Posted on Friday, September 22, 2023
In LaGrange, Homecoming involves not only our Panther family, but also our extended community. This year features a variety of events for alumni, current students and the public to enjoy, including the Flashback Friday party and the Homecoming football game.
“We love to see students and the LaGrange community coming together and building relationships,” said Martha Pirkle, Director of Alumni and Community Relations.
The first event to kick off Homecoming Week will be the black and red kickoff brunch for students on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m., at Caswell Plaza. The next day, Black Student Union will host a black and white gala at 7:30 p.m. at Caswell Plaza.
Some new activities for the students this year include a foam party, a 2000s-themed gym jam night and a Phi Beta Sigma step show.
Student Life Coordinator Emma Rose ’23, who helped coordinate the Homecoming campus events, said she is excited to be part of the week of celebration.
“Now that I am an LC alum, I am looking forward to helping our students connect with the alumni who will be joining us at Homecoming,” she said. “I hope to see all our students get involved with what we have to offer for them this year!”
Events for both alumni and the community will begin with LaGrange College Theatre’s show “Take It From The Top.” The performances are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 13, at 5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 14, at 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m.
On Friday, Oct. 13, the 38th Panther Memorial Golf Classic: Remembering Tom Duckett and the Legacy of Former Athletes will begin with registration at 10 a.m. and a shotgun start at 11 a.m.
Next, the Alumni Awards luncheon will be held at noon at Turner Hall. The event will feature the presentation of the 2023 Honorary Alumni Award to Lee Richter, the 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award to Dr. Hunter Connell Jonus ’14 and the 2023 Shackelford Alumni Achievement Awards to David “Swagg R’Celious” Harris ’09 and Pippy Rogers ’79. RSVP is requested. The cost is $20 per person.
On Friday evening, the campus and public are invited downtown for the Flashback Friday party at Overlook Plaza, next to Wild Leap Brewing Company. There will be a signature cocktail created by Wild Leap for the occasion: Pouncer Red and Black(berry).
A change this year will be the musical act. Taking the place of The Reasons Why band will be River City Horns, an R&B Soul and Contemporary band from Columbus, Georgia. The new group includes some members from The Reasons Why.
“This is a great event for friends to get together and reminisce,” Pirkle said.
Carol Cain ’82, a member of the Alumni Executive Committee, said she looks forward to the Flashback Friday party every year.
“I have always enjoyed the Friday night alumni gathering at Wild Leap,” she said. “All the ingredients for fun are there: your LC family and friends, food trucks, signature drinks from Wild Leap, great music and dancing, and lots of space for visiting. When I am not on stage as emcee, you will find me on the dance floor — just like in 1982!”
Leon “JoJo” Johnson ’74 said he enjoys reuniting with his friends at Homecoming.
“The people I met at LaGrange are my family,” he said. “Coming back to LaGrange gives us the opportunity to come together to fellowship and reminisce about the old days."
On Saturday, Oct. 14, Men’s Basketball will host a meet-and-greet event for alumni at 10 a.m. at Mariotti Gym.
Other Saturday events include alumni and student art exhibitions at Lamar Dodd Art Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Red and Black Reunion Row with a registration tent that will be in the Callaway Auditorium parking lot from 10 a.m. until the end of halftime. The Panther football team will take on Belhaven at 1 p.m. at Callaway Stadium. Halftime will feature the announcement of the 2023 Homecoming King and Queen.
The week will conclude with two events. First, the annual Memorial Service on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 10:30 a.m., at the Chapel will honor the lives of alumni and members of the LC community who have passed away since Homecoming 2022. For a list of those being remembered, visit here.
In the afternoon, there will be a Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at noon in the Dickson Assembly Room at Turner Hall. This year’s inductees are Jeffery Cotton '83, Basketball; Jennifer DeMooney Claybrook '99, Softball; Scott Stillwell '01, Soccer; Stephanie Clark Swift '08, Soccer; Kathryn Covington Scherer '13, Volleyball; Logan Lanier '17, Golf; and Connor Blair '18, Football. The cost is $25 per person, which includes a brunch that starts at 11 a.m.
For a complete list of events, visit the Homecoming website.
These Hands Don't Haze
Tuesday, Sept. 26
11 a.m., Caswell Plaza
Autumn Ray
Tuesday, Sept. 26
11 a.m., Lamar Dodd Art Center
April Bunn, Troup County Parks and Recreation
Tuesday, Sept. 26
11:15 a.m., Whorton Room (Smith 330)
Financial Empowerment
Tuesday, Sept. 26
11:15 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Move Your Bus: Just Ask
Wednesday, Sept. 27
9:30 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Join us for LaGrange College Preview Day on September 23
Register for Preview Day at l0jb.kongtiao11.com/preview.
Football
The Panthers narrowly lost to Ferrum College 13-10 in a defensive battle on Saturday, Sept. 16. This week, the team begins in-conference play against Huntingdon on Saturday, Sept. 23. The kickoff is at 1 p.m. in Callaway Stadium and the theme is red-out, so wear your red Panther gear.
Women’s Soccer
LaGrange took a 1-0 loss against Covenant on Saturday, Sept. 16. On Tuesday, the team traveled to Oglethorpe and lost in a close game 1-0. The next time the Panthers play is on Sunday, Sept. 24, at Maryville. The game begins at 2 p.m. and is an important in-conference match.
Men’s Soccer
The Panthers came away with a 3-3 tie at Pensacola Christian on Saturday, Sept. 16. The next time the team will compete is on Saturday, Sept. 23 against Maryville at Panther Field. The kickoff is at 4 p.m. and the theme is also red-out, so wear your red Panther Gear. The Panthers then travel to Berry for a match on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Volleyball
LaGrange’s matches against Oglethorpe (Sept. 16) and Belhaven (Sept. 18) resulted in 3-0 losses this week. The team will have their first of six tri-matches of the season on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Wesleyan. The first match is against Berea at 2 p.m., followed by a match against Wesleyan at 4 p.m.
Cross Country
The Panthers competed in the Point Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 16. Junior Ema Turner led the Panthers in the women’s 5k with a 24:54.3. Junior Santiago Vasquez ran the fastest men’s 8k time for the Panther with a 31:34.3. The Panthers next travel to Carrollton, Georgia to run in the Gary Wilson Invitational. The race is Friday, Sept. 22 (today), and begins at 5:40 p.m.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, Sept. 22 – Cross Country at Gary Wilson Invitational, 5:40 p.m., Carrollton, Georgia
Saturday, Sept. 23 – Football (Home) vs. Huntingdon, 1 p.m., Callaway Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 23 – Volleyball vs. Berea (at Wesleyan), 2 p.m., Macon, Georgia
Saturday, Sept. 23 – Men’s Soccer (Home) vs. Maryville, 4 p.m., Panther Field
Saturday, Sept. 23 – Volleyball at Wesleyan, 4 p.m., Macon, Georgia
Sunday, Sept. 24 – Women’s Soccer at Maryville, 2 p.m., Maryville, Tennessee
Sunday, Sept. 24 – Men’s Soccer at Berry, 3 p.m., Rome, Georgia
Monday, Sept. 25 – Golf at Rhodes Fall Intercollegiate (Rounds 1 & 2), Tunica, Mississippi
Tuesday, Sept. 26 – Golf at Rhodes Fall Intercollegiate (Final Round), Tunica, Mississippi
Wednesday, Sept. 27 – Women’s Soccer (Home) vs. Wesleyan, 6 p.m., Panther Field
Wednesday, Sept. 27 – Men’s Soccer at Huntingdon, 7 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Wednesday, Sept. 27 – Volleyball at Coastal Georgia, 7 p.m., Brunswick, Georgia
Category: Events, College, Community
Keywords: Reunion, Traditions
