West Liberty University celebrates Homecoming 2018 with a variety of student, alumni and community events the weekend of Oct. 20.
Students get started early, however, with the tradition of Serenades at 9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 15, in College Hall. This entertainment competition features each homecoming candidate couple performing for judges and is sponsored by the Student Government Association.
2018 King and Queen candidates and the organizations they represent include:
- Kellsi Anderson, Friendly, W.Va., and Taylor Wright-Breeze, Weirton, W.Va., Beta Rho Epsilon and Beta Theta Gamma
- Calesha Williamson, Charleston, W.Va., and Kyle Caruso, Moundsville, W.Va., Kappa Phi and College Life
- Lindsey Ecleberry, Millersport, Ohio, and Corey Mirt, Pittsburgh, Pa., Delta Theta Kappa and Phi Delta Theta
- Mackenzie Sims, Parkersburg, W.Va., and Brian Campbell, Wheeling, W.Va., Chi Omega and Baseball
- Olivia Kilbane, Martinsburg, W.Va., and Adam Davis, Weirton, W.Va., Lambda Psi Sigma and Kappa Delta Kappa
- Hannah Macko, New Eagle, Pa., and Clifford Clark, Cambridge, Ohio, Alpha Xi Delta and Theta Xi
From 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, candidates will be participating in Celebrity Server in the Rogers Hall Marketplace. This gives students a chance to meet the candidates for king and queen.
Throughout the day, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 17, candidates will be campaigning on the quad for Tent Day, offering free goodies, including gifts and food, hoping to be elected.
Students also vote for their choice of king and queen on Wednesday, and at noon, the Marching Hilltoppers will entertain the crowd on the quad.
Additionally, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, there will be a bonfire on the quad. A free rally towel will be given to the first 100 students. The bonfire will consist of s’mores and glow-in-the-dark games.
At 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, Palmer Golf Course at Oglebay Resort will host the fourth annual Homecoming Golf Outing.
Starting at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 20, former and current members of the WLU Cross-Country and Track & Field teams are invited to participate in the second annual Homecoming Alumni Run. Participants will meet and begin the race in front of Blatnik Hall.
At 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 20, the Hilltopper Homecoming Parade will start the official festivities of homecoming day off appropriately with floats and the return of the Marching Hilltoppers band and majorettes.
“We have a fun-filled day of activities to commemorate Homecoming and welcome back alumni from all over the country. This is the largest on-campus event of the year and it is always a great feeling to see so many alumni return to their alma mater,” said Ron Witt, executive director of Alumni and Community Relations.
There will be food vendors, music and games for all ages in the ASRC parking lot from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., including a special performance by the WLU steel drum band, inflatable games for the kids and tailgating for those of legal age. Later that day, a post-Homecoming party is planned at the new Pickles West Liberty located directly across from campus.
Hilltoppers take on the West Virginia State University Yellow Jackets, with kick-off at 1 p.m. at the West Family Stadium. Tailgating, with family-friendly activities for all ages, begins at 10 a.m.
During halftime of the football game, the alumni Wall of Honor candidates for 2018 and the Homecoming King and Queen will be announced.
Students end their homecoming festivities with a 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. dance at WLU’s Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC).
For more information, visit westliberty.edu/alumni or call 304-336-8888.
