IUP Homecoming to Attract Thousands With Annual Parade, Reunions, Crimson Huddle, Football Game

Indiana University of Pennsylvania's annual Homecoming celebration October 3 through October 6 is expected to draw thousands to Indiana for alumni reunions and events for the entire community, including the annual parade and football game.

The Homecoming parade, with a theme of “World Monuments,” will start at 10:00 a.m. It will feature more than 70 campus and community units, including the following floats by IUP fraternities and sororities:

• Big Ben – created by Delta Gamma, Alpha Xi Delta, Kappa Sigma, and Delta Zeta
• Taj Mahal – created by Delta Phi Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Theta Chi
• Pyramids – created by Alpha Sigma Tau, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Phi Sigma Kappa
• Hollywood – created by Sigma Pi, Zeta Tau Alpha, Alpha Gamma Delta, and Phi Kappa Psi

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, 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 student Hanna Watson, Dean of the College of Fine Arts Curt Scheib '77, and Cate Planisky from the College of Fine Arts.

In addition to the IUP Marching Band, the parade will feature marching bands from Blairsville, Homer-Center, Indiana, Marion Center, Purchase Line, and Purchase Line high schools.

Now in its 10th 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 2019 Crimson Court includes:

College of Education and Communications

Allie Uhing, an early childhood and special education major from Vandergrift. Daughter of Kelly and Brian Uhing, she is a 2016 graduate of Kiski Area High School. She is the recipient of the Dean's Merit Scholarship; Dr. Fred and Hazel Streams Scholarship; Academic Success Scholarship, and Leon Miller Memorial Scholarship. She is a Dean's List student, a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honors Society in Education, an officer and Best Buddies member, a Professional Development Sequence student teacher, and a student teacher at East Pike Elementary School.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Casey Doyle, an anthropology (archaeology track) major from Blairsville. Daughter of Denise Jennings-Doyle and Steve Doyle, she is a 2017 graduate of Blairsville High School. She is a member of the Cook Honors College; vice president, IUP Fencing Club; volunteer for the Indiana County Humane Society; and volunteer for the Indiana Food Co-op.

John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Chloe Wilson, a secondary mathematics education major from Clymer. Daughter of Mark Matko and Jessica Wilson-Matko, she is a 2017 graduate of Penn Manor High School. She is the recipient of a Sutton Scholarship and the Mildred M. Reigh Memorial Scholarship. A Dean's List student, she was selected for the past two years for the Terry A. Serafini Outstanding Scholars Program for Mathematics. She is a member of the Math Club; a member and social media chair for the IUP Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Club; a student assistant for the IUP Mathematical and Computer Sciences Department; and a peer mentor and tutor for the IUP Mathematical and Computer Sciences Department.

College of Fine Arts

Lindsay Anne Herring, a musical theater major with a minor in dance from Indiana. Daughter of Bill and Sharon Herring, she is a graduate of Marion Center High School. She is a recipient of a Dean's Merit Scholarship, the Ronald and Joanne Steiner Scholarship, and the Academic Success Scholarship. She received the Outstanding Achievement in Acting (Principle), Outstanding Achievement in Academic Excellence, was an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominee, and won a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Collaborational Dramaturgy and a Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Dramaturgy. She has been active in Theater-by-the-Grove since 2016 and has been a member of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society since 2017.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

Samantha Adams, an accounting major from Corry. Daughter of Duane and Amy Adams, she is a 2015 graduate of Corry Area High School. A Dean's List student, she is a member of the Business Honors Program Phi Gamma Nu Professional Development Organization and the Student Accounting Association member, serving as the 2019 Career Day chair. She is a resident assistant in Stephenson Hall and is the Stephenson Hall Residence Hall Council Treasurer, Residence Hall Association Treasurer, and a member of National Residence Hall Honorary. She was a presenter at the 2016 National Association of College and University Residence Halls Conference.

College of Health and Human Services

Hope Kiehl, a family and consumer science education major with a minor in elementary and middle level mathematics from Landisville. Daughter of David and Sharon Kiehl, she is a 2017 graduate of Hempfield High School. She is the recipient of the Sutton Scholarship, Family and Consumer Science Education Alumni Scholarship, M. Jane Segar Longenecker Scholarship, and Mildred M. Reigh Memorial Scholarship. She is a Dean's List student and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. She is a resident assistant in Putt Hall and has served as an Orientation leader. She is a member of the Family and Consumer Science Education Student Association and attended Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America conferences. She is a member of the Pre-Service Teachers Club and attended the Pre-Service Teachers of Mathematics Day Conference. She is a previous member of the IUP Dance Theatre Company.

University College

Montez Newsome, an Exploratory STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) student from Pittsburgh. Son of Christopher Cord and Summers Newsom-Connor, he is a 2019 graduate of Westinghouse Academy. He has his QPR certificate, is a residence hall council floor representative, is an alternate representative to the Student Athletic Advisory Council, and is a member of the varsity track and field team. He is a student employee at Stapleton Library.

IUP President Michael Driscoll and John Simpson '79, president of the IUP Alumni Association Board of Directors, will lead the parade.

Simpson, a business management major and economics minor graduate, is employed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, responsible for execution of all Steelers marketing events 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.

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 5 in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. It will feature nearly 50 reunion groups, including sororities, fraternities, academic departments, and sports teams. Pre-registration cost is $18 for adults, $8 for children 7 to 14, and free for children six and under, and pre-registration must be made by October 2. Admission at the door is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Last year, more than 750 alumni and friends participated in this event.

The tailgating area will be open at 11:00 a.m. in the parking areas in the stadium south lot between Miller Stadium and the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (that are specifically designated for tailgating). Musician Chris Stultz will perform in that area starting at noon.

The Homecoming football game between IUP and California will begin at 2:00 p.m. at George P. Miller Stadium. This game is the 11th annual Coal Bowl.

The Coal Bowl tradition began in 2009 after Barry Lippencott, a 1967 IUP graduate, and his brother, Bob Lippencott, a 1966 California University of Pennsylvania graduate, each made a donation to their universities to establish a named scholarship for football student-athletes. The brothers also made a donation of a coal miner's pail, to serve as a trophy given to the winner of the game between the two PSAC universities. The Coal Bowl is presented by Rosebud Mining and the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance.

Originally from Brownsville, the Lippencott family has a long history of working in the coal industry and felt this game would be an excellent platform in which to honor their families, respective universities, and the coal industry.

The Lippencott Brothers Coal Miner's Pail Trophy will be presented by the Lippencott brothers to the winning university president and football coach. Additionally, the Lippencott brothers will also present a trophy to the Most Valuable Player.

IUP won the Coal Bowl in 2013, 2015, and 2017; California University took home the trophy after the inaugural game in 2009 and again in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018.

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.

The annual Homecoming concert featuring the IUP Symphony Band will be at 3:00 p.m. October 6 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 6, starting at 11:00 a.m.

A complete list of Homecoming events and information on how to register for events is available on the Homecoming website.