photo credit: Wyndee Man

SNHU Homecoming 2018 is only days away and everything is in full swing.

The weekend kicks off on Friday, October 12 with an assortment of events. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Passaconaway Country Club in Litchfield, NH is hosting a golf tournament for alumni and their friends and family. This event is available to all who pre-register online.

At 6:30 p.m., the Puritan Backroom is hosting a night for SNHU alumni to flip through old yearbooks while enjoying a good meal. A $10 admission fee and online pre-registration is required. Also at 6:30 p.m., the Last Chapter Pub in the Robert A. Freese Student Center is hosting a young alumni reunion open to 2014-2018 graduates. A $5 admission fee is required and online pre-registration is encouraged.

At 8 p.m., a Muse Paint-bar will take place in the Alumni Hall in the Gustafson Center. This event combines instruction-based painting and refreshments to provide a good time for those who participate. A $15 fee and online pre-registration is required.

It wouldn’t be Homecoming weekend without sports. The women’s volleyball team will face Adelphi University in the Stan Spirou Field House at 7 p.m. The men’s lacrosse alumni game will take place in the Penmen stadium at the same time. Anyone who ever played for the men’s lacrosse team is invited to join but must RSVP ahead of time.

Saturday will be filled with an array of events, both on-campus and online.

“We even have SNHU community members meeting up in San Diego in the name of Homecoming weekend,” said Kristi Durette, executive director of Alumni Engagement.

The day will begin at 9 a.m. at the Penmen Stadium with the Homecoming 5K. It is $5 per adult to participate and pre-registration is encouraged. There is also a virtual 5K, so those who can’t come to SNHU can still participate wherever they are.

Other small events will be taking place for those not participating in the 5K. This includes multiple open houses, meetings, alumni meet-ups, a volunteer opportunity and even a light saber session for kids in the small gym located in the Athletics Complex.

The Relaxation Space Station in Zacho’s Cafe in the Wolak Library Learning Commons will also be open most of the day for people to come and refresh themselves.

At 12:30 p.m., the SNHU Street Fair and the second annual Cornhole Tournament will begin.

The SNHU Street Fair is welcome to all and includes inflatables, giveaways, carnival games, food trucks and more.

The second annual Cornhole Tournament will take place on the lawn outside the library. Pre-registration is encouraged.

During this time, there is also a women’s volleyball game, women’s lacrosse alumni game and a men’s hockey alumni game. All alumni games require an RSVP to in order for an alumni to participate.

At 3:30 p.m., the President’s Reception will begin. This will take place in the Banquet Hall in the Dining Center. At this event, the 2018 Alumni Awards will be presented, important community members will be recognized and food will be provided. All are welcome including on-campus members and online students through a livestream.

The SNHU Homecoming online presence this year is particularly notable.

“We have SNHU community members participating in virtual events from around the world with more than three hundred people registered for the Virtual 5K, SNHUConnect meet-up and viewing of the President’s Reception,” Durette says.

She continues, “SNHU really is everywhere. Our young alumni award recipient is actually a graduate in Kigali, Rwanda who is being recognized for his work in organizing students and alumni around Global Days of Service.”

During the President’s Reception, there are several sports events. Immediately  following the ceremony, a SNHU Reunion Reception for all alumni will take place on the library terrace.

At 6:30 p.m., everyone is welcome to enjoy s’mores and live music under the fireworks. At 7 p.m., past and present members of Greek Life are invited to meet at the Last Chapter Pub.

Other annual events include Comedian and Magician Michael Kent performing in the Banquet Hall at 8 p.m. and Big Money Bingo at 9 p.m. Also, Juston McKinney will performing his comedy routine at the Palace Theater on Hanover Street  at 9 p.m. Registration for McKinney’s show is required and tickets cost $15 per person.

“What I really love about Homecoming and what I am so proud of is watching the many ways our community comes together to build the weekend, with the diversity of our experiences and connections to the SNHU community,” said Durette.

There is so much to do this weekend, so plan accordingly. Specific details about these events, ways to register and more can be found at: https://alumni.snhu.edu/community-events/homecoming-and-reunions/schedule

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