"Dixie Always and Forever" serves as the theme for the 2008 Dixie State College of Utah Homecoming Week Oct. 6-11. The annual rite of the fall season is filled with a number of exciting events and activities for all students, DSC alumni and the community.
"Homecoming really signifies the words fun, fall, football and friends, especially old friends," said Donna Stafford, DSC director of student activities. "It's a nostalgic time, a time when those people who were students and loved the institution, have an opportunity to come back to campus. Here they can renew old friendships and relive the excitement of 'their days' as college students."
Homecoming activities will begin in earnest Monday, Oct. 6, with a formal student kick-off event at the Encampment Mall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the annual Homecoming Queen Pageant Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m., in the Cox Auditorium. This year's pageant theme is "One Night Only," with tickets available for $8 per person, $5 for students and faculty and staff with current DSC ID, at the Avenna Center Ticket Office.
DSC students will get in a little painting in on Wednesday, Oct. 8, with the annual painting of the "D" service project at the intersection of 300 South and 800 East beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 will feature the annual Homecoming Powder Puff Football game at Hansen Stadium at 7 p.m., which will include a performance by the Rebelinas, DSC's all-male version of the Dixie Dance Team. Admission is free to the game.
Raging Red Day is set for Friday, Oct. 10, in which all DSC students, faculty and staff, alumni and community are asked to show school spirit and wear red all day. Meanwhile, the ASDSC student council will host three events, beginning with its annual "Rock the Mall" school song competition at noon on the Encampment Mall. ASDSC will also hold a pep rally at the Encampment Mall at 8 p.m.
"This year's student government have worked so diligently to make this the best Homecoming ever," Stafford said. "For our new students who've just arrived, Homecoming is a lot of traditions and pageantry that celebrates the old as it welcomes the new. The activities we have planned will help our entire studentbody catch that 'Dixie Spirit' that we all speak fondly of."
Friday's alumni activities include the Alumni Assembly at 10:30 a.m. in the Eccles Concert Hall and Golden Generation Luncheon and Program at noon in the Gardner Ballroom. The Alumni Assembly is free to attend, while tickets for the Golden Generation Luncheon may be purchased for $10. In addition, the annual Dixie Alumni Reunion Party and Barbeque will be held Friday at the Stephen and Marcia Wade Alumni House beginning at 7 p.m. The party and barbeque is free and open to all DSC alumni and their families.
Saturday's festivities begin bright and early with the inaugural Homecoming Alumni Run/Walk with DSC First Lady Margaret Nadauld at 7 a.m. The run/walk, which will last approximately one hour, starts and finishes at Wade Alumni House. Cost is $10 per person, which includes a t-shirt and a continental breakfast.
The annual Homecoming Parade begins at 9:30 a.m., and will travel down Tabernacle Street beginning at 300 East and ending at 100 West. DSC alum Jerry Atkin (Class of 1969) and his wife, Carolyn, will serve as grand marshals of the parade.
All entries must line up at the parade's starting point (300 East on Tabernacle) at 8:30 a.m. Currently there are over 40 entries for the parade with plenty of room for more floats and participants. Individuals or businesses wishing to place entries in the parade are asked to contact DSC director of student activities Donna Stafford at 435-652-7513, or by email at stafford@dixie.edu.
Immediately following the parade on Saturday will be the Founder's Day Assembly and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 10:30 a.m., in the St. George Tabernacle. Admission to both is free.
The DSC Alumni Association will host a free tailgate party at the Wade Alumni House at 12 noon, prior to Dixie State's football game vs. Humboldt State, which is slated to kick-off at 1 p.m. Game tickets ($10 reserved, $7 general admission) may be purchased by calling the DSC general ticket office at 435-652-7800, or online at www.dixie.edu. Tickets may also be purchased at the box office at Hansen Stadium prior to kickoff.
The week wraps up Saturday night with the annual Alumni Homecoming Banquet at 7 p.m., in the Old Gym. Speaking at this year's banquet will be Jerry Atkin, while Joy Atkin will be presented with Distinguished Alumni award, and Lois Iverson will be given the Distinguished Service award. Tickets for the banquet may be purchased for $12. The Homecoming Dance, entitled "Autumn in New York," will follow at 9 p.m. in the Gardner Ballroom. Admission to the dance is $10 in advance at the Avenna Center Ticket Office, or for $15 at the door.
Tickets for the Golden Generation Luncheon and Alumni Banquet may be purchased by contacting the DSC Alumni Office 435-652-7535 or via email at larson@dixie.edu.
