TO OUR EARS

BOW TIE BASH TO CAPGRAND HOMECOMING,SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONBy Jeremy Wangler • jwangler@wufoundation.orgTraditions old and new. The dedication of theUniversity’s new front door and the unveilingof a statue. A bonfire, parade, football game,crowning of royalty and a Bow Tie Bash.Washburn’s Grand Homecoming will be theculmination of a four-year celebration of the University’ssesquicentennial. Many events are planned tocommemorate 150 years of history and perhaps startnew traditions. Grand is truly the perfect word toexplain the festivities.“This will be an emotional stirring of people’sawareness and memory of Washburn,” said Jerry Farley,president, Washburn. “It gives us the opportunity to tellour story and talk about the school transitioning fromthe first 150 years to the next 150 years.”Friday, Oct. 23, visitors to campus can tour thenew Welcome Center and renovation of Morgan Hall,developed to be a one-stop center for students to fulfilladmissions and enrollment needs. The Welcome Centerdedication will begin at 3:30 p.m. and a new Ichabodstatue, bench and signature sculpture for the frontlawn will be unveiled in the Ichabod Plaza. Those whopurchased bricks for the Sesquicentennial Ichabod Plazawill find their personalized pavers.An old tradition will be made new again Friday witha bonfire at 8 p.m. as Craig Schurig, head football coach,and Farley pep up fans for Saturday’s football game.Plan to spend the whole day Saturday on campuswith all three meals covered. Start with breakfast,a pancake feed just east of the Bradbury ThompsonAlumni Center from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Take in theparade at 10 a.m. and head to the Union lawn for lunchat the Grand Homecoming tailgate tent before the game.Kickoff is 2 p.m. in Yager Stadium.Come as you are right after the game, hopefullyin Ichabod gear and celebrating a victory, to the BowTie Bash and enjoy food, beverages and bands. Thecelebration will come to an end Saturday at 8:30 p.m.with a grand finale on the north Union lawn betweenthe Memorial Union and Garvey Fine Arts Center.See the schedule on Pages 15 and 16 and regularlycheck washburn.edu/homecoming for updates anddetails on events. Some events require registration.GRAND WEEK FOR STUDENTSOther Homecoming events are scheduled throughoutthe week on campus, beginning on Oct. 19 with theHomecoming Ball and Late Night Breakfast. That dayalso marks the beginning of the Top Hat Auction, whichbenefits United Way of Greater Topeka.The rest of the week includes student events, includingthe Ichabod Race, Open Mic Night, WU Chef CakeDecorating Competition and Yell Like Hell.The Homecoming king and queen will be crownedat halftime of Washburn’s football game against theUniversity of Central Oklahoma on Oct. 24.For more information about events throughout theweek, visit washburn.edu/homecoming.REUNIONSAffinity groups are encouraged to organize reunionsduring Grand Homecoming weekend. Please notify SusieHoffmann, director, Alumni Association, at 785.670.1641or send an email to 150homecoming@washburn.edu, ifyou plan to do so. Among the groups organizing reunionsfor the weekend are Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Gamma,Nonoso, Learning in the Community and the DancingBlues. For more information, including an updated list ofgroups hosting reunions, visit washburn.edu/homecoming.BROCHURE AND NOTABLESFor more information on Grand Homecoming and aboutsome of the notable figures in Washburn history, view thebrochure and Ichabod Notables publication included withthe magazine.Sesquicentennial 14