IUP Homecoming is this Friday–Sunday, October 5–7. Thousands are expected to gather for reunions, the parade, football and soccer games, the Crimson Huddle pregame event, and many other activities for the entire community. Here's an overview of events; for more details, see the Alumni Relations Homecoming schedule.
Saturday, October 6
Homecoming Parade
The parade will start at 10:00 a.m. with a firing of the Department of Military Science howitzer cannon, near the Indiana County Court House. More than 70 campus and community units will march or ride, including the IUP Marching Band and bands from seven area high schools.
The parade will start at 13th and Philadelphia streets and travel east to Sixth and Philadelphia streets, south on Sixth to Church Street, west on Church to Oakland Avenue, and southwest on Oakland to 11th Street, where it will disband. More than 100 volunteers from IUP sororities and fraternities will immediately clean the route, and 100 others will clean Mack Park, where the floats will be constructed.
The grand marshals are three alumni from the Class of 1962: Kathryn Rend Armstrong, Terry Bunton, and Louise Bollman Kinter.
The parade theme is comics, with floats depicting Batman, Spiderman, Superman, Peanuts, and Calvin & Hobbs.
Float judges are Nancy Jones, Indiana Borough Council; Michael Hood, dean of the College of Fine Arts; student Michael Campbell; and alumna Sherry Renosky, marketing manager of the Indiana Mall. Five cash prizes are awarded, from $1,000 for first place to $600 for fifth place.
Crimson Court
The 2012 Crimson Court will ride in the parade and be recognized at the football game half-time ceremony.
The court consists of seven students voted by peers to represent each of the IUP colleges and the Punxsutawney campus. Students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and be in good judicial standing.
The following students (photo, left to right) were selected: Jovana Ramos, theater major, College of Fine Arts; Megan Kahle, biology, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Gabby Lehigh, anthropology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Ashley Carmo, fashion merchandising, College of Health and Human Services; Allia Scott, fashion merchandising, Punxsutawney; Sarah Stone, management, Eberly College of Business and Information Technology; and Meghan Sullivan, early childhood/special education, College of Education and Educational Technology.
Crimson Huddle Pregame Party, Kidz Karnival, Concerts, and More Activities
Open to all, the traditional Crimson Huddle Alumni and Friends Pregame Party is 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. More than 20 alumni reunion groups, including sororities, fraternities, academic departments, and sports teams are slated to attend. Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 5–12. Children younger than age 5 are admitted free.
For the first time, the annual Kidz Karnival will be held at the Kovalchick Complex. Organized by the IUP Ambassadors student group, the festival features cartoon characters, games, crafts, and more activities.
The football game vs. Slippery Rock begins at 2:00 p.m. Half-time features the IUP Marching Band. The band will also give a postgame show at the stadium. All kids in eighth grade or younger are admitted to the game free if accompanied by an adult with a ticket.
The Fifth Quarter Celebration, open to all alumni, takes place from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Upstairs at the Coney, on Philadelphia Street.
A trolley provided by the IUP Student Cooperative Association will be shuttlling people from the IUP Field House to the Co-op Store and downtown Indiana. The trolley will run 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
The second annual IUP Dance Party will start at 9:30 p.m. at the Kovalchick Complex. This event is SOLD OUT! Sponsored by the Center for Student Life.
Sunday, October 7
The IUP Bands Annual Homecoming Concert, featuring the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Band, will be at 3:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center's Fisher Auditorium.
Tickets are available in advance at the IUP Hadley Union Building ticket office. Remaining tickets may be purchased at the door 45 minutes before the performance. Tickets are $9 for regular admission, $8 for seniors and groups, and $6 for students with an I-Card and children. For more information, call the Fine Arts Public Events Office at (724) 357-2547 or the Hadley Union Building ticket office at (724) 357-1313.
Many more activities take place Friday through Sunday! See the Alumni Relations Homecoming schedule .