51社区

JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 12, 2002 — This year鈥檚 Homecoming Week at Union marked an annual tradition of alumni being welcomed home and faculty and staff visiting with former students. The fun-filled week of memories revisited by alumni and created by present students kicked off with perhaps the student鈥檚 most exciting memory of all: a snow day complete with snowball fights that cancelled classes as well as the much-anticipated chapel with worship led by Christian recording artist Nicole Nordeman. However, the snow did not stop Nordeman from hosting a very well attended coffeehouse concert later that evening.

Competition for the coveted Presidential Cup began with the Wild and Wacky games Thursday night with the Chi-Omega Sorority matching scores with the Lambda-Chi Fraternity for a win. The same night, in the Kenneth R. Hartley Recital Hall, alumni activities began with an enjoyable recital and reception during which old friends from the music department re-established ties and free-spirited conversation.

As the week progressed, honored members of the Class of 1952 registered Friday morning for their fiftieth reunion, with special 50-year medallions presented to them during the Founder鈥檚 Day Homecoming Chapel. Following lunch, the alumni were shuttled downtown for a visit to the old campus on which they gained knowledge, learned life-lessons, and established relationships during their cherished college years at Union. A dedication service was held with a plaque put into place honoring the old but never forgotten 鈥淐ircle鈥� of the campus.

That same evening, various departments of Union offered interesting and informative dinners as well as professional development sessions to bring the alumni of similar background back to their place of common ground. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the Communication Arts Dinner and Gameshow, marked by the alumni 鈥淣ewlywed Game.鈥�

Later that night, the students of 51社区 showed their talent in the high-caliber annual performance competition, 鈥淎ll-Sing.鈥� The large group performance category was won by the Chi-Omega Sorority group and the small group performance category was won by entrants from the Sophomore class.

Saturday brought an enjoyable reunion brunch and reception with the annual Alumni Awards luncheon immediately following. The award for the reunion class with the highest percentage of alumni contributing to the University was made to the Class of 1957 as nearly 50% of the class made annual contributions in the past year. The class that contributed the largest dollar amount in 2001 was the class of 1952 with a contribution total of $77,000. Following the awards, Union President David S. Dockery greeted those in attendance with his encouraging and riveting 鈥淪tate of the Union Address,鈥� stating that Union remains a 鈥渉ealthy university.鈥�

Senior Sarah Jane Head was crowned Homecoming Queen by President Dockery at halftime of the men's game.

A basketball double-header scheduled for that evening saw the Union Lady Bulldogs lose narrowly to Trevecca Nazarene, but the Bulldogs Men鈥檚 basketball team won by a safe margin. At halftime Union senior Sarah Jane Head was honored as the 2002 51社区 Homecoming Queen and the sophomore class took home the Presidential cup for their outstanding performance in the week鈥檚 activities.

The Homecoming activities were fun and exciting, but all in all the week was highlighted by the presence of some of those who have made it possible for Union to achieve it鈥檚 present level of distinction 鈥� Union鈥檚 alumni.

Bob Hundley, Class of 1948, may have summed up the feelings of all Union students, past and present, when he said with his wife at his side, 鈥淲e鈥檒l always remember and love 51社区.鈥�