Published: October 23, 2009 10:38 am      

Full week of activities celebrating ECU’S Centennial Homecoming

Ada — A full week of activities will celebrate East Central University’s Centennial Homecoming from Monday, Oct. 26, through Saturday, Oct. 31. Events will be centered around the Homecoming theme “Celebrating 100 Years: Once a Tiger Always a Tiger.”

Homecoming t-shirts will be on sale from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday in the University Center. The long-sleeve shirts are black and feature the Centennial Homecoming logo.

Activities will begin with a banner contest for ECU organizations at 2 p.m. Monday.

The annual Little Dixie Music Contest will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday in the Ataloa Theatre in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. Schools across the state will compete in vocal solo, choir and ensemble competitions.

Tuesday Oct. 27

The Homecoming Pep Rally will be held at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Kerr Activities Center, followed by the Tiger Tip-Off, a pre-season glimpse of the 2009-10 men’s and women’s teams. Both teams will have a 3-point shooting contest and the men’s team will have a slam-dunk contest.

The Musical Theatre’s Showtime will perform music from “The Wiz” at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Chalmers Herman Theatre in the fine arts center.

Wednesday Oct. 28

Students will vote for the Homecoming king and queen from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday on the campus mall. The School of Business Alumni Homecoming Luncheon will begin at noon in the Stanley Wagner Ballroom in the Memorial Student Union.

The Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival, an ensemble that features Russian Cossack dancers, balalaika musicians and founder Nikolai Massenkoff, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Ataloa Theatre.

Many of the songs originate from the Tsarist Russian era and are well known folk songs and Gypsy songs that speak of disappointment, the joy of love, the devastation caused by jealousy and the pain of a broken heart.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, ECU students and children under 12. Advance tickets may be purchased at the information desk in the University Center or by contacting Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya at 580-559-5293. Tickets also can be purchased the night of the show at the ticket booth in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

Thursday Oct. 29

Thursday is Hot Dog Day for ECU students. A free cookout will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Danley Hall lawn.

Bill Bridgwater, ECU’s 2009 Distinguished Alumnus, will present “Alzheimer’s: A Patient’s Perspective” at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Estep Multimedia Center in the University Center. Bridgwater graduated from ECU in 1978 and had a 25-year career in the global information technology market sector before being diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 48.

He and his wife Twyla, also a 1978 ECU graduate, are consultants for the Food and Drug administration on promising Alzheimer’s imaging and pharmaceutical developments.

ECU’s volleyball team will play Abilene Christian University at 7 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center, and an Instrumental Ensembles Concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Ataloa Theatre.

Friday Oct. 30

The ECU Alumni Association’s Centennial Homecoming Golf Tournament will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Oak Hills Golf and Country Club in Ada with tee off at 1 p.m. The entry fee is $100 per player. For more information, contact Buffy Lovelis at alumni@ecok.edu or 580-559-5651.

The women’s soccer team will play Eastern New Mexico University at 3 p.m. Friday on ECU’s soccer field.

ECU physics alumni will meet at 3 p.m. Friday in the Physical and Environmental Science Building for an induction of Sigma Pi Sigma members, followed by an Alumni Roundtable, reception and banquet. Alumni will hear NASA’s Dr. John Bacon at 8 p.m. in the Estep Multimedia Center in the University Center. On Saturday they will tour new buildings on the campus.

A “Country Can Cure” Concert featuring Ada country musician Clancy Davis will begin at 7 p.m. Friday in the Ataloa Theatre. The concert was organized by ECU’s Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and all proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Foundation.

Saturday, Oct. 31

Most of the activities will be on Saturday, beginning with the Alumni Association’s Centennial Homecoming 2009 5K Tiger Run/Walk at 8 a.m. at Wintersmith Park. Online registration is available until Friday. For more information, phone Buffy Lovelis at alumni@ecok.edu or 580-559-5651.

Other Saturday events include the Golden Tiger Brunch at 10 a.m. in the Stanley Wagner Ballroom in the Memorial Student Union, the Athletic Alumni Meeting at 11 a.m. in the Elvan George Building and the Centennial Homecoming Parade at noon, beginning on the campus and proceeding west on Main Street.

Historical ECU artifacts will be on display from 1 to 3 p.m. in Linscheid Library.

Members of Chi Omega will host a cookout at 1:30 p.m. in the Chi Omega Lounge, and CREW and Student Senate alumni will have a luncheon at 1:30 p.m. at Polo’s Mexican Restaurant.

ECU’s women’s volleyball team will play Angelo State University at 1:30 p.m. in Kerr Activities Center. Band alumni will have the opportunity to see the new music facilities in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center at a 2 p.m. meeting, and an alumni men’s basketball game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Kerr Activities Center.

Next, the action moves to the grassy area north of the Norris Field parking lot for the Tiger Tailgate Party and a Trunk or Treat for youngsters from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The annual Panhellenic and IFC SafeHouse also will be featured at the tailgate.

The coronation of the Homecoming king and queen will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Norris Field, followed by the kickoff of the football game between ECU and the University of Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m.

The annual Milam Award will be presented during half-time to Alan Marcum, executive vice president of administration for Devon Energy. The award honors a former football player who excelled on the gridiron as well as in his chosen career. Marcum was a four-year starter during the 1985 to 1989 seasons.

An Alumni Social will be held after the football game at Doc’s BBQ & Steak House.