PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host its Homecoming celebration Thursday, Sept. 17 to Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 offering socials, the Hall of Fame dinner and an acrobatics show, among other events.
The weekend will include the following.
On Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. in Wieden Auditorium, the university and WAGM-TV will host a screening of three new shows in the FOX Tuesday lineup. This event is free and open to the public and there will be free popcorn and Fox TV giveaways. This event is rated PG-13.
Also on Sept. 17, there will be a Red Cross blood drive all day in the Campus Center. All are welcome.
Festivities kick into high gear Friday, Sept. 18. A barbecue lunch will be available from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Campus Center lawn (rain location will be Kelley Commons), for faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends for just $5. That evening, there will be an alumni pasta supper from 5-7 p.m. in the Campus Center to raise funds for the Alumni Association. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children; sponsored in part by Aramark Dining Services.
At 6 p.m., an alumni baseball game will be held at the Presque Isle High School field.
Also at 6 p.m., the university will host the Reed Gallery rededication celebration in the Center for Innovative Learning (formerly the Library), including music, refreshments and a cash bar, as well as a unique live painting activity by UMPI alumnus Ken Lund.
At 7 p.m., the University Players will present their first Broadway Revue in Wieden Auditorium. This one-night-only performance will feature local talent singing selections from Broadway musicals. $5 donations will be accepted at the door.
A bonfire will get underway at 8 p.m. behind Gentile Hall with s’mores, hot dogs, music, and more. The annual Alumni and Friends Social will begin in Frankie’s Lounge at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center starting at 8:30 p.m.
The fun will continue Saturday, Sept. 19, with the Homecoming Alumni and Friends Brunch at 10:30 a.m. in the Alumni Room, Campus Center. The classes of 2011, 1991 and 1956 will be honored. In addition, the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented. The cost for the event is $10 and limited to the first 50 people. To RSVP, email rebeccastepp69@gmail.com.
All are encouraged to take part in ‘game day’ with an UMPI Owls Tailgate from 11:30 a.m. -3 p.m., and the women’s (noon) and men’s (2 p.m.) soccer games vs. Fisher College, all at the Park Family Field.
That evening, the annual Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner will be held in the Campus Center at 5 p.m. Three alumni will be inducted into the UMPI Athletics Hall of Fame during the event: Sara Richard, Steve Babineau and Coach Karl Hendrickson. Tickets are $20 per person. To RSVP, call the Athletics Department at 768-9506.
The main event during Homecoming weekend takes place at 8 p.m. in Wieden Gym when recent “America’s Got Talent” semifinalists, the Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Group, presents its high-flying, high-energy professional gymnastics show. Their performance includes amazing acrobatic stunts and tricks inside twirling jump ropes, catapulting off mini trampolines, and thundering tumbling routines with impeccable timing. This event is free and open to the public.
Sunday, Sept. 20, includes an Alumni and All Comers XC 5K at 11 a.m., starting at the Park Family Field. There is no entry fee for this event, though donations to the cross country and track and field programs will be accepted. For more information, contact Chris Smith at 768-9472.
Festivities culminate with the men’s and women’s alumni soccer games, to be held at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the soccer field.
For more information about Homecoming, call 768-9432.
