Williams Baptist University will host its annual Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Nov. 3. A variety of reunions are scheduled, athletic teams will be in action, WBU music and drama groups will perform, and distinguished alumni will be honored.
David Daniel of Jonesboro will be recognized as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus, while Jake Guenrich of Walnut Ridge will be honored as Outstanding Young Alumnus. Daniel, a 1974 WBU graduate, is director of athletics for Jonesboro Public Schools. Guenrich is a 2010 graduate, and he serves as pastor of Walnut Ridge First Baptist Church.
Daniel and Guenrich will be honored during a ceremony at 1 p.m. in Manley Chapel, and the event will also include performances by the Williams Singers choir, WBU Band and The Cast drama group.
“We have a great variety of events at Homecoming this year, with six reunions and two varsity athletic events. We also have music and drama performances by Williams students, not to mention an impressive alumni art show in the Maddox Center. It’s going to be a really fun day for alumni and for parents of current students to be at WBU,†said Aaron Andrews, director of alumni relations.
As for reunions, former WBU volleyball players will compete in an alumni game at 9 a.m. in the Southerland-Mabee Center, and former Eagles baseball and softball players will do the same at their respective fields at 10 a.m.
Alumni of the Christian ministries program will have their reunion at the home of Dr. Robert Foster starting at 10 a.m., and the Golden Eagles, a group composed of WBU alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago, will gather for a reunion brunch at 11 a.m. The Golden Eagles event will be in the Moody Room of Mabee-Gwinup Cafeteria.
Finally, alumni of the WBU theatre program will gather to celebrate Melinda Williams’ 35th anniversary as director. They will attend the production of “The Good Doctor†at 5:30 p.m. in WBU’s Startup Chapel, followed by a reunion at 8 p.m. in the Moody Room.
In athletics, the Lady Eagles volleyball team will host Lindenwood University-Belleville at 12 p.m. in the Southerland-Mabee Center, and the Eagles basketball team will play Millsaps College at 3 p.m., also in the SMC. This year’s Homecoming king and queen will be crowned at halftime of the basketball game.
Alumni will have a chance to meet the new president of WBU at 2 p.m. A reception for Dr. Stan & Joy Norman will be held at that time in the Eagle Coffeehouse & Grill, located in the Mabee Student Center.
The Alumni Art Show will be open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Maddox Center gallery, and Felix Goodson Library will host its annual Scholastic Book Fair from 12 to 4 p.m.
Here is a full schedule of the day’s events:
9:00 a.m. – Alumni Volleyball Game, Southerland-Mabee Center (SMC)
10:00 a.m. – Alumni Softball Game & Reunion, WBU Softball Field
10:00 a.m. – Alumni Baseball Game & Reunion, Shell Field
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Alumni Art Show, Maddox Center Gallery
10:00 a.m. – Christian Ministries Reunion, Dr. Foster’s Home (155 College Ave.)
11:00 a.m. – Golden Eagles Brunch, Moody Room
12:00 p.m. – Lady Eagles Volleyball vs. Lindenwood-Belleville, SMC
12 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Scholastic Book Fair, Felix Goodson Library
1:00 p.m. – Performances by The Cast, WBU Band & Williams Singers; Alumni Awards, Manley Chapel
2:00 p.m. – Reception to meet Dr. & Mrs. Stan Norman, Eagle Grill
3:00 p.m. – Eagles Basketball vs. Millsaps, SMC
4:00 p.m. – Homecoming Coronation (halftime), SMC
5:30 p.m. – Theatre Production “The Good Doctor,†Startup Chapel
8:00 p.m. – Theatre Program Reunion, Moody Room
For more information on WBU’s Homecoming activities, go to williamsbu.edu/homecoming.