston State University Bearkats take on the Colonels of Nicholls State in football at Bowers Stadium.

Saturday evening's activities include a volleyball match between SHSU and Nicholls in Johnson Coliseum at 7 p.m., and the Black Alumni Association and Friends Reception in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom, also at 7 p.m.

For more information about any of the homecoming activities, including lodging information, visit the SHSU Homecoming Web site at http://www.shsu.edu/homecoming .

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SHSU Media Contact: Julia May
October 3, 2006
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