USAO alumni to meet for Homecoming Nov. 3-6

Alums from across the nation will meet on the campus of the University of Science and Arts for the 2011 Alumni Homecoming Nov. 3-6. The reunion, Giving Back, is filled with many special events for alumni of the Oklahoma College for Women, Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts and USAO.

Events for the weekend include an awards luncheon for new USAO Alumni Hall of Fame inductees and the Young Alumni Award winners, a social gathering for graduates from the 80s, 90s and beyond, a sandwich supper theater, a memorial service, class photographs and distribution of alumni scholarships.

A new feature for this year’s homecoming is the Give Us Your Story initiative that asks alumni to share memories from their time on campus to be entered into the university’s permanent archive. Alumni will have the chance to be interviewed during the event.

The annual alumni reunion is open to all USAO/OCLA/OCW alumni. Registrations are being accepted at the USAO Alumni Development Office, (405) 574-1290. An all-inclusive registration package is available for $70 per person, which includes all meals. Additional information is available online at www.usao.edu/alumni. Registration also is available online.

“If you have never attended an Alumni Homecoming at USAO, this is your year. We want to see graduates from OCW, OCLA and USAO. The Alumni Association’s Homecoming Committee is working very hard to ensure we have great events and fun fellowship during the weekend,” said Eric Feuerborn, director of alumni development.

Those who arrive on Thursday afternoon are invited to a symposium on Africa. Although this is not an official Homecoming event, it is a good opportunity for alumni to see the liberal arts in action. USAO's Dr. Stephen Kandeh presents the Symposium each year to discuss the impact Oklahoma and the United States has on Africa.

The weekend’s festivities kick off Friday evening with the annual Green & Gold Scholarship Banquet at 6 p.m., followed by singing on the steps of Troutt Hall at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s events are launched at 9:30 a.m. with light refreshments. USAO alumnus JJ William Francais will display his extensive OCW/OCLA/USAO memorabilia collection from 10 a.m. until noon and class photographs are scheduled in the Student Center Ballroom at 10:30 a.m.

The annual Hall of Fame Luncheon begins at noon highlighting this year’s inductees – Margaret McConnel, Robert England, and Annette Dake. The luncheon also will honor Young Alumni Award winner Christopher Price.

The class of 1961 meets at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, while all alumni have a list of options for Saturday afternoon from which they can choose. On Saturday evening, participants will gather together for a special sandwich supper theater featuring USAO students. Later that evening, graduates from the 80s, 90s and beyond will join together for a social.

The Homecoming weekend comes to a close as alumni join together Sunday at 9 a.m. to honor past friends and classmates during a memorial service and dove release at the USAO Alumni Chapel.