IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10-20-06 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

            SILVER CITY- Western New Mexico University will celebrate Homecoming 2006 on Oct. 23-29.  Activities for students and alumni are planned throughout the week.

Alumni events are open to the public.  To register for the many events, contact Alumni Director Christy Miller at 538-6675 or register on Thursday, Oct. 26, between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hunter Hall Conference Room or between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, at Hunter Hall.

Alumni events begin on Thursday, Oct. 26, with the student and alumni talent show to be held at the Fine Arts Center Theatre beginning at 7 p.m. The talent show will feature performances by students and alumni.  The event is free and open to the public.

On Friday, Oct. 27, the WNMU Foundation Board of Directors will meet at 7 a.m. in the Hunter Hall Conference Room.  At 8 a.m., the WNMU Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting will be held in the Thomas B. McDonald Student Memorial Center, Sunset Room.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., students will conduct tours of campus.

At 3 p.m. that day, a memorial service for Earl Weaver, alumnus and retired WNMU employee who passed away in January, will be held at the Alumni Garden just east of Hunter Hall.

At 4 p.m., the WNMU Alumni Association will convene for the Alumni Association General Meeting in the Besse-Forward Global Resource Center Room D. All alumni are encouraged to attend and participate in the election of officers, board member vacancies, and other alumni business.

Also on Friday, beginning at 5 p.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held for the newly constructed Alumni Garden located just east of  Hunter Hall.

That Friday at 6 p.m., the Alumni Association and WNMU Foundation Annual TGIF Social will be held at the WNMU Graham Gym. Alumni and guests will be able to socialize and enjoy refreshments.  There is a $25 per person entry fee for this activity.

The evening will come to a close with the WNMU Homecoming 2006 Bonfire. This event is free of charge and will be take place in the Eckles Hall parking lot at 9 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, beginning at 8 a.m., the Athletic Hall of Fame Breakfast will be held in the Thomas B. McDonald Student Memorial Building Cafeteria. This year the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee will recognize Reda Riddle-Bigler, former volleyball standout and David Moore, former football All-American.  The fee for this event is $15 per person.  Contact the Althletic Department at 538-6218 for tickets.

             At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, the 2006 homecoming parade will begin on College Avenue proceed to historic downtown Silver City and conclude at the Grant County Courthouse.  The parade marshal will be Eva Weaver, alumna and longtime Silver City resident.

At noon that day, the Grant County Alumni Chapter will host a tailgate party at the Fine Arts Center Theatre parking lot.  The chapter will be serving hotdogs and Raul Turrieta’s famous green chili before the game begins.

Kickoff for the 2006 Homecoming Football game will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the WNMU Altamirano Field.  The WNMU Mustangs will face off against the Panhandle State University Aggies.

Following the game the alumni are invited to an alumni mixer in the Thomas B. McDonald Student Memorial Center, third floor. This event is hosted by the President’s Office and is free of charge for registered alumni.

On Sunday, Oct. 29, at 8:30 a.m., a Farewell Breakfast for the alumni will be held in the Thomas B. McDonald Student Memorial Building Sunset Room.  The cost for this event is $10 per person.

For more information on the various alumni events, contact Alumni Director Christy Miller at 538-6675.  Registration for alumni events is at the Hunter Hall Conference Room.                                                               

-30-