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Sept. 23, 2022
Northwest Missouri State University’s annual Homecoming celebration returns as “Bearcats Got Game,” with activities and events planned Oct. 16-22 for students, employees, alumni and friends of the University.
Bearcat cheerleaders run flags onto the Bearcat Stadium field during last year's Homecoming football game. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
The celebration begins Sunday, Oct. 16, with the hanging of the banners at the J.W. Jones Student Union and concludes Saturday, Oct. 22, with the Homecoming football game. Highlights include the Variety Show, International Flag-Raising Ceremony, Homecoming parade, dedication of a Bobby Bearcat statue and the 50th-year reunion for the Class of 1972.
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 at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, and entry fees are due at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.
Northwest’s 2022 Homecoming Executive Board consists of Faith Thompson, a graduate student working toward a master’s degree in school counseling from Omaha, Nebraska; Sydney Looney, a senior early childhood education major from Omaha, Nebraska; Jacob Maclean, a senior agronomy major with a horticulture emphasis from Troy, Missouri; Aimee Ferry, a junior psychology major from Perry, Missouri; and Ciara Mattson, a junior biopsychology major from Kansas City, Missouri.
The Bearcat Marching Band entertains crowds gathered on Fourth Street for the annual Homecoming Parade. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
The annual Homecoming parade begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the corner of Ray and College Avenue; it proceeds east on Fourth Street and ends at Main Street. It traditionally features more than 100 entries, including bands and floats sponsored by campus and community organizations and businesses. Click here to view a map of the Homecoming parade route.
Northwest alumni are invited to the Homecoming Welcome prior to the parade at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Michael L. Faust Center for Alumni and Friends. Graduates of the classes of 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 are encouraged to visit the Faust Center or the Bearcat Zone tailgate in College Park to pick up their commemorative Homecoming button and reunion year ribbon.
Northwest students cheer on the Bearcats during last year's Homecoming football game. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
The annual M-Club Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom. This year’s individual inductees are Deshaun Cooper (men’s basketball), Jared Erspamer (football), Harvey Hallum (wrestling), Cassie Lowell Auxier (women’s golf), Larry Maiorano (men’s golf) and Jenny Simmons Scherfenberg (women’s track and field) along with the 1991-92 men’s track team and the 2006 Bearcat football team. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased online at www.bearcatsports.com/tickets or by calling 660.562.1977.
The Bearcat football team will face Northeastern State University in the annual Homecoming football game, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Bearcat Stadium. Tickets may be purchased online, starting Saturday, Oct. 1, at www.bearcatsports.com/tickets.
All fans are invited after the conclusion of the Homecoming parade to the Bearcat Zone at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion to enjoy tailgate activities prior to the football game. Admission to the Bearcat Zone is free, and a meal is available to purchase.
Additionally, at noon, Oct. 22, the Northwest community is invited to the brick pavilion east of the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse for the dedication of a Bobby Bearcat statue.
Other Bearcat athletic contests include the soccer and volleyball teams hosting Missouri Southern on Friday, Oct. 21. The soccer game begins at 3 p.m. at Bearcat Pitch, and the volleyball begins at 6 p.m. at the Bearcat Arena.
The annual International Flag-Raising Ceremony features Northwest international students celebrating and raising the flags of their home countries. (Photo by Amanda Wistuba/Northwest Missouri State University)
Student organizations build scenes using canned foods during an annual Homecoming contest. (Photo by Jay Bradway/Northwest Missouri University)
Other activities throughout Homecoming week include the annual canned art contest, a photo contest and the Homecoming Variety Show.
Student organizations will compete in the 15th annual Donation Creation Contest on Sunday, Oct. 16, at the J.W. Jones Student Union. The displays will remain in the Student Union until Sunday, Oct. 23, 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 donated canned goods at their favorite display; those cans will be donated to Northwest’s Bearcat Food Pantry.
University offices are invited to participate in the 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 at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, and voting ends at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. To register for participation, contact HOCOPR@nwmissouri.edu.
The Homecoming Variety Show showcases students performing skits and musical acts.
The Homecoming Variety Show will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts and features an array of individuals and student organizations performing skits and musical acts. Tickets will be sold for $5 at www.nwmissouri.edu/getinvolved/homecoming/.
The Homecoming king and queen will be announced at the conclusion of the Variety Show. Students may vote for Homecoming royalty Oct. 10 through Oct. 19 on CatPAWS.
Walkout Day, the Northwest tradition of canceling all classes during the Friday of Homecoming week, is Friday, Oct. 21. Walkout Day activities include the Ringing of Bell of ’48 at 8 a.m. and the annual International Flag-Raising Ceremony at 2 p.m. at Joyce and Harvey White International Flag Plaza. The Student Activities Council also will give away Walkout Day T-shirts and goodie bags between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Student Union.
