Homecoming is right around the corner, with festivities starting this Friday, November 9.
One of the many events taking place this weekend is the student-inspired and led Homecoming Parade. The parade will take place on Friday, November 9th from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Participating students will travel around campus and end in front of Allen Arena on floats featuring the theme, “Tame the Tigers.”
Another event this weekend is the Friday evening “Lipscomb Honors: An Evening of Story and Song.” This Country Music Hall of Fame-hosted program begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m., and it costs $100. During the event, Lipscomb will bestow honor on several Lipscomb alumni, recognizing “the profound impact they’re making on the world,” according to the Homecoming webpage.
Saturday’s main events kicks off with the Hall of Fame induction of seven Lipscomb alumni. The event will be held in the Student Activity Center and will start at 11 a.m. The cost is $25 per person.
The student group tailgate is also happening this weekend, starting at 12:30 p.m. in the Allen Arena Circle.
The men’s and women’s basketball games are another celebrated part of the weekend. The women’s team is playing Tennessee State University (TSU) on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. The men’s game against TSU is at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Both games are free, and you can register for your free ticket online.
Alumni from all 10 colleges are expected at the game, Phil Ellenburg, Lipscomb’s Vice President of Alumni Relations, said. They will also mingle at a reunion in McQuiddy Gymnasium during halftime.
Finally, the Department of Theatre’s production of Godspell begins at 7:30 p.m. in Collins Auditorium. Godspell is a Stephen Schwartz musical based on the Gospel of Matthew. Student tickets are free and may be reserved online using the code StuTix1819.
Homecoming hasn’t always been celebrated like it will be this year. For several years prior to 2016, homecoming didn’t occur.
“We kind of did a reset three years ago,” Ellenburg said. “Rebuilding and rebranding comes with the ability to be open to new ideas.”
Homecoming will now be held every second week of November, so that it coincides with the opening basketball games and fall musical.
While Homecoming is a celebration of alumni, it’s also a time to involve and encourage current students.
“We want to be relevant and meaningful,” Ellenburg said. “We’re all Bisons.”
This year’s Homecoming planners want to do their best to listen to students’ desires for the event.
“We’re hoping Homecoming has something for everyone,” Ellenburg said. “We want to include students and for them to participate and enjoy the school spirit.”
Ellenburg noted he is especially excited about the Board of Trustees meeting, which is scheduled to take place this weekend. The board meets four times each year, and Ellenburg intentionally scheduled this meeting to happen during Homecoming so that the board could see all the great things happening on campus.
One of Ellenburg’s plans is to create more affinity groups, which connect people who share commonalities. One way he’s seen this desire recognized is through the formation of the first Black Alumni Council, which is hosting a meeting in the Bennett Campus Center from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Council will also host a reception Saturday afternoon in Ezell 363.
Other reunion events will occur throughout the weekend, including the Golden Circle reunion for alumni who graduated at least 50 years ago, and the Gold Reunion for alumni who graduated within the last 10 years. Lipscomb college alumni will also be gathering at various coffee and breakfast events throughout the weekend.
“One of our goals is to make sure the Bison network is strong,” Ellenburg said. “We want to connect [Lipscomb students and alumni] and create a community . . . and Homecoming is a big piece of that.”
Students can view the full list of Homecoming events online.