SMSU ‘Mustangs Unite’ Homecoming is Oct. 7-13
Mustang alumni will converge on Marshall for Homecoming 2019 at Southwest Minnesota State University, which will be Oct. 7-13 with a theme of “Mustangs Unite.”
Many student-centered events take place during the week, including the Chartwells Stampede Feed on Oct. 7; Candidates’ Night, featuring hypnotist Freddie Justice, on Oct. 8; Mustangs Got Talent on Oct. 9; and Coronation and Take 2 Improv on Oct. 10.
The SMSU Planetarium will host two shows, a Beatles-inspired laser light show on Oct. 11, and a planetarium star show, “The Eagle Has Landed: A Trip to the Moon,” on Oct. 12.
Alumni Association Awards will be presented to five individuals at a noon luncheon Friday, Oct. 11 in the Conference Center Ballroom. Alumni Achievement Awards will be presented to Phyllis (Ostergaard) Hitchcock, a 1977 alumna who taught for 40 years in the Centennial (Minn.) School District; Brian Luke, a 1975 alumnus now in his 45th year as the boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving teams coach at Stillwater (Minn.) High School; and Kristi Mukomela, a 1980 alumna and the president and CEO of Novation Credit Union, based in the Twin Cities. The Honorary Membership Award will be presented to Karen Sweetland, an avid SMSU supporter and the wife of the late SMSU President Doug Sweetland. The Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award will be presented to Megan Seppmann, vice president of sales for the Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee’s premiere event campus.
The University Gala will take place on Oct. 11. This annual fundraiser has raised over $900,000 to date, and supports scholarships and programs at SMSU. It has funded 1,450 student scholarships over the years.
There will be several athletic events on Homecoming Day, Oct. 12. The SMSU women’s swimming and diving team will take on Iowa Lakes Community College at 1 p.m., the first competition for the team since it was announced as a new Mustang sport a year ago. The football homecoming game begins at 3 p.m. against Bemidji State.
The Lions Club Pancake Feed will kick off Homecoming Day at 7 a.m. at the Fire Hall. The Veterans Club will host the Legacy Homecoming 5K/10K Run at 8 a.m., with registration at 7:30 a.m.
The annual homecoming parade will run its usual route down Main Street starting at 11 a.m.
A complete list of events:
Monday, Oct. 7
8 a.m.
Donut Drop, sponsored by STAT
Bellows Commons
5-7 p.m.
Stampede Feed, sponsored by Chartwells
Alumni Plaza
Tuesday, Oct. 8
King & Queen voting opens
10:45 a.m.
How to Avoid and Survive Violence
Conference Center Upper Ballroom
2-4:30 p.m.
Amazing Race
Entrance of the Student Center
Sponsored by Residence Life
8 p.m.
Candidates Night; Hypnotist Freddie Justice
PE Gym
Wednesday, Oct. 9
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mustangs Got Talent! (Tryouts)
Conference Center Upper Ballroom
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
American Red Cross blood drive
Conference Center Lower Ballroom
7 p.m.
Mustangs Got Talent!
Conference Center Upper Ballroom
Thursday, Oct. 10
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
6:30 p.m.
Social & coronation
Conference Center Lower Ballroom
8:30 p.m.
Take 2 Improv
Black Box Theatre
Friday, Oct. 11
Brown and Gold Spirit Day
9 a.m.
Foundation Board meeting
Conference Center Lower Ballroom
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Mustang Mentorship Program Meet & Greet
Center for Civic & Community Engagement (BA 161)
Noon
Alumni Awards luncheon
Conference Center Upper Ballroom
2:30 p.m.
Alumni Board meeting
Student Center
6 p.m.
University Gala
R/A Facility
8-9 p.m.
Laser Light Show (“The Beatles — Abbey Road”)
SMSU Planetarium
9 p.m.-midnight
Bonfire — Sponsored by STAT & Residence Life
Central Field
Saturday, Oct. 12
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’s
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fall Craft & Vendor Show
Marshall Middle School cafeteria
10 a.m.
Parade lineup
East Lyon/Jewett streets checkpoint
10:45 a.m.
Alumni parade hospitality tent
Featuring breakfast paninos
Memorial Park, Corner of Main Street and E. College Dr.
11 a.m.
Homecoming parade
Lyon Street to Main Street to 5th Street
Noon-1 p.m.
Swimming social
SMSU Pool
1-2 p.m.
Planetarium star show (“The Eagle Has Landed — A Trip to the Moon”)
SMSU Planetarium
1 p.m.
Swim meet — Iowa Lakes Community College
SMSU Pool
1 p.m.
Homecoming Tailgate
Family Fun Fest
RA parking lot
1:30 p.m.
University tours
Founders Hall
2:45 p.m.
The Parade of Flags
The Schwan Regional Event Center
3 p.m.
SMSU Football vs. Bemidji State
The Schwan Regional Event Center
6 p.m.-midnight
Mustang Pub Crawl
Downtown Marshall
9 p.m.
Dueling Pianos
Bello Cucina
Sunday, Oct. 13
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Alumni brunch
Campus Restaurant