Howard Payne University’s Homecoming celebration will be held Friday through Sunday, Oct. 12-14. This year’s theme is “The Great Adventure,” and approximately 40 events will be held throughout the weekend.
Alumni and visitors can register for Homecoming events by visiting homecoming.hputx.edu or by calling 1-800-950-8465 or 325-649-8069. A full calendar of events, various ticket packages and information about this year’s honorees are available online.
Homecoming events will include the following:
Performances of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will be held at the university’s Mims Auditorium. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For ticket information, contact the School of Music and Fine Arts at 325-649-8500.
The Golden Graduate Luncheon for the Class of 1962 will be held Friday from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Mabee University Center’s Bullion Suites.
HPU’s soccer teams will take on Hardin-Simmons University Friday afternoon (women at 1 p.m. and men at 3 p.m.) and on Saturday (women at 1 p.m. and men at 3 p.m.). The games will be held at HPU’s Citizens National Bank Soccer Field.
Homecoming Convocation will begin at 2 p.m. Friday in Mims Auditorium. The Homecoming Queen and Princess will be crowned.
The Sodexo Alumni Awards Banquet will be held Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Mabee University Center’s Beadel Dining Area, during which several Homecoming 2012 honorees will be recognized. Jonny Diaz will perform, and free child care will be available starting at 6 p.m. Registration for child care is required and can be scheduled by calling 325-649-8069.
The university will host Underwoods’ Cobbler on the Campus, a dessert social open to all campus visitors, from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday night at Muse Plaza and Mall. HPU alumnus Clay Tyner ’11 will perform.
From 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday evening, the university will host the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce pep rally and fireworks show at Don Shepard Park (HPU’s baseball park).
Saturday morning, the Hispanic Alumni Breakfast will be held in the Mabee University Center’s Bullion Suites from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. At this time, the university will honor the recipient of the Dr. José Rivas Distinguished Service Award.
The third annual 5K/1-Mile Fun Run will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday morning at Riverside Park. Those interested in participating should contact David Foster, head cross country/assistant softball coach, at 325-649-8950.
The Big Country Ford Parade will travel around the HPU campus on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. The parade will wind its way from HPU’s Doakie Day Art Center around the Mabee University Center, down Fisk Street to Austin Avenue, where it will turn and re-enter the campus on Center Avenue. The parade will end on HPU’s Wilson Walkway.
The TexasBank Picnic on the Plaza will begin at noon on Saturday at Muse Plaza and Mall on the HPU campus.
The HPU Yellow Jacket football team will play Mississippi College at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gordon Wood Stadium.
HPU’s Academy of Freedom Alumni Reception will be held Saturday evening at 5 p.m. in the Academy’s Constitution Hall.
On Sunday at 9 a.m., married alumni are welcome to participate in renewing their vows in HPU’s beautiful Grace Chapel.
A variety of reunions and other events will be held throughout the weekend. A complete schedule of events is available online at homecoming.hputx.edu.