Cornell Homecoming to be Celebrated Oct. 9-11

September 28, 2009

MOUNT VERNON — Cornell College will celebrate its homecoming Oct. 9-11 by honoring alumni and former professors.

Cornell’s homecoming celebrates the reunion classes of 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, and 2004. Events begin Friday, Oct. 9, and include a pep rally and fireworks in Ash Park, starting at 9 p.m.

Three alumni will be honored at convocation in King Chapel at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Stephen Grummon, a 1969 graduate, will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award for his notable career  in foreign affairs. Jerry Ringer, class of 1959 and trustee, and Elizabeth Hoyer Beeman, class agent for the class of 1969, will receive the Leadership and Service Award for their many years of service to the college.

Also being recognized during Homecoming is Dyan Smith, wife of John Smith, Class of 1971 and chair of the Cornell Board of Trustees, who will receive Honorary Alumni status Friday during the Alumni Board Luncheon.

New to the slate of events this year is a 5k run Saturday morning beginning at Ash Park at 8 a.m. Registration starts at 7 a.m.

Following the convocation, there will be an open house at the Paul K. Scott Alumni Center at Rood House from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Also on Saturday, Cornell Professor Emeritus of English and Poet-in-Residence Robert Dana will hold a book signing on the Orange Carpet in The Commons from 11 a.m.-noon.  There will be a Homecoming Studio Art Faculty Show reception from 3-5 p.m. in Peter Paul Luce Gallery, McWethy Hall on Saturday. At 2:30 p.m. on Saturday the Faculty Blockbuster Lecture for the One Book, One Campus, One Community Book The Zookeeper’s Wife will be held in Hedges Lounge in the Commons.

Other special activities include the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame  Induction Ceremony Saturday at 8 a.m.; a memorial for Ed Rogers Saturday at 9 a.m. in Allee Chapel; historic campus tours with student re-enactors at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and the homecoming football game against Luther, kicking off at 1 p.m. in Ash Park.