Lee University Homecoming Is This Weekend
Cleveland, TN—Lee University will host their annual Homecoming weekend as hundreds of alumni and friends will travel to the campus to celebrate the blessings of the Church of God’s largest and oldest institution of higher learning.
Homecoming at Lee began over 50 years ago and has been held annually ever since. The occasion is used to celebrate classes, clubs, organizations and the people who have made Lee University the respected and well-known university it is today. It has also been an occasion to dedicate campus projects and improvements as alumni travel from all over the world to their alma mater.
This weekend, starting Friday November 2, organizers of Homecoming have a slate of activities on tap for friends, alumni and students alike. A highlight of the Friday activities is the “Volley for A Cure” volleyball game, which is the climax of a week’s-long, community-wide fund-raising effort. Last year the campaign raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer research with hundreds of event-specific t-shirts sold. Also that evening class reunions will be held across campus for alumni who last attended Lee either 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 years ago.
A milestone gathering will take place on Friday for the Evangelistic Singers, a musical group that will celebrate the 45th anniversary of their founding. The gathering will be followed up by a rehearsal for a Saturday performance.
Another milestone reunion will take place for Pi Kappa Pi, a men’s social service organization that was founded 25 years ago in 1987. The men of Pi will gather on Friday for a “Fun and Sports” night to celebrate their first 25 years.
Also on Friday night will be the first of three weekend presentations of the “Big River” theater production. A second will be presented on Saturday evening, followed by a Sunday matinee.
On Saturday, events will begin early as several groups and social service clubs are hosting reunion events at 8:00 a.m. At the same time, the annual Homecoming 5K will run through campus and downtown Cleveland. Another men’s service club will celebrate a milestone year as Theta Delta Kappa gathers to mark the milestone of 20 years of existence.
The most anticipated club reunion is the celebration of 50 years of Upsilon Xi men’s social service organization. Founded in 1962, Upsilon is the first such club on the Lee campus and its membership roster through the years includes several well-known members within the Church of God including past general overseers Raymond Culpepper and Dennis McGuire. The group has several events planned for the weekend, highlighted by the dedication of an arch gateway which was recently constructed on the north side of campus. Upsilon alumni headed up a fund-raising campaign to help fund a portion of the new North Gate entrance to the campus.
Saturday will also be filled with other activities, including campus booths on the pedestrian mall, Flames and Lady Flames athletic events, highlighted by the Homecoming basketball game on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday evening, the School of Music will present its annual Music Festival in the Conn Center. The program will highlight many of the university’s ensembles including Symphonic Band, Lee Singers, Voices of Lee, Chamber Strings, Chorale, Jazz Band, and Campus Choir. This year will feature the 45th anniversary reunion choir of the Evangelistic Singers. Many alumni are slated to perform with the current group in the concert.
For more information about Lee University Homecoming, visit the Lee website at www.leeuniversity.edu or call (800) LEE-9930.
