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Oct. 8, 2021
The Homecoming parade annually travels in front of the Northwest campus on Fourth Street on its way to the Maryville square. This year's Homecoming week is set for Oct. 24-30. (Northwest Missouri State University photos)
Northwest Missouri State University’s annual Homecoming celebration returns as “Bearcats Remember When,” Oct. 24-30, with activities and events planned for students, employees, alumni and friends of the University.
The celebration begins Sunday, Oct. 24, with the hanging of the banners at the J.W. Jones Student Union and concludes Saturday, Oct. 30, with the Homecoming football game. Highlights include the Homecoming parade, Bell of ’48 ringing, Variety Show, International Flag Raising Ceremony and the Golden Years Reunion for the Classes of 1970 and 1971.
Details about all Homecoming activities, including participant entry forms, are available at www.nwmissouri.edu/getinvolved/homecoming, or by contacting 660.562.1226 or homecmg@nwmissouri.edu. All entry forms are due Friday, Oct. 15, and entry fees are due at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22.
Northwest’s 2021 Homecoming Executive Board consists of Rylie Goeders, a senior business management and marketing major from Story City, Iowa; Bailee Urban, a senior therapeutic recreation major with a minor in Spanish from Elkhorn, Nebraska; Rebecca Danforth, a sophomore applied health exercise science major from Kansas City; and Amberlea Auffert, a marketing, business management, and management information systems with an emphasis in web development major from Maryville.
The annual homecoming parade begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the corner of Ray and College Avenue. The parade moves east on Fourth Street and concludes at the corner of Fourth and Main streets. It traditionally features more than 100 entries, including bands and floats sponsored by campus and community organizations and businesses.
Additionally, Northwest alumni are invited to the Homecoming Welcome prior to the parade at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Michael L. Faust Center for Alumni & Friends. Classes of 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 are encouraged to visit the Faust Center or the Bearcat Zone to pick up their commemorative Homecoming button and reunion year ribbon.
The annual M-Club Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased by calling 660.562.1977.
The Bearcat football team will face the University of Nebraska at Kearney in the annual Homecoming football game, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Bearcat Stadium. Ticket information is available by clicking here.
All fans are invited to the Bearcat Zone, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion, to enjoy tailgate activities before the football game. Admission to the Bearcat Zone is free, and a meal is available to purchase.
Other Bearcat athletics contests during the week include the soccer team welcoming Newman at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Bearcat Pitch, and the volleyball team plays at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse for matches against Fort Hays and Nebraska-Kearney.
Other activities throughout Homecoming week include the annual canned art contest, a photo contest, a blood drive and the Homecoming Variety Show.
Student organizations annually compete in the Donation Creation Contest to provide canned goods to the Maryville Ministry Center and Northwest’s Pay it Forward Food Pantry.
Student organizations will compete in the 14th Annual Donation Creation Contest formerly known as the Canned Art Contest Sunday, Oct. 24, in the Student Union. The displays will remain in the Student Union until Sunday, Oct. 31, and canned items used during the contest are donated to the Maryville Ministry Center. Individuals also may vote for the People’s Choice Award by leaving canned goods at their favorite display; those cans will be donated to Northwest’s Pay it Forward Food Pantry.
University offices are invited to participate in an Office and Department Photo Contest. Each department has the opportunity to submit a photo displaying their Homecoming spirit. Entries are posted on social media, and the photo that receives the most “likes” will win a $100 prize. Submissions are due Thursday, Oct. 21, and voting ends Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m. To register participation, contact HOCOPR@nwmissouri.edu.
The Homecoming Committee and Student Senate are collaborating to host Northwest’s annual fall blood drive, Oct. 26-28 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, in the Tower View Room. The Northwest community is invited to give blood or a monetary donation to a local philanthropy. Additionally, student organizations will compete to raise units of blood and money as part of the overall Homecoming competition.
Walkout Day activities include the International Flag-Raising Ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Joyce and Harvey White International Plaza.
The Homecoming Variety Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building and features an array of individuals and student organizations performing skits and musical acts. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased online by clicking here.
The Homecoming King and Queen will be announced at the conclusion of the Friday Variety Show. Voting for Homecoming royalty through CatPAWS begins midnight Oct. 18 and ends midnight Oct. 27.
Walkout Day, the Northwest tradition of canceling all classes during the Friday of Homecoming week, is Friday, Oct. 29. Walkout Day activities include the International Flag-Raising Ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Joyce and Harvey White International Plaza.
