College tradition continues with Homecoming and Parent Weekend 2014
By Staff | October 7, 2014
Photo Gallery: Homecoming and Parent Weekend 2014
Life is sweet…in your favorite seat! Virginia Wesleyan alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends celebrated the College’s annual Homecoming and Parent Weekend festivities Oct. 3-5 with an “Under the Sea” theme that carried throughout the fun-filled weekend.
The Homecoming Parade, hosted by the Student Government Association, made a splash Friday afternoon on the Batten Center sidewalk as members of the VWC community (and a few four-legged friends) showed their Marlin spirit with costumes and skits of all kinds. Highlights included dance routines from the VWC Dance Team and VWC Cheerleaders as well as a spoof called “SpongeBob MarlinPants” by the Women’s Field Hockey Team. At the end of the parade balloons were dropped from the roof of Hofheimer Library as parade participants cheered below.
The popular Oktoberfest Dinner was held in Boyd Dining Center on Friday evening, followed by a presentation of the fall theatre production of Patrick Barlow’s The 39 Steps, a comedic tale of spies and murder adapted from the 1915 novel by John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock. The evening ended with the Marlin “Under the Sea” Ball (Student Homecoming Dance) and an off-campus Alumni Social.
Saturday’s festivities got underway with Continental & Cocktails, hosted by President Billy Greer and the VWC Parents’ Council at the Everett Tennis Center. VWC Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling was recognized and later spoke of the College’s community partnerships, including its 25-year relationship with Habitat for Humanity South Hampton Roads and long-standing partnership with Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless.
Conference Athletic Games were also held on Saturday, with men’s and women’s soccer and women’s field hockey each taking on Roanoke College. In the spirit of friendly competition, Alumni Games were held by women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and the baseball and softball teams.
Faculty Tent, Tailgate, and Alumni Reunion activities continued into the afternoon, including a glassblowing demonstration by The Chrysler Museum of Art, live acoustic music by Tom Southern ’94 and Scott Roberts ’08, and refreshments provided by the Mermaid Winery and Back Bay Brewing Co. An afternoon and evening performance of The 39 Steps took place in Hofheimer Theatre and students later enjoyed a large-screen showing of 22 Jump Street in the CMAC.
Homecoming and Parent Weekend concluded on Sunday with brunch in Boyd Dining Center followed by a worship service in Monumental Chapel led by Reverend Roy P. White ’73.