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SBU plans virtual events for Homecoming 2020

BOLIVAR, Mo. — Southwest Baptist University is holding virtual Homecoming events Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, including a Shoebox Parade in which everyone can participate.

“When we started planning Homecoming 2020 more than six months ago, we could not have imagined needing to plan a virtual event,” said Holly Bridge, director of alumni engagement. “We always enjoy having our alumni return to campus to re-connect with classmates and the SBU community. While we are disappointed not to be able to host events on campus this year due to COVID-19, we still want to connect with alumni and the local community as much as possible through several online events.”

Alumni and other friends of the University can participate in several ways:

  • Submit a Shoebox Parade float entry — In place of a traditional parade, SBU is asking students, alumni, local community members, local business owners and other friends of the University to submit entries to a Shoebox Parade that will be available on the Homecoming Hub. Decorate a shoebox like a parade float and submit a photo or video of the float to share your Bearcat spirit with others. All entries will be gathered into a video being released at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Entries are due Friday, Sept. 25. Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. Go to Advance.SBUniv.edu/ShoeboxFloat for details and to submit an entry. 
  • Join the Virtual 5K — Bearcats from all over the nation are invited to join us in our virtual 5K event. Lace up those tennis shoes and start racing! Participants decide when, where, and how (walking or running) to complete this virtual 5K event. Times must be entered by Oct. 3 to be eligible for a prize drawing. The deadline for race entry and a T-shirt is Monday, Sept. 21. Race-entry only deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 29. Register at Advance.SBUniv.edu/Homecoming5K.
  • Unite in prayer during the Virtual Day of Prayer — Wherever you are between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, unite with other Bearcats in praying for our University and our nation.

Members of the classes of 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 can participate in Virtual Class Reunions. Alumni of these years need to pre-register by Friday, Sept. 25, to receive details for their class reunion. Members of the 50-Year Club (those who graduated from SBU/SWBC in 1970 or earlier) will meet in an online setting. Reunion class members must register to receive the link to their virtual class reunion.

Additionally, the Homecoming Honors Chapel will be livestreamed, and a virtual campus tour will provide highlights of the SBU campus.

“While we will miss seeing everyone in-person this year, these virtual events will allow more people to participate and reconnect with SBU,” Bridge said. “We always have many alumni who are unable to make the journey back to Bolivar due to distance, and we hope through this unique programming opportunity that they will find a way to feel like they are part of this year’s Homecoming events.”

For more information and registration information, go to Advance.SBUniv.edu/Homecoming.

*Published: 9-21-2020