Mount Olive College changes Alumni Weekend
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 29, 2010 1:46 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Alumni Weekend at Mount Olive College, originally a part of the Pickle Classic basketball tournament activities, has grown so successful that it will now have its own identity.
"We tried to pack so many things in that (Pickle Classic/Alumni Weekend) people could not get to all of the things they would like to get to," said Dianne Riley, MOC director of alumni affairs.
The inaugural standalone Alumni Weekend will get under way with registration at 2 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the Hunt Lounge at the Lois K. Murphy Regional Center and will continue through 11:30 a.m. Oct. 17.
The Alumni Weekend originally was packaged with the Pickle Classic, which will be held Nov. 19-20, as a means of attracting alumni. However, it has grown so much in recent years that it needs to be a separate event, Mrs. Riley said.
The Alumni Weekend will continue familiar events like the Sunday worship service and athletics, but with basketball giving way to soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball.
However, there will be a new emphasis on activities for children and younger alumni, Mrs. Riley said.
The 50-inning softball game normally held during the Pickle Classic will move with the Alumni Weekend and will start at 3 p.m. on opening day.
The classes of 1960 and 1985 will be the highlighted class reunions, celebrating 50 and 25 years respectively. A slide show especially for the 50-year reunion members will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the archive room at Moye Library. Tours will be available of the library and the new communications building.
MOC President and Mrs. Philip Kerstetter will host a 50-year reunion dinner at their home at 5 p.m.
Dinner with students will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Murphy Center's Alumni Dinning Room followed by the Lady Trojans' volleyball game at 7 p.m. in Kornegay Arena.
Saturday's full slate of events start at 8 a.m. with a Cystic Fibrosis Walk/Run in memory of Jan Brewer, who died from the disease while attending MOC. It is sponsored by the Recreation/Leisure Studies Department.
Reunion lunches will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Murphy Center. Starting at 12:05 p.m. there will be special recognition of the Classes of 1960 and 1985 and in memory of Ms. Brewer. It will be followed by the annual business session and election of new alumni board members.
Saturday afternoon's events will run from 1 to 5 p.m. and include a women's softball game at 1 p.m., women's volleyball at 2 p.m., women's soccer at 4 p.m., alumni baseball game at 5 p.m. and men's soccer at 7 p.m.
The bookstore will be open and offering alumni discounts. The art exhibit, "Art with a Cause" and a reception will be held in the Teresa Pelt Grubbs Fine Arts Gallery in Laughinghouse Hall.
New this year will be a children's play area and activities with face painting, inflatables, campus train rides and games from 2-5 p.m. at the Kemp Commons and Alumni Cross Walk area.
Refreshments will be available and Jimmy Martin and the groups Arms Wide Open and Encore will perform. The public is invited to participate, Mrs. Riley said.
The Kersetters will host a 25- year reunion reception at 4 p.m.
A cookout with students will start at 5 p.m. near the Alumni Cross Walk.
The annual alumni awards banquet will begin at 7 p.m. at the Murphy Center.
Sunday's activities start with a legacy breakfast at the Murphy Center for families who have made MOC a tradition.
A memorial service will start at 10 a.m. at the Alumni Cross Walk area followed by a 10:15 a.m. worship service in Rodgers Chapel.
The weekend will end with a buffet lunch at 11:30 a.m. at the Murphy Center.