YSU Homecoming activities set

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University Homecoming festivities run through this week, culminating with Saturday’s parade and football game against Southern Illinois University.

This year’s theme is “Bright Lights, Red City,” and the parade begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, traveling up Fifth Avenue to Stambaugh Stadium where the YSU Penguins kick off the Homecoming football game at 4 p.m. against the SIU Salukis.

SIU is where Randy Dunn, SIU president, went after resigning from the YSU presidency.

The 2014 Homecoming king and queen will be crowned at halftime.

The Homecoming Court includes students Julian Jones, James McGregor, Scott Miller, Everet Thompson, Gino West, Rebecca Banks, Sydney Sims, Ashley Smith, Paige Taylor and Alteeka Vanwright.

The week’s activities begin today with a Bungee Run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Campus Core. At 5 p.m., the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Minuteman Press and Cassese’s MVR present the Carmstrong Bocce for Hope at the MVR. Teams compete in the bocce tournament to help raise money for chronically and terminally ill children and for the Carmstrong (YSU Scholarship & Pancreatic Cancer Research at OSU Medical Center) in memory of Carmine Cassese.

Registration is $25 per person or $10 for YSU students with a current valid ID. Maximum number of participants per team is eight. Mixed teams are encouraged.

The winning team will receive four tickets to the Dec. 14 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns game.

A corn hole tournament is set for 6 to 9 p.m. in the Beeghly Center North Lobby.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, a caricature artist will be in the Campus Core and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rookery Radio will broadcast live on the Campus Core.

From 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday, big eaters can match their skills against like-minded early risers in the Chick-Fil-A Nugget Eating Contest at Kilcawley Center/Chick-Fil-A.

A Homecoming picnic is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Newman Center, Madison Avenue, across from the Lyden House Residence Hall.

Build-A-Penguin returns from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Campus Core. At noon, the Wendy’s Triple Threat Challenge Eating Contest begins at Kilcawley Center/Stationary Table. The first contestant to eat three Double Son of Baconator sandwiches wins.

From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, the Fall Fire Fest will take place on the Green on Grant Street, across form the M-27 parking lot, between Belmont and Ford avenues. The event features music by The Vindys and The Labra Brothers. A bonfire and Penguin Pride Rally to honor university athletes also are planned at that event.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, judges will tour campus offices to determine the winners of the Red and White Day Office Decorating Contest. Two winners will be announced next week.