Elon's campus will be teeming with activity Nov. 3-5 as alumni young and old return to the university to celebrate with music, sports, awards and fellowship.
Elon University is preparing to welcome back scores of alumni, young and old, this weekend for Homecoming 2017.
Alumni will return to campus Nov. 3-5 to reconnect and celebrate the common bond they have in Elon. They will find a wide variety of activities and celebrations, with something for everyone. The weekend will see a dozen class reunion celebrations — from the Class of 2017’s “Reunion Zero” to the 55th reunion for Elon’s Class of 1962— along with affinity reunions for fraternities, sororities, student groups and alumni networks.
For a full lineup of activities during the weekend, visit the Homecoming 2017 website.
Friday, Nov. 3
Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tent on Phi Beta Kappa Plaza
The Office of Alumni Engagement will recognize the recipients of the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards in front of family, friends and special members of the Elon community. This year’s recipients are:
- Distinguished Alumna of the Year – Susan Yow ’76
- Distinguished Alumnus of the Year – W. Cecil Worsley III ’86 P’14
- Distinguished Service to Elon – Garrett McKnight ’94
- Young Alumnus of the Year – Brandon Shore ’08
- Young Alumna of the Year – Ashleigh Palmer Weathers ’08.
1:30 to 3:30 p.m., the Design Thinking Studio, second floor of Elon Town Center, above Barnes and Noble
This year’s class will focus on design thinking and entrepreneurship. Attendees will receive a hands-on introduction to design thinking through an interactive workshop led by Alyssa Martina, director of the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Dawan Stanford, director of design thinking for Elon.
Rock the Block: the #ElonHome Community Block Party
5 to 8:30 p.m., East Haggard Avenue in front of Alamance Building and Young Commons
This Homecoming Weekend kickoff celebration provides a first stop for alumni and guests to gather with the entire Elon community of faculty, staff and students. A fair-type environment will provide family-friendly activities and entertainment for all ages, including food trucks, a beer garden, live music by The Band Punch, attractions, games and more. This year’s Rock the Block featuress a special tribute to President Leo M. Lambert and Laurie Lambert followed by a fireworks show.
Saturday, Nov. 4
Homecoming 5K Brick Run/Walk
8 to 9:30 a.m., Begins and ends at Martin Alumni Center
Follow the brick pathways through campus as you walk, jog or run alongside friends and family during the third annual Homecoming 5K. This event is sponsored by Campus Recreation. Tickets: $15 per person and alumni can register through the Homecoming website while all others can register here.
All-Alumni Tailgate Village
11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lake Mary Nell Promenade
Join us at the All-Alumni Tailgate Village before heading into Rhodes Stadium to watch Elon take on Towson at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and include a barbecue lunch (vegetarian and vegan options are available) and your favorite tailgate lawn games. The tailgate village includes general seating and reserved areas for the following groups: Alpha Omicron Pi, Delta Upsilon, Elon Latinx/Hispanic Alumni Network, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Lambda Chi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Chi, Sigma Pi, School of Communications, Kappa Sigma, Honors Fellows, Golden Alumni and all class reunions.
Elon vs. Towson Homecoming Football Game
2 to 5 p.m., Rhodes Stadium
Don’t miss out as the No. 7 Elon Phoenix looks to add to its 7-1 record against Colonial Athletic Association rival Towson on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online.
Homecoming Concert: Jon Bellion
7 p.m., Colonnades Lot
The Student Union Board and Student Government Association will host Jon Bellion during Homecoming Weekend as the annual concert returns to the Colonnades parking lot. A New York-based singer, songwriter, producer, Bellion has built a remarkable following by sharing his music directly with listeners, with more than 445 million overall streams of his music worldwide to-date. Bellion released his full-length debut, The Human Condition, in 2016, with the album entering the Billboard 200 at No. 5 and quickly earning a spot on Billboard’s “Best Albums of 2016 list.”
Questions about Homecoming weekend? Visit the Homecoming 2017 website or contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at (877) 784-3566. You may also send inquiries to alumni@elon.edu.