Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Homecoming is set for Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Perkinston Campus. The celebration will begin on Friday, Oct. 2, with the Bulldog Club Golf Tournament at Pine Burr Country Club in Wiggins and will culminate with the football game against Copiah-Lincoln Community College at 3:30 p.m., Oct. 3, at A.L. May Memorial Stadium in Perkinston.
Brenda Donahoe, Gulf Coast’s alumni officer, said the 2009 Homecoming is intended to be a time for reunions with old friends, great sports and family fun. “It’s an event that’s intended for the whole family, and we want the day to be fun for all ages. We encourage our alumni and friends to join us and to bring their children, who will be entertained by jumping and coloring stations, face painting, and an obstacle course.” Dress for the day will be casual or Gulf Coast logo.
The schedule of events for Saturday includes registration, 9 a.m.-noon; Archives open in Heidelberg Hall, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.; the Alumni Art Show in the Visual Arts Center, 9 a.m. – noon; a chapel service at 10:30 a.m. -11:15 a.m. in Gregory War Memorial Chapel; campus tours, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; and the Alumni Hall of Fame and Sam Owen Award induction ceremony in Malone Hall Auditorium, 1:30 p.m.
Alumni reunion groups for all years ending in “9” will meet during the Cookout Under the Oaks, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Homecoming guests are invited to the cookout (in front of Dees Hall, $5 per plate). A pep rally will be held during the cookout at 12:30 p.m. Pre-game ceremonies will be held at 3 p.m.
The college Archives will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Heidelberg Hall on Homecoming Day. Highlighted will be a special exhibit derived from the book “Hurricanes of the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Three Centuries of Destruction” by Charles Sullivan. Another exhibit, “Down South with the Dixie Press,” will showcase a journey from New Orleans to Mobile across the Mississippi Gulf Coast in photographs made from 1925 to 1980. Also on display will be photographs and artifacts relating the history of the college from 1911-2009, including a special exhibit of 24 Gulf Coast athletic and band jackets and sweaters donated by alumni.
The 2009 Homecoming Court will be presented during halftime. The Alumni Hall of Fame, Athletic Hall of Fame, Hall of Honor, Spirit of Gulf Coast and Sam Owen Award honorees will be presented during pre-game activities.
Tickets for the Cookout Under the Oaks may be purchased in advance. For more information about any of the events or to preregister for any of the activities during Homecoming, visit http://www.mgccc.edu/events/2009_homecoming_registration.php.
