McMaster gears up for Homecoming Weekend

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/football.jpg” caption=”The Marauders will take on the Guelph Gryphons at Ivor Wynne Stadium at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21. File photo.”]Memories of McMaster will be relived by hundreds of alumni this weekend during the 69th annual Homecoming celebrations.

“We're looking forward to a great Homecoming this year,” says Karen McQuigge, director, Alumni Advancement. “This is a tremendous opportunity for all of us–students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends in the community–to celebrate our pride in McMaster and, of course, to enjoy watching our student athletes in action.”

Homecoming activities kicked off on Tuesday with the Alumni Association's M.A.C. Luncheon with special guest Darryl Sittler, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, who spoke to more than 170 alumni and friends on Hockey & Teamwork: Make it Work for You at the Hamilton Convention Centre. Please click href=”http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=1014656316146&c=Article&cid=1161121814652″ target=”_new”>here to read the Hamilton Spectator's coverage of the event.

The Student Relations Committee of the Alumni Association hosted their third annual Homecoming Carnival in the Donaldson Family Marketplace in the McMaster University Student Centre on Thursday, Oct. 19. The carnival planned by the committee members from the MSU, SOCS, IRC, Maroons and Athletics Council featured a joust, football and basketball games.

In addition, the committee is running its second annual “Get Spotted Wearing Maroon” event in which members of the committee will be circulating in the Student Centre, giving out football tickets and prizes to students spotted wearing maroon.

On Friday night, the Alumni Association is hosting a dinner in Alumni Memorial Hall for its past and current members of the Association's Board of Directors. Campus Events is holding a Homecoming Concert in Quarters with Ill Scarlett. Tickets are available at the Compass Information Centre.

Saturday's activities will kick off with a Homecoming Alumni Breakfast in the David Braley Athletic Centre. Breakfast and tours of the new building will begin at 10 a.m. The cost is $10 per person.

The excitement will pick up at 11 a.m. at the Homecoming Student and Alumni Pre-Game Tailgate Party at Quarters. Following the tailgate party, fans will take to the stands at Ivor Wynne Stadium to watch the Marauders take on Guelph at 2 p.m. Buses will depart from the McMaster University Student Centre beginning at 1 p.m.

Following the game, the Mark Timpany Trophy will be awarded to the MVP of the game. The Mark Timpany Memorial Trophy is sponsored by the McMaster Alumni Association and is awarded to the Marauder's most valuable player of the Homecoming football game.

Timpany attended McMaster from 1964 to 1967 and graduated from the Faculty of Science in 1967. He played varsity football for three years as quarterback and one year as defensive half back and was a member of the 1967 team that went to the Vanier Cup.

He was an inspirational leader and team player who went on to teach at Rideau District High School in Elgin, Ontario before his untimely death in March 1991.

Alumni and students are invited to pull out their '80s clothes and tease their hair for the Alumni Association and Maroons Society's first annual Homecoming Hoopla dance on Saturday. The event will feature '80s music and food and is an age of majority event. The dance will begin at 8 p.m. in the Sport Hall, David Braley Athletic Centre.

Alumni will reunite with old friends this weekend. Six reunions are planned: Arts & Science (25 years); the Physical Education Class of 1981; the Physical Education Class of 1991; the Kinesiology Class of 1996; and Hedden Hall (15 years).

Sunday morning will see the induction of several people into the Athletics Hall of Fame. The inductees include Craig Martin, Class of '82; Alan Nolet, Class of '96; Greg Woodcroft, Class of '93; Alan Hamilton, Class of '95; Lisa Thomaidis, Class of '95; Dr. Karen Danylchuk, Class of '79; Mike Cain; and Donna Jane Madden, Class of '59.

The Hall of Fame Induction Brunch begins at 11 a.m. in the CIBC Banquet Hall, McMaster University Student Centre. For more information and tickets, please e-mail Shelley Merlo at merlos@mcmaster.ca.

The President's Club Reception Annual Donor Recognition Event for President's Club Members will take place on Sunday, Oct. 22 in the Sport Hall in the David Braley Athletic Centre from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., by invitation only.

For a complete schedule of Homecoming events, please click here.