LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- A plethora of events designed for both younger and older groups of Rider University alumni and friends will help comprise the theme for this year's annual Homecoming weekend, "Connecting Generations."

The weekend will kick off on Friday, October 9 and continue through Sunday, October 11, and will feature several alumni reunions and a variety of entertainment. Friday evening's major event will be a reunion for the classes of 1948, 1943, 1938, and 1933 from 4 to 7 p.m., with cocktails served in the Student Center Art Gallery prior to dinner in the Student Center Fireside Lounge.

Other Friday events include an 8 p.m. performance in the Student Center Theater by comedian Jay Moore, who appeared in the hit movie Jerry Maguire, followed by the annual young alumni reunion at 10 p.m. in the Student Center Pub.

The weekend will shift into high gear on Saturday, October 10. Events of note include a 10th-year reunion/family picnic for the class of 1988 from noon to 2 p.m. on the Student Center patio, a biology/biochemistry alumni reunion from noon to 5 p.m. at the Science and Technology Center, and a student/young alumni volley-fest starting at 1 p.m. on the residence hall quad.

Saturday evening's highlight event will bring all alumni together for a "Connecting Generations" cocktail/dinner party in the Cavalla Room at 6 p.m. "The event will include decor from the 1940s through the 1990s in an attempt to tie all of the generations together," noted Natalie Pollard, associate director of alumni relations.

As in past Homecoming weekends, tours of both the Lawrenceville and old Trenton campuses will depart at 11 a.m. from the Student Center. In addition, Rider varsity soccer and field hockey games are scheduled on campus both Saturday and Sunday, and a brunch celebrating the 70th anniversary of intercollegiate athletics at Rider will be held Sunday at noon in the Student Center Cavalla Room.

For further information on Homecoming weekend, including a complete schedule of events and reservation details for selected events, contact Rider's office of alumni relations at (609) 896-5340.

Rider University's Lawrenceville campus is located five miles south of Princeton and three miles north of Trenton on Route 206 in Lawrence Township, NJ. The campus is one-half mile south of exit 7A of Interstate 95.