ACU Homecoming bound to be a rockin' good time

From the Homecoming Carnival to the annual musical, it's all things Elvis for Abilene Christian University's Homecoming 2008. Go! Cat Go! is the theme for this weekend's Homecoming, and throughout the festivities Wildcats will pay tribute to Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock 'n' Roll." ACU alumni and current students will be rockin' and rollin' on the ACU campus for the 103rd Homecoming celebration.

Homecoming events begin Thursday, Oct. 23, with the Track and Field Awards Banquet and the annual Gutenberg Dinner. The Gutenberg Dinner honors professional Journalism and Mass Communication alumni. This year's honorees include: Kenny Wilson ('74), market president for Central and South Texas, Bank of America, San Antonio; Becky Sundling ('91), user experience design lead, Microsoft Corp., Beijing; David Stotts ('96), senior editor, motion graphics, and host of "Drive Thru History" series, ColdWater Media, Richardson. The dinner is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Teague Special Events Center.

On Friday, Oct. 24, Homecoming Chapel and Pep Rally will be held in Moody Coliseum at 11 a.m. Later that day, the campus mall area will be transformed into a carnival, complete with county-fair type foods, games, large inflatables, music and more. The carnival, scheduled for 5-8 p.m., is open to the public, and wristbands can be purchased to play on the inflatables for $3 a person.

The 23rd Annual Chemistry Circus will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Walling Lecture Hall in the Foster Science Building. The ACU Chemistry Club, along with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry students will present their science showcase full of explosions, colorful smoke, fire and ice. Admission is free. The observatory will be open for public viewing at 8 p.m.

Friday's events wrap up with Abilene Christian students taking to the stage at JamFest at 7 p.m. Several bands composed of current students and ACU alumni, will perform outside the Zona Luce building. The concert is free to the public.

Throughout the weekend, the ACU Theatre Department will showcase this year's Homecoming Musical All Shook Up. Audience members of all ages are sure to enjoy the show. All Shook Up will run Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Saturday's events begin with the annual Homecoming Parade at 9:30 a.m. Students will brighten up the morning with colorful floats, the Big Purple Band and lots of music. A special Homecoming Chapel will begin at 10:45 a.m. in Moody Coliseum.

At noon, the Pre-Game Party will get underway in the campus mall area. The Pre-Game gives everyone a chance to visit old and new friends, and enjoy a meal together before the game. Food tickets can be purchased for $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under.

The much anticipated Homecoming football game against Tarleton State University begins at 2 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium. The halftime show will feature the Big Purple Band, the 1998 "Coming Home Court" and the crowning of the 2008 Homecoming Queen.

For a complete list of scheduled events, please visit the Homecoming website.

If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact ACU's Public Relations Office or call (325) 674-2696.