ESU Homecoming Online Chat with Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director
October 11, 2011
ESU Homecoming Online Chat with Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director
Moderator: Our online chat guest today is Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director for Emporia State University. Tyler is at the Emporia Gazette offices to chat about ESU Homecoming this week and all the different events and history that is involved. We have a lot of great information so we will get started with the first question.
moderator: When did ESU start hosting a Homecoming celebration?
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: First off, I think it’s interesting to note that the idea of “homecoming” at a college or university dates back to the mid-1800’s. In general, the origins and history of Homecoming have been based around reunions, parades, parties, dress-up and decoration themes, rallies, and football games, originally annual alumni football games played at one’s alma mater. Interestingly, ESU, or more accurately Kansas State Normal, began hosting an annual Homecoming celebration before the school ever fielded a football team. Reunions took place in the late 1800’s to entice alumni to come back to campus. As a football program was initiated and developed, the game was integrated into the weekend’s activities. Today our Homecoming celebration embraces all of these traditional ideas.
moderator: What are some ESU Homecoming Traditions?
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: There are several, and I’m probably going to leave some out. I apologize in advance if I miss noting your favorite Homecoming tradition. Homecoming royalty has been a treasured tradition on campus that continues today. The first “Homecoming Princess” was elected in 1932. Mary Reilly of Emmett was the first to be crowned. By 1935, the “Princess” had become the “Queen,” and Verla Frost of Emporia was elected that year. In 1936, the title of “Peggy Pedagog” was bestowed upon the Homecoming Queen. Edwin Brown, a former faculty member, coined the term because he thought there were too many “queen” titles and he wanted something more catchy and meaningful. His wife was known by the name “Peggy” and Pedagog just flowed well. The first Peggy Pedagog was Miss Billie Engler, who went on to become an English teacher at the university. Also, a variety show or musical has also been a tradition here at Emporia State. Starting in 1940, an annual variety show was hosted along with a musical. Beginning in 1948, Karl Bruder, R.G. Cremer, George Pflaum, and Charles Hendricks created the Curli-Q variety show. The first show was designed to raise money for new band uniforms. Among the 16 acts, President David MacFarlane dressed in a Scottish kilt and played the bagpipes during the show. Future Curli-Q’s entailed a number of acts, many of which would make some of us blush a bit. However, they were designed to raise scholarship money and they did just that, raising over $30,000 distributed across 289 scholarships. By the mid-60’s, the show became too much of an undertaking and was replaced with a theatre production beginning with The King and I in 1967. In 1973, the true Homecoming Scholarship Musical began under the direction of Howard Halgedahl and Karl Bruder. Other annual traditions include the Kaffee Klatch (a.k.a. Alumni Coffee), Phi Delta Theta fraternity’s Pole Sit to raise money for SOS, Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority’s chili feed, the Homecoming bonfire and Yell Like Hell contest, Homecoming Parade, and the football game. The Kaffee Klatch is held in the Memorial Union’s Main Street. Donuts and drinks are provided and Dave Hendricks will be giving tours of the Union renovation project as well. Details on each of these events can be found at www.emporia.edu/homecoming.
moderator: Homecoming is also associated with alumni honors, right? What honors are awarded during Homecoming?
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: You’re correct. Along with a host of fun, social activities, we also roll out the red carpet for several alumni who have distinguished themselves. First, on Friday night we award both the Outstanding Recent Graduate and Distinguished Alumni awards during the Alumni Celebration Dinner, which will be held in the newly renovated and extremely beautiful Webb Hall. The Outstanding Recent Graduate Award is selected by the Deans and faculty members of our four academic schools: School of Business, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Library and Information Management, and The Teachers College. The award is given to graduates who have earned a degree in the last decade and have distinguished themselves early in their careers. This year’s Outstanding Recent Graduates are: Leslie (Nigro) Freeman (BSB 2002), Shawnee, Kansas; Jennifer (Schiffelbein) Lasseter (BS 2001), Austin, Texas; Carol Levers (MLS 2001), Kansas City, Kansas; and Darcy L. Seitz (BSE 2006), Topeka, Kansas. The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor granted by the University and is coordinated by the ESU Alumni Association. A committee of faculty, staff, and alumni select the recipients. This year’s Distinguished Alumni are: Major General Kevin A. Leonard (BS 1979), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; Ronald Loewen (BS 1970, MS 1971), Columbia, South Carolina; Teresa A. Markowitz (BS 1978), Baltimore, Maryland; and Don G. Reichardt (BSE 1960), Roswell, Georgia. We also have a special guest to recognize on Friday night, Ruth Wagner of Wichita. Ruth is a member of the Class of 1941 and will be here to celebrate her 70th year as a graduate of the university. On Saturday morning, the ESU Athletics Hall of Honor will induct this year’s class of distinguished athletes. This year’s class includes: Emily (Bloss) Carpenter, Women's Basketball, 1997-2001; Joyce Burnett, Women’s Track & Field, 1995-98; Charlie Divitto, Football, 1967-70; Nikki (Runnebaum) Honeyman, Volleyball and Track & Field, 1996-2001; Cindy Stein, Women's Basketball Coach, 1995-98; and 1961 & 62 NAIA National Championship Men’s Cross Country Teams.
moderator: What special activities are on tap this year?
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: We are excited to have several new things going on this year. First, we are doing a series of events for graduates of The Teachers College at Visser Hall. From 11:00 to 12:45 there will be a tailgate party sponsored by Bruff’s Bar and Grill and Coca-Cola of Emporia along with games, robot demonstrations, rat lab demos, children’s art and book reading, face painting, and more. Plus, both the one-room schoolhouse and the National Teachers Hall of Fame will be open to the public. We are very excited that Monte Selby, former faculty member and now recording artist/speaker, will be here to give a performance in Visser Hall’s Atrium at 12:45 on Saturday afternoon. Afterwards, there is a balloon release prior to the 2:00 kickoff. We have another surprise in store before the game begins, but we’re keeping it a secret for now. Emporia’s community has also responded to Homecoming this year. Speaking of events “on tap,” Friday night will feature an Oktoberfest event sponsored by the Granada Theatre along with Emporia Main Street and King Liquor. At this point, I’m not sure if tickets are still available, but if you like beer and polka, you’ll like this event. Call The Granada at 342.3342 quickly if you want in on this event. Also, on Saturday morning almost 20 downtown businesses are giving discounts to customers sporting ESU gear. I’ve supplied a map to The Emporia Gazette showing those businesses and listing their special discounts. We are very appreciative of our business community for their willingness to promote Homecoming. We have some very special reunions this year as well, including the 50th Anniversary of Chi Omega sorority, the 60th Anniversary of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, a Treble Clef reunion, and our Golden Anniversary/50th Class Reunion. After the game, we have a post game party at the Sauder Alumni Center that will feature the sounds of Martin Dinkus along with drinks and food. If you haven’t been to a Homecoming post game at the alumni center, you’re missing out on a feast. Finally, a new tradition may be in the works in the Sam E. and Jeannene Hayes Lecture series. Dr. and Mrs. Hayes established a fund to bring back an alumnus of the institution to talk about the impact an ESU education has had upon one’s professional career. This year’s speaker is two-time ESU graduate John “Doug” Smith (BSB ’82, MBA ’84), President and CEO of B.E. Smith in Lenexa, KS.
moderator: I heard that Dr. Backhus is retiring from ESU this year. Are there any events planned to recognize his career and service to ESU?
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: Yes. After 44 years of service to the university, Dr. DeWayne Backhus has retired. On Wednesday, October 12, a reception will be held at the Sauder Alumni Center from 4:00 to 6:00. From 4:00 to 5:00 guests can mingle and see some of Dr. Backhus's history. At 5:00 a program will begin. Several of Dr. Backhus's friends will provide commentary on his career. We anticipate a large crowd of former co-workers and students. Join us!
moderator: You talked about the ESU Homecoming Musical as part of our tradition at ESU, what is this years show and how can we get tickets?
moderator: Are there any other sports teams playing during the homecoming weekend?
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: This year's Homecoming theme is Painting a Dream, which stems from the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Performances begin on Thursday evening and run through Sunday with the matinee. The ESU box office number is 341.5859.
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: Yes, there are other ESU sporting events taking place this weekend. When it comes to Homecoming, football always gets the spotlight, but the ESU volleyball team plays UNO on Friday night at White Auditorium and the ESU soccer team plays Truman State on Sunday at the Trysa Soccer Field. Your support is appreciated!
Moderator: When is the Homecoming Parade this year?
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: I'm glad you asked that question. The Student Homecoming Committee organizes the parade, which is slated for Saturday at 11:00. The route will begin at 4th and Commercial and then proceed north on Commercial Street to 12th Street. This year's parade has over 20 entries, so check it out.
moderator: Final thoughts?
Tyler Curtis, Alumni Relations Director: Come to Homecoming this weekend, cheer the Hornets to a victory over Mo West, and support your local university whether you are an alumnus or not. Homecoming is a great time to build even more bridges between the community and the university. Plus, you’ll have fun – lots of fun. For more information, check out www.emporia.edu/homecoming. I also encourage everyone to follow the Emporia State University Alumni Association on Facebook. Once a Hornet, always a Hornet…Go Hornets!
Moderator: It looks like that is all the time that we have today, on behalf of the Emporia Gazette and its readers I would like to thank Tyler for taking time to come and chat with us today. Be sure to check out some homecoming events this week and come back on Thursday when our online chat guest will be Lisa Keith, Director of Emporia's David Traylor Zoo.