Wittenberg will once again welcome alumni and families back to campus to celebrate Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend, Oct. 3-6, 2024.
Participants will show their Tiger pride and engage in the many weekend activities that will provide a festive atmosphere at Wittenberg. The weekend will include athletics competitions, live music at the Tiger Tailgate on Saturday, campus tours, special reunion celebrations, the Athletics Hall of Honor, the Alumni Achievement Awards, family fun events, and so much more. Families will also be able to celebrate the many traditions, unique experiences, and reasons their student chose Wittenberg.
The festivities begin on Thursday, Oct. 3, with the always popular Athletics Hall of Honor dinner and induction ceremony, which will take place at the 1929 Fieldhouse, part of the Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex beginning at 6 p.m. All guests registered earlier.
Several events will then take place on Friday, Oct. 4. Homecoming information and check-in tables for weekend participants will be available at the Benham-Pence Student Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Other highlights of the day include pickleball from noon to 4 p.m. at the Albright Tennis Complex, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Esports lounge at the Student Center, reunion tours, the reunion welcome back reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on the first floor of the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning, and the Alumni Achievement Awards from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the 1929 Fieldhouse.
Additionally, a men’s lacrosse alumni scrimmage will take place at Edwards-Maurer Field at 7 p.m., while the Wittenberg Symphonic Band and Choir concert at Weaver Chapel will occur from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Reunion Late Night for all classes kicks off at 7 p.m. to midnight in Founders Pub and Geil Lounge, and a Tour of the Night Sky is set from 9:30 to 11 p.m. at Weaver Observatory. Hosted by Professor Emeritus of Physics Daniel Fleisch, the latter event will educate attendees on astronomy and give those present a glimpse of Saturn and Jupiter through the Weaver Observatory telescope, weather permitting.
Start the day off on Saturday, Oct. 5, with a beginner fitness class at the HWA from 8 to 9 a.m. before heading over to the Homecoming Weekend anchor event, the Tiger Tailgate. This year’s Tiger Tailgate will provide a festival-style atmosphere around Hollenbeck Hall and surrounding areas from 10 a.m. up until the Tigers take on Denison in football at 2 p.m. at Edwards-Maurer Field. East Campus Drive will close at 10 a.m. to pedestrian traffic only for the tailgate. A Coaches Circle tent at Edwards-Maurer Field will be set up, and the Homecoming court will be announced during halftime festivities of the football game.
Featuring live music from the Weekend Effect at the Hollenbeck stage, traditional tailgating begins at 10 a.m. and includes libations from Founders Outpost, as well as tasty creations from Sweet Concessions, Chido's Tacos, Skyline Chili, and Om Taco. Alumni and friends are also encouraged to stop by the alumni booth located at the beginning of Tiger Tailgate row outside Hollenbeck Hall to enter to win some Witt swag. The Young Alumni tent will be open from 10 a.m. to noon on East Campus Drive along with the Benjamin Prince Society tent from noon to 2 p.m.
Led by Kenneth Spicer, Wittenberg class of 2003, The Weekend Effect is a high-energy performance with full sound and a setlist, including songs from six different decades. A five-piece band including Alan Frantz on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Daniel Brosh on drums, percussion, and backing vocals; Elliot Hetzer on keyboard, percussion, and backing vocals; Jason Smith on electric guitar; and Spicer on bass guitar. The Weekend Effect formed in late 2018 and generally plays three-to-four shows per month across southwest and central Ohio. The Weekend Effect will be on stage at approximately 10 a.m.
Other Saturday events include a special first-ever vow renewal for alumni couples who found love at Wittenberg. The ceremony will take place at the Kissing Bridge in Commencement Hollow from 9:30 to 10 a.m. with the rain site being Weaver Chapel.
From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend information tables will be set up at the Benham-Pence Student Center lobby. Then at 9 a.m., the annual Red vs. White Swimming and Diving Alumni Meet will take place at the Wittenberg Natatorium. Tours of the new gross anatomy lab, and an open house at the McClain Center for Diversity will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. with regular campus tours taking place from 10 to 11 a.m. starting at the student center lobby. Other teams playing during Homecoming include field hockey vs. Earlham at 11 a.m. at Edwards-Maurer Field, and a lacrosse alumni scrimmage at 11 a.m. in The Steemer.
Several reunion events will also take place on Saturday beginning with a Class of 1964 brunch from 10 a.m. to noon in Ness Auditorium in Hollenbeck Hall. From 6 to 8 p.m., both the Class of ’79 and the Class of ’74 will have a cocktail hour and dinner in room 105 of the Shouvlin Center and the 1929 Fieldhouse, respectively.
Additional Saturday evening events include a Wittmen Crew performance at 5 p.m. in 300 Krieg Hall; a Concerned Black Students (CBS) Affinity reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in Ness Auditorium; Witt Night at the Fieldhouse from 8 to 11 p.m. hosted by the Class of ’74 with live music from Witt Free; and Trivia Night at Founders Pub and Geil Lounge in the Student Center beginning at 7 p.m.; followed by a Theatre and Dance Cabaret at Founders beginning at 9 p.m.
On Sunday, a beginner fitness class will run from 8 to 9 a.m. at the HWA to start the day. Wittenberg invites everyone to Weaver Chapel for donuts and fellowship, beginning at 10:30 a.m. followed by the chapel service at 11 a.m. A pancake brunch is also being offered in the student center’s Center Dining Room (CDR) beginning at 11 a.m.
Other weekend festivities will include golf outings, special lunches, guest speakers, alumni sporting events, tailgate parties, and much more.
For the complete schedule, click here.
In light of recent events in Springfield, added safety and security measures will be in place throughout the weekend. Only those registered for Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend events will be allowed into the respective venues, and IDs will need to be shown prior to entry.
Plan to post your Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend photos on social media using #WittHomecoming and #TigerUp®.
