Alumni, parents, students and community members are invited to celebrate Eastern Mennonite University’s Homecoming and Family Weekend Oct. 11-13, 2024. This year’s events include a Royal City Celebration, a theater production of “Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,” a new track & field complex dedication, as well as program and affinity gatherings, alumni and athletic awards, athletic events, TenTalks, and more!
“This year’s festivities will feature a ‘lion’s share’ of new and exciting events, including the Royal City Celebration, which invites all class reunions, affinity groups, department and club gatherings to meet at Thomas Plaza and the Front Lawn for food, fellowship and fun!” said Deanna Reed, Harrisonburg mayor and EMU director of alumni engagement & community connections. “In addition to the gathering, which promises to be the largest at Homecoming, all are invited to follow the ‘yellow brick road’ to campus for musical theater showings, athletic events, and the return of the ever-popular TenTalks presentations. This year there’s no place like HOMEcoming!”
The homecoming website is your complete source for events, updates, and registration.
EMU’s alumni award winners are:
Dr. Lee Roy Berry Jr. ’66; Kendra Conrad Bailey ’03, MA ’05; and Seth Crissman ’09. MDiv ’15.
EMU Athletics will recognize four Hall of Honor awardees:
longtime employee and coach Roland Landes; standout jumper and sprinter Michael Allen ’13; volleyball, basketball and softball player Gina Campbell Troyer ’93; and basketball star Bianca Ygarza ’14.
Look for the ⓕ Facebook icon that denotes a livestreamed event. Go to the EMU Facebook page to view these events; recordings will also be available after the event. You do not need a Facebook account to view the livestream.
Athletics events will be streamed through the emuroyals.com website.
Here are a few highlights of the weekend. See the full schedule for more details.
Friday
– Jubilee Alumni, those who have graduated 50 years ago or more, will gather for a program and luncheon that includes the induction of the class of 1974. * ⓕ
– Art Gallery Opening, from 4-5 p.m. in the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery, features artworks from EMU alumni artists Rebecca Souder Gish ’09, Rhoda Miller ’03, and Jon Styer ’07.
– Musical Theater Production of “Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” EMU students and community members play multiple roles in this epic rock musical version of Rick Riordan’s beloved young-adult novels about an underachieving kid who discovers he is a demigod. Tickets for the show, held in the Studio Theater at 7 p.m., are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $10 for children 18 and younger, and $6 for college students.
Saturday
– Recognizing Hall of Honor and alumni award winners, the Opening Celebration Breakfast features a welcome by President Susan Schultz Huxman.
– A Hall of Honor Ceremony at the MainStage Theater from 10-11 a.m. will celebrate this year’s inductees.
– New to this year’s lineup of events, the Royal City Celebration invites all class reunions, affinity groups, department and club gatherings to follow the yellow brick road for food, fellowship, and fun! Meal tickets to the gathering, held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thomas Plaza and the Front Lawn, are $20 for adults and $9 for children ages 5 to 11. *
– See Royals athletics in action on the brand new Turf Field with Field Hockey vs. Sweet Briar at noon, Women’s Soccer vs. Guilford at 3 p.m., and Men’s Soccer vs. Lynchburg at 6 p.m. The Women’s Volleyball team takes on Lynchburg in Yoder Arena at 2 p.m.
– Prepare to be impacted, influenced and inspired at the annual EMU TenTalks. Modeled on TED Talks presentations, this event in Suter Science Center 106 from 2-3 p.m. features alumna and novelist Ashley Mellinger ’24; Adesola Johnson, senior biology major; and Dr. Mark Metzler Sawin, EMU professor of history, speaking for 10 minutes each with a Q&A at the end. * ⓕ
– Turn out for the new track & field complex dedication at 3:30 p.m.
– “Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” Another chance to catch this exhilarating spectacle starting at 7 p.m. in the Studio Theater.
Sunday
– Worship with EMU Chamber Singers at 9:30 a.m. at Park View Mennonite Church.
– “Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” A third and final showing of the epic rock musical, capping Homecoming and Family Weekend 2024, starts at 7 p.m.
*Registration required
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