Moorhead’s deep education roots have been out in the open all week, as alumni and students celebrate not one, not two, but three homecomings throughout the city.
Along with an explosion of newly crowned royalty and football games, the triple treat has two noteworthy effects on the community beyond the campuses of Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead and Moorhead High School … three homecoming parades in less than 24 hours plus a huge economic impact on the city’s coffers.
Officials who work with planning on the two college campuses estimate a total economic infusion of $1.75 million by the time both wrap up festivities on Sunday. That includes not only direct expenditures and revenue generated on campus – with Concordia budgeting about $100,000 and MSUM nearly $40,000 – but all the expenses of alumni returning to their alma maters, from hotel rooms to dining and other travel costs.
Eric Johnson, Concordia’s alumni relations director, reports that some 1,000 Cobber grads had registered as of last week. Registration is not mandatory, however; total attendance at the weekend’s events, from tonight’s bonfire and tomorrow’s banquet and Saturday’s parade and football, will far exceed that number.
MSUM’s Becky Boyle Jones, the assistant director for student activities and Greek life, has no firm number to compare, as few events on the weeklong schedule – beginning with the traditional burning of the M last Monday – require tickets or generate counts. With 15,000 to 20,000 alums in Fargo-Moorhead alone, though, the totals are impressive.
It will be impossible to miss the homecoming parades. Moorhead High students, parents and friends take to 20th Street South at 4:30 p.m. The bands, royalty and all the rest begin their trek at 24th Avenue South at 4:30 p.m., winding up on 12th Avenue. The Spuds kick off against Willmar at 6:30 p.m., with the homecoming dance following the game.
Concordia’s maroon-and-gold marchers set out at 11 a.m. Saturday near the Townsite Centre. They follow Eighth Street south to Jake Christiansen Stadium, where the Cobbers play St. Thomas at 1 p.m. Men’s and women’s soccer teams face Carleton the same afternoon on the soccer field. The evening wraps up with the free homecoming concert for alums and the Johnny Holm Band playing for students.
Local businesses and organizations who plan to take part in all three catch their breath only briefly before the day’s final parade – “Awake the Dragons” at 2 p.m. The MSUM parade circles the campus, winding up at Nemzek Stadium. It’s a big day for tailgatin, with the School of Business and Dragon fan Big Al among others manning the grills, plus inflatable games, a photo booth and games, before the Dragons meet Minnesota Crookston on Scheels Field at 6 p.m. Fireworks and S’mores top off the evening.
These are only highlights, of course. Both campuses are closely scheduled throughout the weekend with reunions of past graduates, both by year and by extracurriculars, as well as extras for the whole family at each. MSUM has been having fun since last Sunday, including the Community Block Party Monday, a video gaming tournament Tuesday, Torch’s Ice Cream Palooza Wednesday and the Deans’ Chili Feed and Distinguished Alumni Celebration today.
One new twist, says Boyle Jones, is this year’s emphasis on renewability. Instead of generating hundreds of pounds of plastic and Styrofoam waste whenever Dragons eat, they can purchase reusable coffee mugs and collect free sporks for their ice cream and chili.
Under the banner of “Dragons Care,” students are collecting toiletries and nonviolent children’s games all week for the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center and nonperishable foods for the Great Plains Food Bank. Parade-goers are encouraged to bring donations to toss into grocery carts being pushed by students in the homecoming parade.
One note of interest to alums: Dances have fallen out of favor with today’s collegians. Instead of its traditional student dance Friday night, Concordia homecoming chair Hayley Johnson says her planning team has come up with a new idea – BUNCO at CONCO, an evening of the venerable dice-rolling game in Grant Center. The Johnny Holm Show, however, does take the stage on Saturday.
MSUM has completely ditched the dance, says Boyle Jones. Instead, Friday’s Athletic Hall of Fame dinner and coronation will be followed by a Roller Rave in Nemzek – complete with a DJ, flashing lights, glow-in-the-dark décor and free roller skates.
Planning at MSUM is handled by a 14-member staff work group plus the student-run Dragon Entertainment Group. At Concordia, it’s a more elaborate process that began last November when Hayley – a senior political science and communication double major – was named to chair the 2016 event around the theme “Concordia College Homecoming – It’s a Big Deal.” Some 35 students serve on 10 committees overseeing everything from permits and scheduling to handling the budget. Alumni director Eric says, “It’s very much like a robust small-business internship.”
Says Hayley, “Homecoming is the best time of year on campus. I love it – the beautiful fall days, the alums dressed in maroon and gold all over campus. It’s uplifting for students to see the really great things Concordia has done for people over the years, and how much it means to all of them. Everyone’s just so proud!”
