Homecoming Week 2022 at A-State is Themed 'Feeling 22'
JONESBORO – With a theme of “Feeling 22,” Arkansas State University's Homecoming Week 2022 begins Monday and continues with a slate of special activities, including a parade, celebrating the fall semester tradition.
Homecoming Week culminates Saturday, Oct. 1, when the Red Wolves take on the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in a game nationally televised by ESPN+. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Students may vote online for Homecoming Court from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, with the 10 members of the court to be introduced Monday, Sept. 26. The Homecoming king and queen will be announced during the pregame Court presentation.
“For our A-State alumni, current students, faculty, and staff, homecoming is more than just a week of events," commented Keyerra Dotson of West Memphis, representing the Student Activities Board. "It’s an annual tradition to bring us all together to show our Red Wolf spirit while making new memories that’ll last a lifetime. We hope that everyone enjoys the events that we have planned, and we can’t wait to see everyone there.”
The A-State Alumni Association and university officials will recognize the Distinguished Alumni of 2022 — Dr. Gilbert Fowler of Jonesboro, Chad Niell of Jonesboro, and the late Herman Strickland Jr., of Memphis — at halftime of the game. The 39th annual Distinguished Alumni recognition, including an awards dinner the previous evening, is the most recent in a program that began in 1984.
During Homecoming weekend, special activities for alumni include the 50-Year Reunion for the 1972 graduating class on Friday, the Rugby Club alumni activities Saturday, and the Alumni Band Reunion on Saturday afternoon. The Honors College will host a grand opening of the Honors Oasis outdoor venue, 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, a member of the A-State class of 1968, will return to campus to present the annual Corinne Sternheimer Greenfield Lecture at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in the Fowler Center Drama Theatre.
Campus competitions include a student organization window painting contest at the Reng Student Union, campus office decorating, and residence hall and Greek Row house decorating contest.
Numerous campus organizations will host tailgates and social activities. With leadership from the Student Activities Board (SAB), A-State Alumni Association, and other university organizations, highlights of the week include:
— Monday, Sept. 26: The “Music Legends Lip Sync” competition starts at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall of Reng Student Union. Members of the Homecoming Court will be announced.
— Tuesday, Sept. 27: “Roller Rave: We Rock, You Roll” starts at 8 p.m. in the Red WOLF Center, with participants enjoying glow-in-the-dark roller skating, Just Dance, Guitar Hero, arcade games and DJ King Vick.
— Wednesday, Sept. 28: “Wild West Wednesday” runs from 10 a.m. until 2 pm. on the Heritage Plaza Lawn, east side of the Reng Student Union. While enjoying games and cotton candy, students also will conduct a canned food drive to benefit the A-State Food Pantry.
— Thursday, Sept. 29: Voting for Homecoming king and queen is online, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Results will be revealed during the pre-game Court introduction.
— Thursday, Sept. 29: The annual Homecoming Parade, with a theme of “Music Shuffle,” starts at 5 p.m. and proceeds from Pack Place to the Student Union. Spectators may line Aggie Road. Afterward, it’s movie night at Centennial Bank Stadium, with a showing of “Elvis” starting at 8 p.m.
— Friday, Sept. 30: Excitement continues to build with “Howlapalooza” and the traditional “yell like hell” bonfire starting at 7 p.m. near the corner of Honors Ave. and University Loop East.
— Saturday, Oct. 1: The A-State Alumni Band Reunion is noon to 6 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center, with a 1 p.m. rehearsal and 2 p.m. “Sound Town” tailgate at parking lot S-11B.
— Saturday, Oct. 1: The A-State Alumni Association will host a pregame tailgate, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Cooper Alumni Center.
— Saturday, Oct. 1: Following tailgating around Centennial Bank Stadium, kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
For more details and the latest updates to the Homecoming Week schedule, go to AState.edu/Homecoming or check individual dates on the A-State campus calendar (Calendar.AState.edu).
