Sweet Briar College will hold its first Homecoming from Thursday, Sept. 22 to Sunday, Sept. 25.

The idea germinated in 2001 at the annual Alumnae Council weekend. It was the centennial of the school’s founding. The plans for the weekend were big and a push was on to draw more alumnae than ever back to campus for Founders’ Day activities and special events.

Engineering students race in SBC's first Cardboard Boat Regatta in 2004. The popular event returns Sept. 24 as part of the College's inaugural Homecoming weeekend.The weekend was a success, and it got folks to thinking: Plan programs for the entire SBC community and they will come.

“We wanted to encourage more alumnae to return to the campus when students are here and the College is in session,” said Louise Zingaro, SBC Alumnae Association director.

Traditionally much of the Council weekend agenda focused on the Alumnae Association Board and volunteers. Committees hold fall meetings, and the Association hosts training and update sessions for its club, class, fund-raising, student recruitment and other volunteers.

In recent years a number of symposia with distinguished speakers also were offered to encourage wider attendance. Still, the weekend was not perceived as something for all alumnae. Homecoming 2005 aims to break the mold, while keeping Council’s traditions intact.

“We really did change the programming so there’s more for everybody,” Zingaro said.

New on the agenda

Athletic events are one change. The Vixens will take on Emory and Henry College in soccer at 4 p.m. Saturday, but not before ready, willing and able field hockey players of classes past don shin guards and take up sticks for an alumnae match at 2 p.m. The Vixen soccer and field hockey teams also will play home games on Sunday.

Other events include a dinner sponsored by the Friends of Athletics with a presentation, “Sweet Briar Athletics: Connecting the Past with the Future,” by Jennifer Crispen, SBC associate professor of physical education. That’s a theme that has the athletics department enthusiastic.

“We’re very excited about it,” said Kelly Morrison, SBC athletic director and assistant professor of physical education. “We’ll be bringing back people from the fifties to recent 2004 or ’05 grads who’ll be able to connect with current athletes.”

And, unlike Reunion weekend, which is geared to classes celebrating a five-year anniversary, it’s a chance for students to see all of their former teammates, not only those who graduated in their classes, Morrison said.

Council weekend includes an academic component, and Homecoming will do the same. This year’s focus is on science.

Science theme

SBC’s Honors Program is sponsoring a lecture on Thursday evening by Brian Greene, a pre-eminent theoretical physicist with a knack for explaining complex concepts. Following the lecture, Greene will sign copies of his latest best-selling book, “The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time and the Texture of Reality.”

With the emphasis on science, it’s appropriate that this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumna Award will go to Jo Ann Soderquist Kramer ’64. Kramer earned a degree in physics at SBC before becoming the first woman to obtain a master’s in aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia School of Engineering. Today she is director of naval defense system programs for General Dynamics Corp. in Burlington, Vt. She will give the keynote address at Founders’ Day Convocation.

Kramer also will be a judge at the SBC engineering program’s Cardboard Boat Regatta on Saturday. Five student teams will race manned cardboard-and-duct tape vessels on the Lower Lake. Judges will scope for overall design quality, but spectators can show up just for the fun. Early arrival for the 1:30 p.m. contest is recommended (cardboard isn’t noted for its seaworthiness).

Also at the lake, the new Environmental Education and Nature Center will be officially dedicated at 1 p.m. A project of SBC’s environmental studies program, the recently completed center – converted from an old water plant – will offer educational outreach to local K-12 schools in addition to serving as an environmental research laboratory for Sweet Briar students.

Other highlights of the weekend will include evening entertainment such as a performance by the Blue Ridge Chamber Orchestra, “Music, Magic and All That Jazz” with magician Nate Staniforth, the Billboard Dance Party and more.

“Another piece of the planning was reaching out to students,” Zingaro said. “We worked with [Co-Curricular Life] and other departments so students could be involved in both planning and participating in events.”

To create some spirited buzz ahead of the weekend, the Alumnae Board’s Student Relations Committee also hosted two open houses – one for sophomores and seniors and another for first-years and juniors. Regarded as “sister” classes, the two groups formed a pink and a green team. At stake is who can turn out in greater numbers at Homecoming events.

Student-focused events include a career networking breakfast with alumnae and a panel discussion about past student life at Le Bistro on Saturday evening.

For a complete schedule of events or more information, please visit the Alumnae Association Homecoming page or call (434) 381-6131.