Sept. 10, 2009 – This year’s Homecoming Week offers something for every palette. Humanitarian efforts, festive fund-raising, comedy and athletics for the whole family pack the calendar for this year’s “Redvolution.” Celebrations kick off September 19 with the Legacy of Lowell Annual Community Service Day and culminate September 26 with the Utah vs. Louisville football game at 5:30 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The week is filled with fun for students, alumni and other Ute fans (see below for a full schedule, or visit http://www.alumni.utah.edu/homecoming for more information).
Longtime Utah supporters Gary and Paulette Birdsall will serve as the 2009 Homecoming marshals, participating in numerous activities throughout the week. They will be honored along with the Homecoming royalty and the 1937 Homecoming Queen, Margaret Price Carlston, at a ceremony during the Homecoming football game.
This year’s Homecoming Week kickoff on Saturday is the largest-scale service event yet sponsored by the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center. The annual Legacy of Lowell Community Service Day will bring each volunteer to one of seven service sites throughout the community where they will assist in literacy tutoring, home repair projects for seniors, environmental restoration, food delivery, refugee site visits and assembling dental kits. The event will be followed by a luncheon at Parkview Elementary.
The traditional house decorating competition on Greek Row and other campus locations will take place on Tuesday at noon. Decorated houses will be judged for originality and expression of this year’s Homecoming theme, “Redvolution.”
Also on Tuesday, the Bennion Center hosts its annual Hunger Banquet, aimed at raising awareness of homelessness and hunger in the community. Gina Cornia, director of Utah Against Hunger and Bennion Center alumna, will give the keynote address.
Wednesday evening, an Emeritus Reunion will give alumni who graduated from the U 40 or more years ago a glimpse of today’s campus with a tour of the recently renovated John R. Park Building, followed by a reception on the Park patio and dinner at the Alumni House featuring a talk by Biochemistry Professor Dr. David Grainger, who will discuss personalized medicine. Special guests are members of the class of 1969, the newest associates of the emeritus alumni.
On Thursday, a Greek Alumni Reunion will reunite brothers and sisters of all years followed by Songfest and the traditional pep rally. The evening will serve to bolster pre-game spirit, with the help of football coach Kyle Whittingham’s pep talk, free food and appearances by the players, the marching band, cheerleaders and the U’s mascot, Swoop, the red-tailed hawk.
Friday is packed with fun events, starting with the fourth annual 18-hole Homecoming Scholarship Scramble golf tournament at Bonneville Golf Course, which benefits the Alumni Association’s Student Scholarship Fund. Any U of U fans short on red attire will enjoy a 30 percent discount at the Campus Bookstore from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of Fan Appreciation Day.
This year’s Homecoming headliner, comedian Jim Gaffigan will perform Friday night at Kingsbury Hall. With countless appearances on “Late Show with David Letterman” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” Gaffigan’s recent one-hour Comedy Central Special, CD and DVD, all entitled “Beyond the Pale” have catapulted Gaffigan to one of the most popular touring and recorded comedians in the country today.
Following the performance, the Homecoming dance will take place at The Depot at The Gateway, 400 W. South Temple in downtown Salt Lake City, where students will dance the night away.
On Saturday, Homecoming day, runners of all ages will gather at the Alumni House, beginning at 8:30 a.m., for the ever popular 5K Run/Walk/Stroll, followed by the second annual Kids K Fun Run, guaranteeing a good time for the entire family. The event is organized by the Young Alumni Board to raise scholarship funds for students. Each year, prizes are awarded to participants in various categories, including fastest male/female runner, those wearing the most red and participants demonstrating the most school spirit.
Later that afternoon, a pre-game tailgate party and barbecue will be held on the Alumni House patio and surrounding lawn prior to the football game against Louisville.
For more information or to reserve events on-line, visit http://www.alumni.utah.edu/homecoming or call 801-581-6995.
Saturday, Sept. 19
- Legacy of Lowell Annual Service Day
Parkview Elementary, 970 S. Emery (1170 West), 8
a.m.
Continental breakfast and transportation to service
sites provided.
Friends and students of the Bennion Center
will volunteer at one of seven service sites, followed by the Community Service
Awards Luncheon from 11:15 a.m. to noon.
Free and open to the public. RSVP by calling
581-4811, http://www.sa.utah.edu/bennion/LegacyofLowell.htm.
Tuesday, Sept. 22
- House Decorating
Greek Row and other campus
locations, noon
Sites on campus decorate their spaces. Info: 581-8061.
- Bennion Center Hunger Banquet
Union Saltair Room, 6 p.m.
Help the Bennion Center raise awareness of homelessness
and hunger in our community.
Open to the public. Admission $5 or five cans of food. Ticket info: 581-4811.
Wednesday, Sept. 23
- Emeritus Reunion
John R. Park Building, 4 p.m., Alumni House, 6:00 p.m.
Tour the recently renovated John R. Park Building, followed by a reception,
dinner and a talk from biochemistry professor Dr. David Grainger, who will
speak about personalized medicine. $25 per person. Reserve online or call:
581-3719. (801) 581-6997
Thursday, Sept. 24
- Greek Alumni Reunion
Olpin Union Building, 5 to 6
p.m. Info: 801-581-8061.
- Songfest and Pep Rally
Olpin Union Ballroom, 6 p.m., Union
plaza, 8:30 p.m.
Fraternities, sororities and other campus groups perform song-and-dance routines
judged for their creativity and presentation, followed by a pep rally on the
Union Plaza.
Open to the public. Free
admission. Info: 581-6995.
Friday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Sept. 27
- Parents and Family Weekend
Info: 801-585-1141, www.parents.utah.edu
Friday, Sept. 25
- Homecoming Scholarship Scramble
Bonneville Golf Course, 8 a.m.
The fourth annual tourney at Bonneville Golf Course.
$125
per person/$500 per foursome.
Open to the public. Sign up online or call 581-6995, www.alumni.edu/golf.
Proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund.
- Fan Appreciation Day
Campus Book Store, 5 to 8
p.m.
U fans enjoy a 30 percent
discount on U items.
- Jim Gaffigan Show
Kingsbury Hall, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
For ticket information, visit Kingsbury Hall online, www.kingsburyhall.org.
- Homecoming Student Dance
The Depot at The Gateway, 400 W. South Temple,
9 p.m.
to midnight.
Admission: $5. For tickets call
581-2788.
Saturday, September 27
- Young
Alumni Scholarship 5K & Kids Run
Alumni House, 155 S.
Central Campus Drive, 7 a.m. registration.
8:30 a.m.
start, 5K: $25 adults, $22 faculty and staff, $18 students.
9:30 a.m. start, Kids K: $12.
Race proceeds benefit the Young Alumni Scholarship
Fund.
Open to the public. Sign up online or call 581-6995, www.alumni.utah.edu/5krace.
- Pre-Game Tailgate Party
Alumni House Patio, 155 S. Central
Campus Drive, 3 p.m. Free parking at Alumni House.
Admission: $15, $10 students under 18 and Alumni Association members.
Open
to the public. Sign up on-line or call: 581-6995.
- Football
Game: Utah vs. Louisville
Rice-Eccles Stadium, 5:30
p.m.
Open to the public. For tickets call 581-UTIX (8849), www.utahtickets.com.