Indiana University of Pennsylvania's annual Homecoming celebration October 2–4, 2015, is expected to draw thousands to Indiana for alumni reunions and events for the entire community, including the annual parade and football game.
Folger Hall Ribbon Cutting
On Friday, October 2, at 11:00 a.m. a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held to celebrate the newly renovated Folger Dining Hall. The ribbon cutting is open to the community. Folger Dining Hall is located on Pratt drive, across from the Suites on Maple East. The building was dedicated at the 1972 homecoming weekend.
Folger Hall is named in honor of the late Olive K. Folger, affectionately known as “Ma Folger” by a generation of students. She was the dietitian at Indiana State Teachers College from 1934 until her retirement in 1950. Folger earned her bachelor of science degree in home economics from IUP (then Indiana State Teachers College) in 1948, and she was a member of Kappa Omicron Phi.
This renovated facility is phase two of IUP's $37-million dining master plan, IUP Dining Innovations. The $13.75-million renovation project began in May 2014.
Folger Dining Hall is designed to create specialized services and menus that match student lifestyles. It will include the Global Grill, which combines Mongolian, char, and flattop grills preparing international dishes and traditional favorites; the Sandwich Artisan; Olive's Kitchen with traditional favorites, vegetarian dishes, and features for those with special dietary needs; Pasta la Vista, featuring pizzas and pasta; Produce Market (salad bar); and Great Wraps, located in the lobby of the building.
Folger Dining Hall is also focused on being environmentally friendly, with reclaimed wood on walls and ceilings and chairs made from materials from soda bottles.
Homecoming Parade
The Homecoming parade, with a theme of “Once Upon a Time” (focusing on children's films), will start at 10:00 a.m. on October 3. It will feature more than 70 campus and community units, including the following floats: “Alice in Wonderland,” built by Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, and Sigma Kappa; “Finding Nemo,” built by Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Delta Tau Sigma, and Phi Kappa Tau; “Monsters, Inc.,” built by Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Mu Delta, and Zeta Tau Alpha; “Toy Story,” built by Alpha Sigma Tau, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and Sigma Pi; and “Up,” built by Delta Phi Epsilon, Latino Student Organization (LaSO), Pi Lambda Phi, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Theta Chi.
The parade will start at 13th 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.
Firing of the IUP Department of Military Science's howitzer cannon, which will be near the Indiana County Court House, will signal the start of the parade.
Immediately following the parade, volunteers from IUP's sororities and fraternities will clean the parade route and Mack Park, where the floats were constructed.
Three members of IUP's Class of 1965 will serve as grand marshals for this year's parade: Charles and Marilyn Fleming Sabatos, of Gibsonia, both formerly of Indiana, and Merceda Biordi Saffron, of Pittsburgh.
Charles Sabatos was a chemistry education major and member of Sigma Tau Gamma. He taught chemistry at North Allegheny High School for 35 years and coached cross country and track for many of those years. Marilyn Sabatos, an elementary education major, was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and was senior class secretary and was involved in student council.
Saffron was an art education major and was also a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. She was the Senior “Swing Out” queen and was a hall counselor, treasurer of the Art Club, and won the Federation of Women Club Art Award. She retired from her work as a department chair for the Fairfax County Public School System.
In addition to IUP's Marching Band, the parade will feature marching bands from Blairsville, Indiana, Marion Center, Penns Manor, Purchase Line, Saltsburg, and United high schools.
Crimson Court
Now in its sixth year at IUP, the Crimson Court will take part in all universitywide Homecoming activities, including the parade. The Crimson Court consists of students chosen by a universitywide vote to represent each of the colleges at IUP, as well as the Punxsutawney campus. To qualify for the court, students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and be in good judicial standing at IUP.
The following students were selected for the 2015 Crimson Court:
- Eberly College of Business and Information Technology: Morgan Hoover, an accounting major and member of Robert E. Cook Honors College, from McMurray, Washington County. Daughter of Barbara Hoover and Kevin Hoover, South Park, she is a 2012 graduate of Peters Township High School. She is a provost scholar and won second place in the IUP Undergraduate Forum business case competition. She is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma national sorority and has been vice president of operations and membership recruitment director for the sorority. She is the head community assistant for Suites on Pratt and University Towers, is a cohort representative for the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology Honors Business Program, and is a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society. She completes 60 hours of community service every year through the Cook Honors College.
- College of Education and Educational Technology: Madeline Williams, a communications media major from Harrisburg, daughter of Yvette Davis-Smyre and James Williams, a 2012 graduate of SciTech High School. She is a Board of Governors Scholar, member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society, studied at Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica, is a dean's list student, Diversity Advocate, community assistant, member of IUP-TV, and the performance coordinator of the IUP Artistry Movement. She volunteers for the Indiana Players, Inc. (Philadelphia Street Playhouse).
- College of Fine Arts: Tory Dellafiora, a music education major from Graceton, daughter of Anthony and Carol Dellafiora, a 2013 graduate of Homer Center High School. She is a Sutton Scholar, dean's list student, and provost scholar. She is a member of Symphony Band, Concert Band, Clarinet Choir, and Marching Band. She serves on the IUP Middle States Subcommittee and is a student worker in the College of Fine Arts Dean's Office, IUP Safety Sciences Department, and the University Museum. She is a tour guide for IUP Admissions and is a Sutton Scholarship Panel member, Summer Academy peer mentor, and Sutton Scholarship media representative. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators' Association, serving as the IUP chapter's fundraising chair. She is a member of Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women.
- College of Health and Human Services: Sarah Harrington, a hospitality management major from Drexel Hill, daughter of Becky and Greg Harrington, a 2012 graduate of Haverford High School. She is a dean's list student and was the 2015 freshman convocation speaker. She was the Phi Mu Delta sweetheart. She is a member of Alpha Xi Delta National Sorority and Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society. She serves on the Panhellenic Association Executive Council, was active with her sorority's Autism Speaks philanthropy, and is a member of Best Buddies Organization and Ultimate Frisbee Team.
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Beth Warner, an English education major and member of Robert E. Cook Honors College, from Erie, daughter of Matthew and Cheri Warner, a 2012 graduate of General McLane High School. She is a dean's list student and was the outstanding English education student of the year in 2013 and 2014. She is vice president of National Council of Teachers of English at IUP, is editor-in-chief of HerCampus IUP, and is an American culture and English tutor at the American Language Institute. She is a co-student coordinator of Diversity Peer Educators, editor of the New Growth Arts Review, and is a community assistant in Wallwork Hall.
- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics: Jeremy Risinger, a computer science major from Indiana, son of Debra and the late John Risinger and a 2012 graduate of Indiana Area High School. He is a dean's list student, a member of Phi Delta Theta national fraternity, IUP Ambassadors, IUP Crimson Crazies, and IUP Hawk's Nest and is an IUP Crimson Guide.
- IUP Punxsutawney: Tanner Stewart, Brown Road, Rural Valley. Son of Tracy and Terry Stewart and a 2015 graduate of West Shamokin Junior-Senior High School, he studies at the Academy of Culinary Arts.
Crimson Huddle Alumni and Friends Pregame Party
Open to all, the traditional Crimson Huddle Alumni and Friends Pregame Party will be from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. It will feature more than 20 different reunion groups, including sororities, fraternities, academic departments, and sports teams. Cost is $15 for adults and $7 for children ages five to 12. Children younger than five are admitted free.
Kidz Karnival
The annual Kidz Karnival also will be held at the Kovalchick Complex from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Organized by the IUP Ambassadors student group, the festival features a variety of children's activities, with cartoon characters, games, crafts, and prizes.
Football Game
The Homecoming football game between IUP and Edinboro will begin at 2:00 p.m. 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.
Five float prizes will be given: first prize of $1,000, sponsored by the IUP Alumni Association; second prize of $900, sponsored by the IUP Co-op Store; third place of $800, sponsored by Aramark; fourth prize of $700, cosponsored by the IUP Student Government Association and the Lively Arts; and fifth prize of $600, sponsored by University Advancement.
Judges for the float competition are Claire Hogan, Sherry Renosky, and Sandy Trimble, representing the community, and Cortney Mandoske, a theater major, representing students.
The Clarks Concert
The weekend will include concerts on October 2 and October 3:00 p.m. at the Indiana Theater by rock and roll band the Clarks. The group includes IUP graduates Rob James '87, Greg Joseph '85, Scott Blasey '87, and Dave Minarik '88. The band, honored with IUP's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004, got its start playing at spots around campus as the Administration. Over the past 20 years, the Clarks' recordings have sold nearly a quarter of a million copies, and the band has played all over the world, including on Late Night with David Letterman. The Clarks raised $25,000 in a benefit concert for a recording studio in Cogswell Hall, named in the band's honor.
Monte Carlo Night
Among other activities Homecoming weekend, the IUP Center for Student Life is sponsoring the third annual Homecoming Monte Carlo Night from 9:00 p.m. Saturday to 2:00 a.m. Sunday, with casino games, more than $4,000 in prizes, dancing, laser tag, food, and movies at the Kovalchick Complex Ed Fry Arena. The event is open to students, and admission is $5.
This year, organizers are expecting more than 700 students to attend the event. Planning began last November with students from IUP student organization the Pulse. Many other campus departments, offices, and student organizations support Monte Carlo Night through donations of prizes and volunteers.
“The students all have a really great time at Monte Carlo Night,” Kevin Foster, assistant director for the IUP Center for Student Life, said. “We continue to hear so many positive reactions to last year's event. Monte Carlo Night is not only fun, but it provides students a safe place to celebrate Homecoming. It's a very student-driven event. Laser tag was added last year and was well received, and will be offered again this year. We try to have something for everyone.”
The Annual Homecoming Concert
The annual Homecoming concert, “A New Beginning,” featuring the IUP Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Band, 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 45 minutes before the start of the performance. Tickets are $11 for regular admission, $9 for seniors and groups, and $7 for students with an I-Card and for children.
For more information about the Homecoming concert, call the Fine Arts Public Events Office at 724-357-2547 or the HUB ticket office at 724-357-1313.
A complete list of Homecoming events, including reunions, is available at the Homecoming website.