Posted by Philip Poole on 2012-10-10

It's Homecoming week at Samford University! Events kicked off Oct. 10 with activities planned by Student Activities Council and continue through Sunday, Oct. 14.

Advance reservations for reunion meals and the homecoming banquet were closed Oct. 8, but there still are many events available to alumni, parents and families, according to David B. Goodwin, Samford's director of alumni programs.

"We have worked hard to provide a wide variety of activities and events that should appeal to Bulldogs of all ages," Goodwin said. "The weather forecast for the weekend is calling for nearly perfect weather, so everyone needs to 'come home' and celebrate with us."

Many department, organization and class reunions are planned for Saturday on the University Quadrangle and at other locations on campus. Featured class reunions this year are 1952, 1962, 1967, 1987, 1992, 2002, 2007 and 2011.

Samford's Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing has events planned Friday and Saturday that cap a year-long 90th anniversary celebration.

The School of the Arts will host several events during the weekend, including the popular stage production "Steel Magnolias," and the Homecoming Vespers service at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

The annual homecoming parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and winds its way around the campus. Parade grand marshals will be the 2012 Southern Conference champion Samford women's basketball team and coaches.

The homecoming football game at 2 p.m. Saturday will pit the Samford Bulldogs against Appalachian State University. The teams currently are tied for second place in the Southern Conference. Reunion classes and alumni honorees will be recognized during the game, and halftime will include a performance by the Samford Marching Band and the crowning of the 2012 Homecoming Queen and King.

The weekend culminates with the annual Samford Hymn Sing at 2 p.m. Sunday in Reid Chapel.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.