'A few hugs, a few tears and a lot of laughs' – it's Homecoming 2019 at Campbellsville University

CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY (09/13/2019) (readMedia)-- "[People] call it homecoming, I call it a family reunion, because it feels just like family when everybody gets back together," Darryl Peavler, director of athletic alumni, said about Campbellsville University's Homecoming Oct. 17-19.

"It doesn't matter the years, the distance, the geography, demographic there is always that common bond. Five minutes into a conversation you feel like you have known them for years," he said,

Homecoming festivities will begin Wednesday, Oct. 16 and will go through Saturday, Oct. 19.

Peavler enjoys Homecoming so much because "it gives all of our alumni family an opportunity to come home." At last year's homecoming, Peavler was able to reconnect with a friend who lives in California he had not seen in 18 years. There were "a few hugs, a few tears and a lot of laughs. It was good to see him."

The Homecoming, the theme of which is "On you Tigers!," begins Wednesday, Oct 16 when Al Hardy, who is retired, after serving in several positions at Campbellsville University, will give a Heritage Day chapel at 10 a.m. in Ransdell Chapel at 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville, Ky.

On Thursday, the class of 1959 will be having its 60th reunion in the Chowning Executive Dining Room in the Winters Dining Hall, 411 N. Columbia Ave., Campbellsville, at 6:30 p.m. There will be a dinner to honor these alumni, but all previous alumni are welcome to join. To make reservations, call the Office of Alumni at (270) 789-5216.

Thursday night, Oct. 17, is the opening night of the theater department's "She Loves Me." It will premiere in the Russ Mobley Theater, Alumni Building, 114 University Drive, Campbellsville, Ky., at 7 p.m. James Mattingly, a junior from Stanford, Ky., will star as Georg Nowack with Lauren Phillips, a freshman from Campbellsville, who will star as Amalia Balash.

Friday's festivities will begin at 11 a.m. with the Golden Heritage Club reunion and lunch in the Badgett Academic Support Center (BASC) Banquet Hall at 110 University Drive, Campbellsville, Ky. Members of the Golden Heritage Club can purchase tickets for $10, but this lunch is free for the class of 1969. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Office of Alumni Relations at (270) 789-5216.

The Golden Heritage Club is bestowed to alumni who will celebrate 50 years or more of being a Campbellsville alumnus. There will be a ceremony held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 in Ransdell Chapel, 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville, to induct these new members.

The annual Homecoming Reception and Awards Ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 in the Banquet Hall. The 2019 Distinguished Alumni will be honored. Tickets are $25 and include admission into Friday night's performance of "She Loves Me."

"She Loves Me" will begin at 8 p.m. in the Russ Mobley Theater, Alumni Building. Following the show, there will be a Maroon Goons Pep Rally behind the Student Activity Center (SAC), 106 University Drive, Campbellsville, beginning at 9 p.m.

The Campbellsville University 5K will kick off Saturday's full day of activities. Registration for the 5K will begin at 7 a.m. with a $10 entrance fee. The race will begin at 8 a.m. Those who are interested can contact Joey Hartlage at jdhartlage@campbellsville.edu or at (270) 789-5321.

Pioneer College Caterers Inc. will prepare the food served at the Homecoming Family Breakfast in the Winters Dining Hall, which begins at 8 a.m. and will end at 10 a.m.

From 8 a.m. until noon will be the Annual Homecoming Car Show on the Montgomery Library Lawn. Contact Stan McKinney at (270) 789-5035 or at somckinney@campbellsville.edu if you are interested in having your car on display.

An alumni art exhibit will be held in The Pence Chowning Art Gallery, 205 University Drive, Campbellsville, at 10 a.m. Campbellsville University alumni art teachers will display their work.

A new Homecoming tradition this year is at 10 a.m. with a pop-up art show that will display the works of Campbellsville University alumni art teachers' students. This will be held at the Susan Kirkland Tesseneer Art Studio at 201 University Drive, Campbellsville, Ky.

The new Athletic Fieldhouse will have a dedication at 10 a.m. The fieldhouse is located across from Hawkins Athletic Complex at 205 Tiger Way, Campbellsville, Ky.

The annual Homecoming Festival will take place on Stapp Lawn from 11 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. where there will be food, games, inflatables and entertainment. Stapp Lawn will be the hub to reconnect with old friends, teachers and classmates.

While you chat with old friends make sure to eat lunch on Stapp Lawn from noon until 1:30 p.m. Food tickets will cost $5 with multiple options available.

The annual Homecoming Parade, a crowd favorite, will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will go through Main Street in downtown Campbellsville and make its way back to campus.

The School of Music will showcase its talent as musical selections from jazz, classic rock, gospel and others will be played on the Chowning Patio next to the Montgomery Library, 116 University Drive, Campbellsville, Ky. from noon until 1:30 p.m.

Starting at 2:01 p.m. the Campbellsville Tigers' football team will face off against the University of Pikeville Bears at Citizens Bank Field at Finley Stadium. The Homecoming game always takes place one minute after the hour in order to pay tribute to the legacy of the late Tiger football coach, Ron Finley.

Make sure to stay to see who will be crowned Homecoming Queen at halftime.

If you have not seen the production of "She Loves Me" by Saturday, there will be a performance at 7 p.m.

"It will be a very full week, but lots of fun," Peavler said about Homecoming.

A full schedule of events can be found on Campbellsville University's web site at https://www.campbellsville.edu/alumni/homecoming/.

Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 12,000 students offering over 100 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The university has Kentucky based off-campus centers in Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset, Hodgenville and Liberty with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville. Out-of-state centers include two in California at Los Angeles and Lathrop, located in the San Francisco Bay region. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.

Campbellsville University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificates, associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the status of Campbellsville University.