Since it began in 1926, Ball State's Homecoming celebration hasundergone multiple changes. Some events have been added, othershave been tweaked and others have been eliminated all together.
But one thing for sure has never changed -- the growing sense ofpride that students, faculty and alumni have for the university, EdShipley, executive director of alumni programs, said.
"It benefits the university because the enthusiasm of thestudents and the return of the alumni have them engaged with BallState," Shipley said. "Students have lifelong memories of thethings they participated in and the opportunities they had."
< B>WELCOME ALUMNI< B>
Shipley said the primary purpose of Homecoming is to welcomeback Ball State alumni and to involve them in what is going on atthe university today. As Ball State completes its 78th Homecominganniversary this year, alumni have always enjoyed returning to theuniversity, and the university in turn has always been excitedabout having them back, he said.
"Current students want to show some of the things that are goingon now," Shipley said. "The mission is to engage as many alumni aswe can."
At the beginning of the Homecoming Week 2004, Jeff Duerstock,Homecoming Steering Committee general chairman, said more than 700alumni had already registered for the pregame luncheon.
Shipley said the Ball State University Alumni Association haschosen five graduates and one business to receive the 2004 BennyAward, the top honor for service to the university or the AlumniAssociation. Beverley Pitts, Ball State's provost and vicepresident of academic affairs, is one of the Benny Awardrecipients.
Three graduates have also been named to receive the 2004Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes graduates whocontributed to their professions, contributed to society anddemonstrated their loyalty to Ball State. Ball State's AlumniAssociation has also named eight graduates to receive the 2004Graduate Of the Last Decade award, which will be awarded to peoplewho have demonstrated personal and professional achievement,community involvement and commitment to the university within theirfirst 10 years of graduation.
Shipley, who has been on Ball State's Homecoming staff for 28years, said he also served as Homecoming chairman twice when he wasa student in the falls of 1966 and 1967. Over time, Homecoming hasbecome more complex as more current students continue toparticipate in the week of activities that help welcome alumni backto the campus, he said.
< B>ACTIVITIES HISTORY< B>
Several of Homecoming's well-known activities and traditionswere added gradually throughout its history to tailor to theinterests of the students, faculty and alumni, Shipley said. Forexample, Ball State crowned its first Homecoming queen in 1938 andhad its first parade in 1939.
He said a pivotal moment in Homecoming's history occurred in1943, however, when the tradition was canceled. The football gamein particular was canceled because very few men were on campus atthe time due to U.S. participation in World War II, he said.
As the tradition continued in subsequent years, Ball State'sHomecoming Steering Committee, which plans and coordinatesuniversity Homecoming activities, was later organized in 1961 tocomprise students, faculty and alumni.
The university also had its first opening day kick-off game in1966 and its first Talent Search in 1967. Several of Homecoming'smost recently added events include the bed race, added in 1980,first homecoming king recognition in 1986 and Air Jam, establishedin 1987.
Shipley said with the variety of events, all students, facultyand alumni have been better able to find events they enjoyattending.
"It's a smorgasbord of activities," Shipley said. "Some peoplelike music, other people like football and some people like both.The general thing we want to do is develop broad-based programs.It's part of what homecoming's all about."
While Homecoming remains one of the university's largest annualtraditions, Anthony Edmonds, professor of history, said one of thespecific differences he has seen throughout the past few decadeshas been a gradual decrease in the elaborateness of the annualparade itself. Edmonds, who has been at Ball State since 1965, saidhis house is located along the parade route. While the parades aregetting longer every year, the floats are not as elaborate as theywere decades ago, he said.
"It was a much bigger deal in the 1950s and early 1960s,especially with Greek organizations," he said.
He said a key reason Homecoming as a whole seems to be less ofspectacle to students today is because of the change in studentpopulation throughout the years. With more nontraditional studentsand more working students, Ball State comprises a less traditionalcollegiate student body, he said.
Edmonds said all students nonetheless would benefit fromparticipating in future Homecoming activities and helping towelcome alumni back to Ball State.
< B>WHY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE< B>
As students, faculty and alumni continue to reflect on the pastand embrace the completion of this year's Homecoming celebration,Shipley said he hopes they have enjoyed seeing old friends,participating in the week of activities and playing a part in oneof the biggest events of their lives.
He said when he was a junior and senior at Ball State in thelate 1960s, getting involved with homecoming was one of the bestparts of his college career. Being able to drive then-Ball Statepresident John Emens in the parade, interact with faculty andsimply be a student leader gave him a sense of pride and helped himto establish lifelong friendships, he said.
"It was an outstanding experience-one of the most memorablethings I've done in my life," Shipley said. "Members of thecommittee I worked with have been my acquaintances for 40years."
Shipley said because his experiences were so enjoyable, heencourages more Ball State students to help perpetuate thehomecoming tradition in future years.
"I think the experience we give young people are extraordinary.They get the chance of a lifetime to get involved," he said. "It'sa great out-of-class experience, and it does allow you to improveyour skills and the whole experience of going to college. It's aprogram that creates an opportunity of fun for people, and it's amethod for people to participate in Ball State. We want to keep thealumni engaged."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
