Western Illinois University Homecoming Running Sept. 24-Oct. 1
Calling all Leathernecks! Alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members should mark their calendars for Western Illinois University’s Homecoming 2021, Friday, Sept. 24 – Saturday, Oct. 2.
Current students Daria Levchenko, a senior political science major, from San Diego, CA, and Elizabeth Orwig, a sophomore special education major, from Ohio, IL, will serve as co-directors of the University Union Board Homecoming Committee. This year’s event theme is “Rocky 
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“We are so excited to see how Homecoming participants take on this new and unique theme. After the crazy year we’ve had, we hope students will go above and beyond this Homecoming, and fully embrace the more traditional event we missed last fall,” said Orwig.
Homecoming activities kick off Friday, Sept. 24 with Paint the Paws, which prepares Western Avenue and University Drive for Homecoming 2021, with volunteers painting large gold paws on each street, on a path leading to Hanson Field. This event is sponsored by the WIU Alumni Association. The Alumni Association will also host the traditional All-Alumni Social at the Alumni House, starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. Complimentary food, beer, wine and soda will be available, as well as a cash bar.
Leading up to the Homecoming parade and football game, students will participate in a week of fun filled competitive events including:
Saturday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m., Paint the Town
Sunday, Sept. 26, Bubble Soccer
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m., Variety Show
Thursday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m., Yell Like Hell
Saturday, Oct. 2, 10:30 a.m., Parade
Other Homecoming events include the announcement of royalty, Chalk the Campus, the spirit game and more will take place throughout the week. Times and locations will be announced at a later date.
Homecoming day, Saturday, Oct. 2, starts out with the “Old Stompin’ Ground Runaround” 5K run/1.5 mile walk. The run will be followed by a Reunion Brunch, to honor the class years of 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1995 and 1996, and will be held at the Alumni House. The Homecoming Parade will start at 10:30 a.m., followed by student events and an alumni cookout held at the “The Right Place” tent in Q-Lot. Events conclude with the Leatherneck football game versus Southern Illinois, beginning at 3 p.m. at Hanson Field.
The 2021 WIU Homecoming Week competition is sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement and the University Union Board. More information regarding sign-up for events will be released at a later date.
For more information about WIU Homecoming activities, or to register for Alumni Programs-hosted events, visit wiu.edu/alumni/homecoming.php. For more information regarding Office of Student Activities-sponsored events, visit wiu.edu/uubhomecoming.
