This weekend marks SEMO homecoming

The campus of Southeast Missouri State University and the city of Cape Girardeau will be buzzing with homecoming excitement this weekend.

Homecoming activities have taken place throughout the week and continue today and tomorrow.

Saturday's football game against two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference champion and national runner-up Jacksonville State, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, is a highlight of the weekend. The Redhawks and Gamecocks kick off at 1 p.m. from Houck Stadium. There will be tailgating in front of the stadium and in nearby parking lots from 10 a.m. until gametime. What a great way to spend your time between the homecoming parade and game!

The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at Capaha Park and travels down Broadway and south on Main Street to Independence Street. This year's theme is "Superheroes & Villains: Unmask Your Potential."

The university's River Campus, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. There will be tours of the Academic Hall Dome from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Also on Friday, seven alumni will be honored with the annual Merit Awards. Honorees are: Teresa Mosley Dirks, Jerry Durham, Janet Perez Eckles, William Gamewell, Pamela Macke Johnson, Pamela McClune and Pernell Witherspoon. Julie Ray, chair of Southeast's Department of Elementary, Early and Special Education, will receive the Faculty Merit Award during the ceremony.

Saturday Charles Robert Depro, James D. Maurer, Stephen and Marsha Limbaugh and The Bank of Missouri will be honored with Distinguished Service Awards from the University Alumni Association. The awards will be presented at an All Alumni breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in Kem Statuary Hall in the Aleen Vogel Wehking Alumni Center. Cost is $15 per person.

For more information on events visit www.semo.edu/homecoming.

Be safe while you enjoy this homecoming weekend.