WOU Magazine Spring 2011: Feature stories
Homecoming and Family Day Weekend
This year, Homecoming again provides the perfect time for our alumni, families and students to come home
A Walk Down Memory Lane
by Tommy Love and Steven Cucchiara
Each fall hundreds of alumni, family and friends find themselves on the campus of Western Oregon University on a special weekend. So what is it that causes this magical phenomenon to happen? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines homecoming as “the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented or regarded as home.” Not only do we come together for a special occasion, we come together at a very special place that has indeed served as our home away from home.
Imagine life today without your experiences from Western – the pleasure of late night study sessions, venturing from time to time into a place they call the library, the “thrill of victory” in athletics, making lifelong friendships, and for some, meeting your spouse for the very first time.
For the second year in a row, Homecoming is paired with Family Weekend to bring together alumni with “future alumni” and their families.
Alumni are encouraged and always welcomed to come home. In fact, we hope that during the course of the year, you will be able to visit us more than once – to catch a performance in Rice Auditorium or Smith Music Hall, attend a sporting event, take a stroll along Monmouth Avenue or read a book while sitting in the Grove. But if you can find your way back to Monmouth only once a year, I would encourage you to attend Homecoming each fall.
Weekend highlights
For more details, wou.edu/homecoming or wou.edu/familyweekend
Back from two trips across the Atlantic and gearing up to “move in” to Wernigerode on September 1, I’m starting to think about my experiences abroad, especially my most recent trip—the pilot service learning co-op in Baden-Württemberg. Honestly, traveling to another country without a solid itinerary—and without being able to control your itinerary—has its ups and downs. Jet lag, confusion, and lots of that waiting time (well, nobody’s perfect!) were perhaps some of the downs of this particular trip. The ups, however, more than made up for it.
Friday night bonfire is a great opportunity for alumni to interact with current students as we continue the Western experience and legacy for future generations.
Tour Ackerman Hall, our newest student residence hall that was designed and constructed for LEED Platinum Certification.View the latest in on-campus living with a green focus.
Our State of the University brunch will include guest speakers Arne Ferguson, head football coach, Daniel Hare, our new athletic director, and our feature presentation from President John Minahan on the current state and future of the university.
Join all Wolves fans at the “Red Zone” tailgate. This is a special time to enjoy old and new friends prior to the football game with food and inflatable games.
For those who cannot get enough sports in one day, catch women’s soccer versus Montana State Billings.
Join thousands of Wolves fans as football takes on Azusa Pacific in this classic Homecoming tradition.
There is no time to celebrate like a 50th birthday! Werner University Center turns 50 and we are gathering to mark this important milestone.
We invite our Golden Wolves (50th reunion class and prior) to join us for a special dinner as we honor you for carrying on our proud legacy since 1960.
Gather with classmates and friends at our Saturday Night Alumni Social at Main Street Pub. We’ve lined up the location now you need to bring the memories!
Family Weekend
Family Weekend is a time where families, friends, and relatives reconnect with their students through a weekend of activities and action-filled programming. This campus–wide event is one that offers parents a chance to experience Western Oregon University first-hand by meeting faculty and staff, connecting with other families, visiting the campus as an alumnus, while viewing the Western community in action through athletic events, community sessions, and family fun.
This is also an opportunity for students to show their parents how the expansion and development of Western is guiding in creating greater strides toward beginning their career. Most importantly life-long memories will be relived and created with your students. Some of the highlights of this weekend include a night of trickery and deception with Peter Boie, the magician, our annual Bonfire, the Redzone tailgater before the homecoming football game, having an opportunity to hear President Minahan deliver a State of the University address, and an action filled Saturday evening with events, music, and prizes. The Werner University Center and Student Leadership & Activities office, in conjunction with the Family Weekend planning committee, has worked around the clock to make your trip down memory lane most enjoyable!
