The University of Minnesota-Crookston is celebrating Homecoming and Family Week, as multiple events continue through Sunday, October 11.
Assistant Director of Student Activities/Programs Delon Blackman is the Homecoming Committee Chair, and the committee has been organizing events to bring the current student body together with alumni to celebrate accomplishments at UMC. “I think it’s a great opportunity to just show some appreciation for the students, faculty, and staff who kind of laid the groundwork for where we are today, and also more important than that, make sure the community has an opportunity to come and meet everyone, and also just kind of be in touch with the university at large.”
One of the most significant events for the week is the Banner Year Celebration and M Alumni Day on Thursday, October 8, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Sargeant Student Center on the UMC campus. The event will be part of a statewide celebration of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the University of Minnesota, but for UMC, it marks 120 years since the Northwest School of Agriculture opened and 60 years of college classes at UMC. Blackman looks forward to welcoming UMC alumni back to campus for this celebration and encourages UMC students to join in celebrating the returning alumni who paved the way for them. “We’re really going to try to have the student center packed out to really have a good celebration for it. It’s just recognizing that we want to make sure that all of our campuses are a lot more aligned, and that we are one University of Minnesota. I think we’re going to have a great time. We’re going to have some music, we’re going to have some presentations, and we’re going to honor some people. We’re really just trying to show appreciation to our alumni.”
Music will be provided by The Tractor Beams, and appetizers will be served, with a toast at 5:00 p.m. to celebrate the shared history and achievements of all UMC alumni.
UMC will close out Homecoming Week with a block party on Saturday, October 10, from 11:00 am.m to 2:00 p.m. at the Ed Widseth Field on the UMC campus. This event is open to the community, and with temperatures set to be in the 80s, Blackman is expecting a large crowd to come out and showcase the bond between the Crookston community and the university. “The block party is a collaboration between student affairs, alumni, and donor relations. It’s really a family-friendly event. We’re going to have big inflatables, bouncy houses, and slip-and-slides for the kids. We’re going to have a game of kickball going, some food truck representation in case you want to bite to eat, and then also some live music in case you just want to hear something on a nice Saturday.”
The week also includes sporting events on the field, on the ice, and on the court. The women’s soccer team will host Bemidji State University on Friday, October 9, at 3:00 p.m. at the UMC Soccer Field, the men’s hockey team will open their season with games against Lake Region State College on Friday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 10, at 1:00 p.m. at the Crookston Sports Center, and the women’s volleyball team will host Winona State University on Friday, October 9, at 6:00 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, October 10, at 3:00 p.m. in the Lysaker Gymnasium. During Saturday’s game, the 2002 championship-winning men’s golf team will be honored with a banner raising in the gym.
UMC is also celebrating Family Weekend from Friday, October 9, through Sunday, October 11. Families of UMC students can register and attend athletic events, participate in exclusive workshops, and join in the Alumni, Friends, and Family Social on Saturday, October 10, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Minakwa Golf Course.
