GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY HOMECOMING SET FOR OCTOBER 17-19, 2024
Published: October 11, 2024
Author: Liz Dowell
GREENVILLE, IL - Greenville University invites alumni, community, and friends to celebrate Homecoming 2024, scheduled for October 17-19. This year’s Homecoming weekend will feature a mix of concerts, presentations, sporting events, family activities, and a special outdoor worship experience.
Here’s a look at the key events:
Thursday, October 17
- 6:00 p.m. Greenville University Jazz and Concert Bands will kick off the weekend with live music.
- 7:30 p.m. GU Choir will continue the evening's musical festivities.
- 9:30 p.m. Vespers, a student-led worship service, will close out the day. This popular tradition offers a time for reflection and spiritual engagement.
- All Thursday evening events take place in Whitlock Music Center and are free and open to all.
Friday, October 18
- 10:00 a.m. "Women in Leadership at GU" historical presentations will highlight the formational contributions of women throughout Greenville University's history. Students and faculty will share research and make formal presentations on early pioneers like Almira College’s female founders, the legacy of women’s athletics, and key figures in GU’s academic and spiritual history. This event will be held in Whitlock Music Center and is free and open to all.
- 4:00 p.m. GU Homecoming Parade, a longstanding favorite, will wind down College Avenue, featuring GU student organizations, community groups and organizations, and local bands.
- 7:00 p.m. "RISE UP" GU Night of Worship will celebrate all God has done and has yet to do at Greenville University at a dynamic outdoor worship concert on Scott Field. The featured performer is Lloyd Nicks, a 2014 GU graduate and renowned St. Louis-based worship leader and songwriter. Nicks’ song “That’s My King” (recorded by CeCe Winans) recently hit #1 on the Billboard charts and earned a Dove Award nomination. This free concert is open to all. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets.
Throughout Friday, guests will also enjoy campus tours, open houses, ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremonies for new facilities like University Hall, the Jack Trager Athletics & Performance Training Center and the Kaufmann Plaza & Atrium. Dining options on campus will include food trucks and the Student Union.
Saturday, October 19
- 8:00 a.m. Kids Fun Run, for children aged 4-8, will kick off the morning with a short fun run around Scott Field. Cost is $5. Register at panther5K.org.
- 8:30 a.m. Panther 5K Run/Walk – The race is open to all, with awards presented in several age groups. The scenic route will take participants through downtown Greenville and back to campus. Cost is $40. Register at panther5K.org.
- Daytime Events – Saturday will be packed with class reunion lunches, sports competitions, alumni games, kids' activities (including inflatables), and a tailgate lunch before the Homecoming football game at the John Strahl Athletic Complex. A dedication ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the Smith Baseball Field for the new athletic facilities, Jay & Shay Way, W. Richard Stephens Fieldhouse and Robert "Ish" Smith Museum, as well as the new baseball turf.
- 6:30 p.m. Homecoming Honors Awards Ceremony will close out the weekend, recognizing Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and Alumni Awards recipients at Whitlock Music Center.
Honorees include alumni who have made significant contributions in their fields, such as Dale Benson ’63, an expert in community health, and Alex Dowley ’15, recognized for his service initiatives. Athletic Hall of Fame inductees will include Valerie Gin ’82, multi-sport athlete and academic leader, the 2016–17 Women’s Basketball Team, Max Bowman, former GU football coach and NFL coach, and recent graduate, Mia Bonacorsi, for the Order of the Orange and Black. A reception will follow the ceremony.
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For more details on Homecoming 2024, including a full schedule of events and registration information, visit the Homecoming schedule on the website.
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Greenville University, founded in 1892, is a Christian liberal arts university located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis. The university serves over 1,000 students through its undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree programs.
