Homecoming to Unite Princeton, Lawrenceville Campuses
Traditionally a singularly Princeton campus event, Westminster Choir College of Rider University’s Homecoming 2008 will unite both the Princeton and Lawrenceville campuses on Friday, September 26, and Saturday, September 27.
“It’s an excuse for the campus to come together to celebrate the start of the school year,” said Christopher Christiana, president of the Programming Board, about the annual weekend event. “I’m pretty touched that the Student Entertainment Council at Lawrenceville was able to help us fund the event.”
On Friday, seven upperclassmen will vie for the title of Homecoming King and Homecoming Queen. The pageant begins at 8 p.m. inside The Playhouse on the Princeton campus. Entrants will participate in lip-synching and Mock the Professor contests. The Rider Dance Team will perform during the middle of the event.
This year’s King nominees are Joshua “Squiggy” Hemmings of Amityville, N.Y., a sophomore Music Education major; Paul Hughes of Santa Cruz, Calif., a sophomore Music Theater major; Joe Spadafora of Perkasie, Pa., a senior Music Education major; and Jimmy Traum of Mantua, N.J., a junior Music Theater major.
The Queen nominees are Michela Imbesi of Marlton, N.J., a sophomore Music Theater major; Carissa Bowen of Iselin, N.J., a sophomore Music Education major; and Rebecca Leshures of Duchess, Alberta, Canada, a junior Piano major.
The pageant will also feature a Homecoming Prince and Princess. The Prince nominees are Ryan John of Newark, Del., a freshman Music Education and Voice Performance major; Phil Provenzano of Levittown, N.Y., a freshman Music Education major; and Jared Slaymaker of Gilbertsville, Pa., a freshman Piano major.
The Princess nominees are Heather Jones of Greer, S.C., a freshman Music Education major; Victoria Neil of Phoenix, a freshman Music Education major; and Erica Sanders of Shrewsbury, Mass., a freshman Music Education major.
On Saturday, Homecoming will move to the Lawrenceville campus for a day of flag football. The competition starts at 1 p.m. on Daly’s Field on the Lawrenceville campus. There will be free food, music and giveaways.
Saturday night, students are invited to a dance with Zen-themed flair in a tent on the Great Plains on the Princeton campus. The dance starts at 8 p.m. and will feature Zen cuisine, finger food and a DJ. Christiana said the event is semiformal, but students can “come as you are.
“If you want to come in a ball gown, we won’t turn you away,” he added.
For all events, students will be admitted with a student ID and can bring one guest. All events are free. Christiana encourages students to take advantage of the shuttle buses running between the campuses during the weekend. Please visit http://www.rider.edu/2529_15615.htm to view shuttle schedules.
Christiana said that in the past, a good handful of Lawrenceville students have attended Homecoming weekend on the Princeton campus, and he expects more Lawrenceville students to attend this year. By hosting Homecoming on the two Rider campuses, awareness is raised about both including their physical structures and the resources each campus has, he added.
“The weekend pulls the one-university approach with both the Princeton and Lawrenceville campuses participating,” Christiana said. “This could be a little step – a milestone for the two Student Government Associations to work more together.”
