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YSU Homecoming boasts many activities
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
Youngstown State University’s 71st Homecoming kicked off with $157,000 raised for breast-cancer research and concludes with the Penguins’ football game against Western Illinois University.
Greg Gulas, YSU’s assistant director of student programming, said this year’s Homecoming Week theme is “Blast from the Past, We’re Going Back to the Future.”
The week started with Sunday’s Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic, which raised $157,000 for breast-cancer awareness, research and philanthropy. About 1,200 cheerleaders participated in the event.
The annual Homecoming parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. All floats and participants should report between 7:30 and 10 a.m. to the staging area on Wood Street between Hazel Street and Fifth Avenue.
“We’ll start on Wood Street, go right up Fifth to the top of the stadium, go right onto the service road, eastbound and that’s it,” Gulas said.
Between eight and 10 floats, several area police departments, the Aut Mori Grotto clowns, several children’s dance lines, the YSU Hall of Fame inductees, fraternities and sororities, several university vehicles and the YSU as well as Springfield and Lowellville high-school marching bands are among parade participants.
“We’re even going to have a DeLorean,” Gulas said.
The DeLorean sports car, manufactured in 1975, wasn’t on the market for long but became famous in the “Back to the Future” movies.
The football game begins at 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium against Western Illinois.
Also Saturday, there will be a Halloween show at 1 and 2:30 p.m. at Ward Beecher Planetarium along with a “Nightlights” planetarium show at 6 and 8 p.m.
Other activities through the week include several eating contests.
A Denny’s burger-eating contest is set for noon today in Kilcawley Center, and a Dunkin Donuts eating contest is planned for 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in Kilcawley Center’s Upper Arcade.
Wednesday also marks the eighth year for YSU Red & White Day. The Penguin Prize Team will visit campus and award $1,500 in prizes. Participants may spin the Penguin Prize Wheel from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Kilcawley Center’s Lower Arcade.
To win, players must be wearing red and white and holding a 20-ounce bottle of a Coca-Cola product. Kilcawley, the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and the Homecoming Committee are sponsors of Red & White Day.