Indiana University of Pennsylvania's annual Homecoming celebration October 5 through October 7 is expected to draw thousands “home” to Indiana for alumni reunions and events for the entire community, including the annual parade and football game.
“Homecoming is a special time at IUP,” said Mary Morgan, Class of 1991, director of IUP's Office of Alumni and Friends. “We look forward to bringing home alumni from all over the country, and we have some special events lined up not just for them, but for the entire community.
It's an opportunity for the IUP family to come together and remember yesterday, honor today, and look ahead to tomorrow. It's very gratifying to see how many groups are enjoying the Crimson Huddle and using it as a place for reunions—we have more than 40 special reunion groups planning to meet at the Alumni and Friends Crimson Huddle this year.”
Geoscience 50th Anniversary Reunion
IUP's Geoscience Department will celebrate its 50th anniversary during the weekend. Events begin at noon on October 5 at noon with a geoscience seminar in Walsh Hall 104, followed by a laboratory open house from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Weyandt Hall. The Geoscience Club will have a sale to support purchase of student field gear and computers from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Rustic Lodge, with the 50th anniversary banquet to follow at 6:00 p.m. Featured speakers for the evening include James Saiers, IUP Class of 1989, of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Deanne Snavely, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and retired faculty members from the department. Pre-registration is required by contacting the alumni office at alumni-relations@iup.edu.
University Libraries Open House
On October 5, the University Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives in the IUP Libraries will have an open house from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tours will be offered at 2:00 and at 3:00 p.m. Registration is required; interested persons can contact Harrison Wick at hwick@iup.edu.
Communications Media Alumni Networking
Also on October 5, the Department of Communications Media welcomes alumni for its second alumni networking event from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Hadley Union Building Ohio Room. This first event in 2016 drew more than 300 students and some 70 alumni. An Alumni Happy Hour social will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rustic Lodge. Cost for this event is $10 per person. Pre-registration is required by contacting the alumni office at alumni-relations@iup.edu.
Computer Science and Mathematics Breakfast
On October 6, events begin with the Computer Science and Mathematics alumni breakfast in Stright Hall at 8:00 a.m.
Annual Homecoming Parade
The Homecoming parade, with a theme of “Seasons,” will start at 10:00 a.m. It will feature more than 90 campus and community units, including the following floats:
- Winter–Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Theta Chi
- Fall–Alpha Sigma Alpha, Delta Gamma, Sigma Kappa and Delta Phi Epsilon
- Summer–Alpha Gamma Delta, Phi Sigma Kappa and Zeta Tau Alpha
- Spring–Delta Zeta, Kappa Sigma and Alpha Sigma Tau
The parade will start at 11th and Philadelphia streets and travel east to Sixth and Philadelphia streets, south on Sixth Street to Church Street, west on Church Street to Oakland Avenue, and southwest on Oakland Avenue to 11th Street, where the parade will disband. All motor-driven floats will continue southwest on Oakland Avenue to the Robertshaw building for disassembly.
Immediately following the parade, volunteers from IUP's sororities and fraternities will clean the parade route and Mack Park, where the floats were constructed.
Five float prizes will be given: first prize of $1,000, sponsored by the Alumni Association; second prize of $900, sponsored by Aramark; third place of $800, by co-sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement; and fourth prize of $700, sponsored by University Advancement.
Parade judges this year will be IUP alumna Sherry Renosky, the marketing director of the Indiana Mall; David Ferguson, the interim dean of the IUP College of Fine Arts; and Sarah Polansky, an IUP undergraduate student majoring in art.
In addition to the IUP Marching Band, the parade will feature marching bands from Blairsville, Homer-Center, Indiana, Marion Center, Purchase Line, and United high schools.
Crimson Court
Now in its ninth year at IUP, the Crimson Court will take part in all university Homecoming activities, including the parade. The Crimson Court consists of students chosen by a university-wide vote to represent each of the colleges at IUP.
To qualify for the court, students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average and be in good judicial standing. IUP's 2018 Crimson Court includes:
- College of Education and Communications—Emily Deanne Loose, who carries a double major in communications media and journalism and public relations. A native of Williamsburg, Blair County, Loose is the daughter of Mark and Deanna Loose and a graduate of Williamsburg High School. She is a dean's list student; recipient of the Academic Success Scholarship; on-air personality for WIUP-FM radio station, where she is also director of the music team; writer, director, and talent for The Swoop; student writer for the Penn, and a member of Sigma Alpha Pi and the Pride Alliance.
- Eberly College of Business and Information Technology—Julia Rose Nitchman, a marketing major in the business honors program from Murrysville. The daughter of Beth and Craig Nitchman, she is a graduate of Franklin Regional High School. She is a dean's list student and a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma academic honor society, the IUP Ambassadors Student-Alumni Association, the American Marketing Association, and Sigma Kappa Sorority.
- College of Fine Arts—Victoria Ivory, an interdisciplinary fine arts major with a concentration in dance, from Gallitzin. She is the daughter of James and JoAnn Ivory and a 2014 graduate of Penn Cambria High School. She is a dean's list student; provost scholar; recipient of the Shelly G. Portman Memorial Scholarship and the Neal Fund Award; member of the IUP Dance Theater and the Delta Omicron international music fraternity; and student representative of IUP Theater and Dance and the Lively Arts.
- College of Health and Human Services—Jaycee Marie Dagney, a nursing major from Cochranville. She is the daughter of Joe and Janice Dagney and a 2015 graduate of Octorara High School. She is a member and current president of the Alpha Tau Delta Nursing Fraternity; member of the Catholic Student Association; catechesis of the good shepherd assistant at St. Thomas More University Parish; recipient of the Stewardship Award from St. Thomas More University Parish; and president of the Nurses Christian Fellowship.
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences—Kelsey DeLozier, who has a double major in English/pre-law and history/pre-law and a minor in sport management. DeLozier is the daughter of Patricia Williams and Mirella Romualdi. She is a 2016 graduate of Daniel Boone High School. She is a recipient of the English Department Service Award; founder of United Against Islamophobia; initiate advisor for the Phi Sigma Pi national honor fraternity; peer educator for the Haven Project; and student communications specialist for the Free Speech Project.
- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics—Heidi Plant, a mathematics major and student in the Cook Honors College, from Wexford. She is the daughter of Lisa and Steve Plant and is a 2016 graduate of Pine-Richland High School. She is a recipient of the Ida Z. Arms Scholarship; captain and president of the IUP women's ice hockey team; president of Kappa Mu Epsilon; vice president of the Math Club; volunteer for the Little Penguins Learn to Skate Program; and a volunteer with the Indiana Humane Society.
Parade Marshalls
IUP President Michael Driscoll and his wife, Becky, will lead the parade, along with Tracy Settle, Class of 1980 and president of the IUP Alumni Board of Directors, and John Simpson, Class of 1979, vice president of the IUP Alumni Board of Directors.
Settle, a business and distinguished military graduate and an IUP Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, retired from a 27-year career with the Army at the rank of colonel. He has worked as a stockbroker, advertising executive, fitness center owner, and bison producer and is currently consulting on international business development in the Caribbean and the Americas.
Simpson, a business management major and economics minor, is employed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, responsible for execution of all Steelers marketing events, managing corporate sales accounts and Heinz Field Luxury Suite sales, and overseeing the marketing internship program.
The Alumni Board of Directors works with the IUP Office of Alumni and Friends to create and enrich relationships with current and future alumni in the advancement of IUP.
Crimson Huddle
Open to all, the traditional Crimson Huddle Alumni and Friends Pregame Party will be from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. October 6 in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. It will feature nearly 40 reunion groups, including sororities, fraternities, academic departments, and sports teams. Pre-registration cost is $18 for adults, $8 for children seven to 14, and free for children six or under, and pre-registration must be made by October 3. Admission at the door is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Last year, more than 750 alumni and friends participated in this event.
As part of the Crimson Huddle, the IUP Ambassadors will offer a Kidz Korner at the Kovalchick Complex. The festival features a variety of children's activities, with cartoon characters, games, crafts, and prizes.
In addition to each of the university's colleges, the following groups are planning reunions during the Crimson Huddle:
- Alumni Association Board of Directors
- Alpha Gamma Delta
- Alpha Sigma Tau
- Alpha Tau Omega
- Alpha Xi Delta
- Ambassadors
- Men's Baseball
- Black Alumni Coalition
- Business Honors Alumni
- Chemistry Department Alumni
- Communications Media Department
- Cook Honors College
- DEd in Administration and Leadership Studies Alumni
- Delta Gamma
- Delta Phi Epsilon
- Delta Sigma Theta, Tau Beta Chapter | 20th Anniversary
- Delta Tau Delta
- Food and Nutrition Alumni
- Foundation for IUP Board of Directors
- Geoscience Alumni
- Hospitality Management Department
- Journalism and Public Relations Department
- Kappa Delta
- Kappa Sigma
- LGBTQIA+ and Friends
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Phi Mu Sorority
- Phi Sigma Kappa
- Phillips Family Reunion
- Panhellenic Association, IUP
- Respiratory Care Alumni
- Section J Alumni
- Sigma Kappa
- Sigma Phi Epsilon
- Sigma Sigma Sigma
- Softball Alumni
- Student Affairs in Higher Education Alumni
- University Libraries
Football Game
The Homecoming football game between IUP and Slippery Rock will begin at 2:00 p.m. at George P. Miller Stadium. The Crimson Hawks enter the game with the same 4-1 record as the Rock. IUP leads the all-time series, 47-37-2, and won last year's meeting, on Slippery Rock's homecoming, 34-17.
During halftime, the Crimson Court and prize sponsors for the parade floats will be recognized. The halftime show will feature the IUP Marching Band, under the direction of David Martynuik. The band will present the postgame show at the stadium immediately following the game.
Homecoming Party
Among other activities Homecoming weekend, the IUP Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement is sponsoring the official IUP Homecoming Party from 8:30 p.m. on October 6 to 1:00 a.m. on October 7 at the Kovalchick Complex. Tickets for the event are $5 for IUP students and $10 for non-students.
Homecoming Concert
The annual Homecoming Concert featuring the IUP Symphony Band's Wind Ensemble will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday in the Performing Arts Center's Fisher Auditorium. Tickets for the concert are available in advance at the IUP Hadley Union Building ticket office. Remaining tickets may be purchased at the door starting at 2:15 p.m.
Hundreds of IUP students are expected to participate in a community cleanup on October 7, starting at 11:00 a.m.
A complete list of Homecoming events and information on how to register for events is available at the Homecoming website.