FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: Gita Brown, 401-456-4675, gbrown@ric.edu
Laura Hart, 401-456-8977, lhart@ric.edu
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island College alumni are invited to return to campus Oct. 15-17 for the annual Homecoming and Reunion weekend. Most events – family-friendly and interactive – are free and open to RIC graduates, friends of the college and the campus community.
“Often the focus of college Homecomings is on evening bonfires and football games,” said RIC Director of Alumni Affairs Suzy Alba. “RIC is unique in that our Homecoming centers around community. RIC is always looking for ways to reconnect with and support its more than 58,000 alumni – 80 percent of whom continue to live in Rhode Island.”
As an example, she pointed to the new “Return to RIC Reunion” for RIC Classes of ’70, ’75, ’80, ’85, ’90, ’00, ’05 and for various alumni affinity groups. All are invited to enjoy appetizers, desserts, beer and wine, and a live band ($15 per person) on Friday night, Oct. 16, from 7-10 p.m., at the RIC Recreation Center.
Other festivities include a night for the arts on Thursday evening, Oct. 15. An exhibit and talk by artist Robert Dilworth will be held from 6-7:15 p.m. in the Roberts Hall lobby and Bannister Gallery. At 7:30 p.m. a riveting performance by the National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China will be held in Roberts Hall auditorium. This production is being offered at a special Homecoming rate of $15 per person.
The Homecoming cookout kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the campus Quad. Hamburgers, hot dogs and vegetarian burgers will be served, along with harvest punch and apple crisp. The Homecoming parade begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Quad, featuring cultural dance troupes, musicians and more.
Fun activities for children occur throughout the day, including pumpkin and face painting, rock-wall climbing, balloon art, music and games. Vendors of arts and crafts will feature ceramics, jewelry and fabric bags, crocheted and knitted items, and wearable art. An open ceramics workshop will be held in the pottery studio in Alex and Ani Hall. And a book fair will bring more than 20 Rhode Island-based authors to the campus for book signings.
Among athletic events is the RIC Homecoming 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Online pre-registration is $20 and $25 on the day of the event.
At 1 p.m. the RIC Anchorwomen soccer team will play Plymouth State, while the RIC Anchorwomen tennis team will challenge Salem State.
Saturday evening the RIC Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its annual dinner and recognition event at the college’s Donovan Dining Center. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased by calling 401-456-8007.
Attendees are invited to learn more about the campus at a public reception and lecture at Adams Library on Thursday from 4-6 p.m. On Saturday the Unity Center will hold an open house from 10:30 a.m. to noon, while the Admissions Office will hold an information session (10:15-11 a.m.) and campus tours (11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.) on Saturday.
A number of dedication ceremonies are also scheduled throughout the weekend. On Friday Guardo Hall (School of Social Work) will be dedicated at 5-5:45 p.m. and Penfield Hall (New Hall) will be dedicated at 6-6:45 p.m. On Saturday a ribbon-cutting ceremony, from 1:30-2:15 p.m., will be held in dedication of the James R. Langevin Center for Design, Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing, named in honor of RIC 1990 graduate R.I. Rep. James R. Langevin.
For a full event schedule, to register or to buy tickets, visit ric.edu/homecoming/. For more information, call 401-456-8086 or email alumni@ric.edu.
Established in 1854, Rhode Island College serves approximately 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students through its five schools: the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Social Work, the School of Management and the School of Nursing. For more information, visit www.ric.edu
