Motivational speaker Dr. Joe Martin at SMSU Sept. 25

Southwest Minnesota State University will host academic motivational speaker Dr. Joe Martin on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in the SMSU Conference Center lower level.

Martin is an award-winning speaker, author, professor, and retention expert. He’s authored or co-authored seven books, including the top-selling “Good Teachers Never Quit and Tricks of the Grade.”

He’s now regarded as “The Educator’s Educator” and the country’s leading expert on new teacher retention and student motivation issues.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the UGLYS, and SMSU Access Opportunities Success. It is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Jalisa Ross at Jalisa.ross2@smsu.edu.

Xavier Pastrano poetry reading Sept. 25

Southwest Minnesota State University alumnus Xavier Pastrano will read his poetry from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, in the Whipple Gallery (BA 291) at SMSU.

Pastrano earned a creative writing degree from SMSU, and went on to receive master’s degrees in both English and education.

He won the Evelyn Sundby Himes Award in 2011 for his manuscript of poetry entitled Plumeria. He also has poems in the anthologies “Thunderstorms” and “The Scandalous Lives of Butterflies” published by Scurfpea Publishing.

The event is sponsored by the Creative Writing Program’s Visiting Writers Series. It is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Dr. Judy Wilson at judy.wilson@smsu.edu or 507-537-7692.

Homecoming events planned at SMSU

Many events are planned for Homecoming 2018 at Southwest Minnesota State University, which will be the week of Oct. 1-7, with a theme of “Home of the Mustangs.”

Many student-centered events are during the week, including the Chartwells Stampede Feed on Oct. 1; Candidate’s Night, featuring hypnotist Chris Jones, on Oct. 2; Mustangs Got Talent on Oct. 3; Coronation, featuring the brother folk music duo of Icarus Account, and Take 2 Improv on Oct. 4.

The SMSU Planetarium has two shows planned, a Star Show on Oct. 2, and a Music Laser Light Show on Oct. 4.

The Alumni Awards Luncheon will be at noon on Oct. 5 in the Conference Center Ballroom. This year’s honorees include: Trisha VanDusseldorp, ’11, GOLD Award, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Ga.; Jon and Niter Knochenmus, Honorary Lifetime Member Award, co-owners of Ralco, Marshall; Eldean Maschoff, ’71, Alumni Achievement Award, founder of Aluma, Bancroft, Iowa.; Jim Schlenner, ’79, Alumni Achievement Award, part owner of Schlenner, Wenner & Company, an accounting firm, St. Cloud; and Susan McGaughey, ’72, Alumni Achievement Award, retired general manager of Valley Natural Foods, Burnsville.

The University Gala will take place on Oct. 5. This annual fundraiser has raised over $850,000 to date, which supports scholarships and programs at SMSU. It has funded 1,400 student scholarships over the years.

There will be many athletic events on Homecoming weekend. The Mustang volleyball team will host Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m., and St. Cloud State on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. The soccer team hosts Minnesota State on Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. The football Homecoming game begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 6 against Minnesota Crookston.

The Lions Club Pancake Feed will kick off Homecoming Day on Oct. 6 at 7 a.m. at the Fire Hall. The Veterans Club will host the Legacy Homecoming 5K/10K Run at 8 a.m. that morning, with registration at 7:30 a.m.

The annual Homecoming parade will run its usual route down Main Street starting at 11 a.m. on Oct. 6. The women’s tea will be at 1 p.m.

Dueling Guitars will be held at 9 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the Ramada, following the football game. Party at the Pub, featuring music and entertainment, will be held at 11 p.m. at the Varsity Pub in downtown Marshall.

An alumni brunch will be Sunday, Oct. 7.

Rounding out the weekend Oct. 7 will be the 1 p.m. soccer game at the Schwan Regional Event Center against Concordia-St. Paul.

Tours of the university will be offered to those who wish to see first-hand the many changes to the campus over the years. Tours will be available on Oct. 5 at 3 p.m., Oct. 6 at 2:30 p.m. and Oct. 7 at 10:30 a.m.

A complete list of events:

Tuesday, Sept. 25

Noon

SMSU Faculty/staff alumni luncheon

Conference Center Upper Ballroom

Monday, Oct. 1

7:30 a.m.

Donut drop, sponsored by STAT

5-7 p.m.

Stampede feed, sponsored by Chartwells

Alumni Plaza

Tuesday, Oct. 2

King & queen voting opens

7 p.m.

Star show

SMSU Planetarium

8 p.m.

Candidates Night; hypnotist Chris Jones

PE Gym

Wednesday, Oct. 3

11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mustangs Got Talent! (tryouts)

Conference Center Upper Ballroom

7 p.m.

Mustangs Got Talent!

Conference Center Upper Ballroom

Thursday, Oct. 4

9 a.m.-noon

Residence Hall spirit decorating judging

office and door decorating judging

5-7 p.m.

VIP Night at the Campus Book Store

Student Center Book Store

7 p.m.

Coronation, featuring Icarus Account

Conference Center Lower Ballroom

7:30 p.m.

Laser light show

SMSU Planetarium

8:30 p.m.

Take 2 Improv

Black Box Theatre

Friday, Oct. 5

Brown and Gold Spirit Day

9 a.m.

Foundation Board meeting

Conference Center Lower Ballroom

noon

Alumni Awards luncheon

Conference Center Upper Ballroom

2:30 p.m.

Alumni Board meeting

Student Center

3 p.m.

University tours

Founders Hall Lobby

3 p.m.

SMSU soccer vs. Minnesota State

Schwan’s Regional Event Center

6 p.m.

University Gala

R/A Facility

6 p.m.

SMSU Volleyball vs. Minnesota Duluth

PE Gym

Saturday, Oct. 6

Homecoming Day!

7-10:30 a.m.

Lions Club pancake feed

Fire Hall

Legacy Homecoming Run 5K/10K

7:30 a.m. — Registration

8 a.m. — Race begins

Sponsored by the Veterans Club

Social Science parking lot

7:30 a.m.-noon

Farmers Market

Parking lot between YMCA & Schwan

10 a.m.

Parade line-up

Lyon/Jewett streets checkpoint

10:45 a.m.

Alumni parade hospitality tent

Featuring breakfast paninos

Memorial Park, Corner of Main Street and East College Drive

11 a.m.

Homecoming parade

Lyon Street to Main Street to 5th Street

1 p.m.

Women’s tea

Sponsored by the SMSU Feminists Club & Women’s Studies Faculty Committee

Student Center — Women’s Center Lobby

2 p.m.

SMSU Volleyball vs. St. Cloud State

PE Gym

2:30 p.m.

University tours

Founders Hall

3-5 p.m.

Homecoming tailgate

family fun fest

Food, beverage garden & entertainment

RA parking lot

4:45 p.m.

The Parade of Flags

The Schwan Regional Event Center

5 p.m.

SMSU Football vs. Minnesota Crookston

The Schwan Regional Event Center

9 p.m.

Dueling Guitars

Ramada Ballroom

Sunday, Oct. 7

10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Alumni Brunch

Campus Restaurant

10:30 a.m.

University tours

Founders Hall

1 p.m.

SMSU Soccer vs. Concordia-St. Paul

Schwan Regional Event Center