ENMU celebrates 82nd homecoming

STAFF WRITER

[email protected]

For their 82nd homecoming celebration, Eastern New Mexico University has a week-long schedule of events that will reinforce the bond between the university and the surrounding community.

According to ENMU Alumni Director Robert Graham, the bond between the university and the Eastern New Mexico community is vital to the

File photo

The Eastern New Mexico University homecoming parade to be held next Saturday morning is one of several homecoming events open to the public.

homecoming events.

“The university is a part of the community, and it’s not the other way around. As a small community, all we have is one another, and it’s important to remember that and partner as many times as we can to show solidarity and a united effort,” Graham said.

The community will have several opportunities to support ENMU throughout the course of the week.

Songfest, a talent competition between student organizations, will begin homecoming week 7-9 p.m. Monday with participants dancing, lip-syncing and performing skits to compete for first, second and third place, according to ENMU Student Body Vice President Joshua Alvarez.

“They literally practice weeks in advance, late at night. It’s that competitive. It’s very traditional, and people have a lot of passion for Songfest as well,” he said.

ENMU’s inaugural powder puff football game will take place 6 p.m. Wednesday at Greyhound Stadium with female students competing against each other. According to Alvarez, the game was arranged by popular demand from the student body.

“We’re already full on sign-ups, and they were full by last week,” he said.

The 2016 homecoming pageant will take place at 7-9 p.m. Thursday in the CUB Ballroom and will provide the public a way to “know who’s running and why they’re running,” Alvarez said.

Also included in homecoming week will be the renaming of ENMU’s Natural History Museum in memory of former biology professor Antonio “Tony” Gennaro at 2 p.m. Friday.

According to ENMU President Steven Gamble, Gennaro led the university in community outreach.

“He did everything from television spots to short articles and longer articles that would run in newspapers,” he said.

Gamble said Gennaro created a legacy, not only in his body of work but in the students that he taught.

“His legacy is the students that he produced at Eastern. He turned out a generation of very good biologists that went into different career fields. The second reason, in terms of the outreach behind the legacy of his students out there in the community doing good work, again, was the education that he supplied to the community through his articles in the Portales paper, the Clovis paper and other papers in the state, on biological issues,” Gamble said.

According to ENMU Executive Director of Planning and Analysis Patrice Caldwell, the museum’s new title will be “Dr. Antonio ‘Tony’ Gennaro Natural History Museum.”

ENMU will hold its annual bonfire 9 p.m. Friday in the Greyhound Arena parking lot and will include a concert featuring hip-hop artists Kooli High, Chalie Boy and Music Man.

Alvarez said that he would encourage the community to attend the bonfire “because it’s the last time before we all get together for the game. It motivates everyone for the game.”

At 11 a.m. Saturday, the homecoming parade will begin on South Avenue C and end on 18th Street near Bernalillo Hall.

For Graham, the parade is “an opportunity to recognize Eastern’s birthday as a university, and as a smaller tight-knit community, making sure we are inclusive.”

The alumni student tailgate will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greyhound Stadium and will provide a family friendly tailgate experience, complete with a rock climbing wall and bounce house, Graham said.

“That’s the main reason we want the community to come out. We’re putting on events that are going to be of interest to everyone. There will be free food and beverages,” he said. “Tailgating is representative of having a good time, and we want people to come out and have a safe and responsible good time.”

The homecoming football game will then begin at 3 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium. Half-time activities will include the presentation of the homecoming king and queen and their court, as well as the winning floats from the parade.

Admission for the football game is $10 for general admission and $7 for ages 12-17. ENMU students can attend for free.

Schedule

Following is the schedule for Eastern New Mexico University’s homecoming events

Monday

• Songfest: 7-9 p.m. in Campus Union Ballroom.

Wednesday

• Inaugural powder puff football game: 6 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium with female students competing against each other.

Thursday

• 2016 Homecoming Pageant: 7-9 p.m. Campus Union Ballroom.

Friday

• The Homecoming Golf Experience: 8 a.m.-noon or 1-5 p.m.

Advance registration is required at 575-562-2141.

Saturday

• The Homecoming Parade: 11 a.m., beginning down South Ave C and turning right onto 18th Street headed toward the ENMU campus.

Contact Melissa Sena at [email protected] or 575-562-2125 for entry information.

• Alumni-Student Tailgate: Noon-3 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium.

Free food and beverage and plenty of family activities.

• The Homecoming Football Game: 3 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium.

The Greyhounds take on Tarleton State University. Halftime activities include the presentation of the Homecoming King and Queen and their court, along with parade float winners.

• Athletic Hall of honors: 6:30-9 p.m. Campus Union Ballroom.

The Greyhound Club hosts a brief meet and greet honoring the 2016 inductees followed by a formal dinner from 7-9 p.m.

Sunday

• Alumni-Foundation Meetings, Campus Union Ballroom, 8-11:30 a.m.

Dr. Gamble will provide a University update to the alumni and foundation board of directors.

For more information, call 575-562-2091.