Baylor Family to Gather for 97th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration
compiled by the Baylor University Office of Public Relations, (254) 710-1961
Baylor University will celebrate its 97th anniversary Homecoming Oct. 18-21 with a variety of traditional events and activities.
One of the first activities is Homecoming chapel. During the services at 10 and 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18, in Waco Hall, Baylor Chamber of Commerce Homecoming Chair Andrew Morris will inform students about the freshman mass meeting, which will be held that same evening in Waco Hall, and about the bonfire activities that will take place on Friday, Oct. 20.
In addition, the Homecoming chapel services will feature a presentation of the 49 nominees for Homecoming Queen. Chapel attendees will be introduced to each candidate and her nominating organization.
The annual Pigskin Revue will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 7:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 21, at 7:00 p.m. in Waco Hall.
A miniature version of spring's All-University Sing, Pigskin features the top eight acts from Sing with all of the glamour and preparation of the original event. Thursday's performance will feature the crowning of the Baylor Homecoming Queen and her court.
This year's participants in Pigskin include Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Phi Kappa Chi and Sing Alliance. Additionally, the top three acts from All-University Sing will be showcased. They include first-place winner Kappa Omega Tau, Kappa Kappa Gamma, which placed second, and Kappa Sigma, which received third place honors.
Tickets for the Thursday night performance are available by calling the Bill Daniel Student Center ticket office at (254) 710-3210. All other shows are sold out.
The Homecoming weekend also provides a time for the annual meeting of the Baylor Alumni Association. The meeting will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20, in the Jones Theatre of the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center.
During the meeting, Jeff Kilgore, executive vice president for the Baylor Alumni Association, will update members about recent activities of the association. Following Kilgore's report, the 2007 Baylor Alumni Association officers and directors will be elected and official Baylor University rings will be presented to Baylor President John M. Lilley and his wife, Gerrie.
In addition, the W.R. White Meritorious Service award, one of nine awards given annually by the Alumni Association, will be presented to four alumni.
The W. R. White Meritorious Service Award is given each year to individuals who have "rendered outstanding service to Baylor University."
This year's recipients of the award are Mary Felkner, Katy Stokes, Randy Ferguson and James Nelson.
Felkner worked for more than 30 years in the athletic department as the ticket agent and was beloved by many when she retired in 2006. Stokes, along with her husband George--also a past recipient of this award, has dedicated her life to service of Baylor. Ferguson has served on the Baylor University Board of Regents since 1999 and was named an Outstanding Young Alumni in 1986. Nelson is the past president of the Alumni Association and currently serves on its executive committee.
The award is named for past Baylor president Dr. W.R. White, and is given to individuals who not only serve Baylor but also express continued interest in and loyalty to the university. The meeting will adjourn following closing remarks and a Q & A session with Dr. Lilley.
The annual Carillon Homecoming Recital will feature University Carillonneur Lynnette Geary entertaining audiences with a live performance at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, on the 48-bell McLane Carillon in Pat Neff Hall Tower.
Geary will play five pieces, beginning with a doxology and closing with "The Baylor Line," she said. The performance is free and open to the public. People can bring a chair and blanket, sit on the grass and eat dinner, or just walk around, Geary said.
Geary, assistant to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has been playing the carillon at Baylor for 10 years as an assistant carillonneur, and was named the official university carillonneur in early October. For more information about Geary's appointment as university carillonneur, click here.
Singspiration, a Baylor Homecoming tradition since the 1950s, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at Seventh and James Baptist Church.
The event, titled "Singspiration 2006...The Tradition Continues," will consist of a variety of congregational songs, including "long-time revival favorites," as well as more contemporary pieces, said Brent Edwards, director of the Baylor Network and coordinator of the event.
"Singspiration unites Baylor students of the past, present and even future in a time of praise and celebration with others in the Baylor family," said Krysta Edwards, a member of the Baylor Religious Hour Choir that also will perform at the event. "It is such a positive aspect of the Homecoming festivities." Singspiration is free and open to the public.
Entertaining audiences with their choreographed review-style performances, Baylor Showtime! will present "Cabaret," a concert showcasing the 12-member ensemble's unique combination of song and dance, at 8 p.m. Friday in Jones Theater of the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center.
Baylor fans will gear up for Saturday's match-up against the Kansas Jayhawks at the second annual Homecoming Extravaganza beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, on the grounds of the Ferrell Center. The Baylor family can purchase dinner and enjoy activities like hot air balloon rides, a Ferris wheel, inflatable games and face painting for children and reunions with student organizations.
The Baylor University Golden Wave Band and Spirit Squads then will kick off the Homecoming bonfire and pep rally with traditional cheers and songs at 9 p.m. on the grounds of the Ferrell Center. Speeches from President John Lilley, head football coach Guy Morriss and senior members of the football team will motivate the crowd.
The lighting of the bonfire will immediately follow the pep rally. Part of the Homecoming tradition since 1946, the bonfire began as a way to protect the campus and mascot from rival schools.
A shuttle service will be provided all evening between the Ferrell Center, Waco Hall, the Dutton Avenue Parking Garage and the East Campus Parking Garage.
Widely regarded as the oldest and largest in the nation, the 97th annual Baylor Homecoming parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on Eighth Street and Austin Avenue and will arrive in the heart of campus on Fifth Street at approximately 9 a.m.
The parade consists of 112 entries, including student organizations, local officials, Homecoming Queen nominees, members of the Waco community and the ever-popular themed floats created by sororities and fraternities.
Floats became a staple of the parade in the 1920s, but it wasn't until the 1960s that the student-created floats began bearing themes predicting the opposing football team's loss. Each float is inspected by a group of judges and cash prizes are awarded to the winning organizations. The winners will be announced during the bonfire festivities.
The parade will be televised live beginning at 9 a.m. on KWBU-TV Ch. 34 (cable channel 4).
Following the parade, the Baylor Bears will face off against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Homecoming football game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Floyd Casey Stadium. Tickets may be purchased from the Athletic Department ticket office at (254) 710-1000, or online at www.baylorbears.com.
Homecoming weekend will conclude with the Homecoming Worship Service at 9 a.m. Sunday in Truett Seminary's Powell Chapel.
For more information about Homecoming events, visit Baylor's official Homecoming web site or contact Baylor Chamber of Commerce at (254) 710-3322.