Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s annual Homecoming celebration on October 4 is expected to draw thousands to Indiana, including for a special event in celebration of IUP’s sesquicentennial.
The Clarks
On October 4, IUP’s Homecoming celebration will feature a special “Fifth Quarter” concert, featuring Pittsburgh rock favorites—and IUP alumni—the Clarks and special guest Chris Higbee.
The Clarks came together as a group while students at IUP. Scott Blasey and Rob James graduated in 1987; Greg Joseph graduated in 1985, and David Minarik graduated in 1968. Higbee studied music education at IUP and graduated in 2001.
The concert will take place at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available online on the Kovalchick Complex website and at the door the day of the concert.
In 2004, the Clarks received a Distinguished Alumni Award from IUP (and performed during the awards event). The group also presented a special benefit concert to raise funds for IUP as part of the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award weekend.
The Clarks continue to credit IUP for their start as a band, and have offered a number of concerts in Indiana, including an IUP Homecoming concert in 2015 and a benefit concert that raised $25,000 for a recording studio in Cogswell Hall, named in the band’s honor. Higbee has performed in Indiana and with the Clarks several times at different locations.
“As we celebrate IUP’s 150th anniversary, it is especially meaningful to welcome back alumni who have gone on to achieve so much in their musical careers,” IUP 150th Anniversary Cochairs Jennifer Dunsmore and Molly Russell said. Dunsmore is IUP’s assistant vice president for University Advancement; Russell is IUP’s executive director of marketing.
Chris Higbee
“The 5th Quarter Concert is not just a performance—it’s a homecoming of talent, spirit, and pride. These alumni remind us of the incredible legacy of IUP graduates and the lasting impact they continue to make, both here on campus and far beyond,” Dunsmore said.
Parade
IUP’s Homecoming celebration includes many of the traditional events, including the Homecoming parade on October 4, starting at 10:00 a.m.
With a theme of “IUP Icons,” in celebration of IUP’s sesquicentennial, the parade will feature more than 90 campus and community units, including following floats by IUP fraternities, sororities, and student organizations:
- Oak Grove – IUP Ambassadors student-alumni group
- Norm – Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, Sigma Chi fraternity
- The Penn – Delta Zeta sorority, Sigma Kappa sorority, Sigma Pi fraternity
- IUP fraternity and sorority life – Alpha Xi Delta sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, Phi Delta Theta fraternity
- The HUB – Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Delta Gamma sorority, Phi Kappa Tau fraternity
- Chalk the Walk – Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, Theta Phi Alpha sorority, Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity
- Kopchick Hall – IUP Pre-Veterinary Club
- State Teachers College at Indiana – Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, Kappa Sigma fraternity
- Nursing at IUP and Johnson Hall – Alpha Tau Delta nursing society
Vehicles for the floats and dignitaries have been provided by a number of community members and businesses, including Altmeyer’s Trailer Sales, Delaney Auto Group, and Penn Mechanical. Floats are being constructed at Mack Park.
The Alumni Association Board of Directors will be featured in the parade, along with Alumni Association Board President Mary Morgan, of Indiana, a 1991 graduate. Morgan, a 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Service, retired from a 30-year career at IUP that culminated with her role as assistant vice president for Alumni and Friends. She touched thousands of alumni in the course of her work, maintaining traditions and creating new and innovative ways for alumni to stay connected with IUP. She was largely responsible for the creation and growth of the IUP Ambassadors, IUP’s award-winning student-alumni organization, now in its thirty-second year. This group of outstanding student leaders continues to serve as a link between prospective students, current students, administrators, faculty members, alumni, and friends of IUP, working to engage alumni and current students with campus life and make students more aware of their potential roles as IUP alumni.
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, student volunteers from IUP’s fraternity and sorority life and members of the Indiana Senior High School varsity hockey team will clean the parade route.
Four float prizes will be given: first prize of $1,000, sponsored by the IUP Alumni Association; second prize of $900, sponsored by Aramark; third place of $800, cosponsored by the Student Government Association and the offices of Student Leadership and Student Inclusion; and fourth prize of $700, sponsored by University Advancement.
Parade judges this year are Peter Broad, representing Indiana Borough Council; Sam Kenly, representing Downtown Indiana Inc.; Cate Planisky, community representative and 1993 IUP graduate; James Rickard, community representative, local artist, and 2006 IUP graduate; Curt Scheib, dean of the College of Fine Arts, Humanities, Media, and Public Affairs, a 1977 IUP graduate; Patricia Simmons of Indiana, a 1972 IUP graduate; and Indiana business owner Quintina Thomas, a 2011 IUP graduate.
In addition to the IUP Marching Band, the parade will feature marching bands from area high schools: Indiana, Homer-Center, Marion Center, Penns Manor, Purchase Line, River Valley, and United.
Crimson Court
Now in its fifteenth 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 junior or senior standing, at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, and be in good judicial standing.
IUP’s 2025 Crimson Court
College of Arts, Humanities, Media, and Public Affairs
Monserrat Lopez Villagomez
Monserrat Lopez Villagomez, a political science pre-law major in the Cook Honors College from Kennett Square. Daughter of Alfonzo Lopez and Maria Villagomez, she is a 2022 graduate of Kennett High School. She was selected for the 2025 Allyship Award, the Cook Honors College Achievement Fund for an abroad trip to Japan, a Cook Honors College scholarship, a Promising Scholars scholarship, and a Ready to Succeed Scholarship. A dean’s list student, she is a resident assistant and was selected for the Rho Alpha Sigma Resident Assistant Honors Society. She works as a Crimson Guide and Admissions Office student worker, was president of the Latino Student Organization during the 2023–24 academic year, is a Student Connector, is a member of the IUP Student Social Media Team, and is a member and recruitment chair for the IUP Ambassadors student alumni group.
Eberly College of Business
Isaiah Perdue
Isaiah Perdue, a finance and economics major from Darby. Son of Agnes Perdue and the late Wade Perdue, he is a 2023 graduate of Penn Wood High School. Selected as the student speaker to represent the Crimson Scholars Circle program at the 2025 Leadership Society Reception, he is the recipient of a Promising Scholars scholarship, a Crimson Scholars Circle Award, and the Trustees’ Scholars Award. He is the chairman of the board for UBORA Men of IUP, is the Consumer Staples Sector Leader for the Student Managed Investment Portfolio group, is treasurer for the Pan-African Student Association, is secretary for the Student Finance Association, is a peer mentor for the Crimson Scholars Circle, and has been a disc jockey for many IUP events, including IUP’s 150th Carnival Celebration in August.
College of Education and Human Services
Allison Semetkoskey
Allison Semetkoskey, a family and consumer science education major from Indiana in the Cook Honors College. Daughter of Karen and Joe Semetkoskey, she is a 2022 graduate of Marion Center Junior Senior High School. She is the recipient of a Cook Honors College scholarship, Grow PA Scholarship, Promising Scholar Award, Ready to Succeed Scholarship, and Sutton Scholarship. A dean’s list student and a member and president of IUP Women’s Rugby, she is a 2023–24 National Collegiate Rugby Scholastic All-American. –She is vice president of the Family and Consumer Science Education Student Association and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Co-op Board of Directors, Allegheny Rugby Union All-Star 7s team in 2023 and 2024, and a 2024 member of U23 Allegheny Rugby Union All-Stars 15s.
College of Health Sciences
Sadie Juart
Sadie Juart, a speech-language pathology major with a minor in music in the Cook Honors College from Creekside. Daughter of David Juart and Tracy Vanhorn-Juart, she is 2023 graduate of Marion Center High School. She is a provost scholar and dean’s list student and received the Sutton Scholarship and Cook Honors College Scholarship. She is a member and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinator for the IUP chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, is a member of the Sigma Alpha International Music fraternity, and is a former member of the IUP Chorale, University Chorus, and the IUP Marching Band.
John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Marisol Gonzalez Flores
Marisol Gonzalez Flores, a geology and criminology major in the Cook Honors College from Kennett Square. Daughter of Alfredo Gonzalez Cruz and Maria Flores Ortiz, she is a 2022 graduate of Kennett Square High School. A provost scholar and dean’s list student, she is the recipient of a Cook Honors College Scholarship and a Promising Scholars scholarship. President of the IUP Ambassadors student-alumni group, she is social media chair of the Geological Society of IUP and is a member of the Latino Student Organization.
University College
Jocelyn McGuire
Jocelyn McGuire, a speech-pathology exploration student from Bellwood. Daughter of Susan and Steven Weaver, she is a 2023 graduate of Bellwood-Antis High School. She is a member and vice president of the Crimson Chords.
Crimson Huddle
More than 700 people of all ages are expected at the Alumni and Friends Crimson Huddle Pregame Party from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. October 4 in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. Open to all, the event will celebrate more than 35 reunion groups—including sororities, fraternities, academic departments, and sports teams. In addition to the IUP Marching Band and the IUP cheerleaders, the event will include a performance by Somebody to Love, featuring IUP alumni Wally Stapleton M’87, Charles Potthast M’77, William Menk ’84, and Ryan Long ’03, M’09.
The IUP Ambassadors student-alumni group will offer special activities for children during the Crimson Huddle at the Kids Corner. Admission at the door is $26 per individual ages 13 and older, $19 per child ages 6 to 12, and free for children aged 5 and under. Admission includes food and beverages.
Football
Tailgating will open at 10:00 a.m. in the parking areas designated for tailgating in the stadium south lot.
The Homecoming football game between IUP and Edinboro University will begin at 2:00 p.m. October 4 at Cignetti Field in George P. Miller Stadium. 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 Will Sugg. The band will present the postgame show at the stadium immediately following the game.
Hundreds of IUP students from fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations are expected to participate in a community cleanup on October 5.
A complete list of Homecoming events and information on how to register for events is available on the Homecoming website.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025 and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking to its next 150 years of student success, innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.