SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Morningside alumni, students, friends, faculty and staff are invited to attend the University’s annual Homecoming Weekend scheduled for Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, 2024.

The events will begin early in the week with the Homecoming Coronation at 7 p.m., Tues., Oct. 8, at the Buhler Outdoor Performing Arts Stage (rain location: Eppley Auditorium). The public is welcome to attend.

Campus tours will be offered throughout the weekend, beginning at noon-3 p.m. Friday, then 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday. The tours will be on golf carts, led by Morningside staff and students. Sign up for a time here to make sure you have a spot. Campus tour stops include the Morningside greenhouse and Rosen Ag Center outdoor classroom. During tours, staff will host an open house for anyone interested learning more about these additions to campus.

On Friday, the classes of 1999, 1974 and 1964 celebrating their 25th, 50, and 60th reunions will be recognized at the Silver, Gold and Diamond Reunion Dinner in the Helen Leavitt Art Gallery inside Eppley Auditorium. Individuals from those classes can sign up here. For more information, email Alex Watters at wattersa@morningside.edu.

At 7 p.m. Friday, the Morningside University School of Visual and Performing Arts will feature The Morningside Choir, Morningside Wind Ensemble, and M Avenue Jazz, and will recognize their annual CODA Award recipients. The honorees are Paul Adamson, Dr. Kathryn March, and bill russell. After the reception, the reunion classes and CODA Award recipients are invited to dessert in the lobby of Eppley Auditorium. The public is welcome to attend both.

Dr. March is an artist instructor of music at Morningside. She has taught piano, music training, music history, and first-year music theory.

Adamson has been an integral member of the Morningside Visual Arts faculty and instructor in Northwest Iowa for more than 50 years.

russell, a former Morningside student, is an internationally produced author of musicals (Book and Lyrics) and frequent director of them. He was nominated for Tony Awards for the book and lyrics of Side Show.

On Saturday, the Morningside University Dance Team will bring back the Mini-Mustang Dance Clinic for the second consecutive year. The clinic will be held from 9-11 a.m. for K-5 students. Cost is $40 and registered dancers will receive a T-shirt, poms, and free admittance to the football game where they will perform their routine at halftime of the football game. Questions should be directed to Head Dance Coach Erin Baker at bakere@morningside.edu. Registration for the clinic is available by clicking here.

The Mustangs Athletic Department will also host the M-Club Brunch in the Yockey Family Community Room inside Olsen Student Center. Those who will be inducted into the M-Club Hall of Fame include Jim Carver ’66, Mike McCune ’91, Janel (Gillies) Bennett ’94, Mackenzie Neely ’13, Danny Rudeen ’14, and Kyle Schuck ’14. Those who wish to attend the event, please contact Jessica Jones-Sitzmann at 712-274-5223.

The Mustangs football team will play Hastings College at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Elwood Olsen Stadium. Tickets are $10 for adults, $3 for students, and free for Morningside and GPAC students with a college ID. During halftime of the game, the Homecoming Court will be introduced, along with President Dr. Albert Mosley and his wife, Syreeta, and the M-Club honorees. The Mini Mustangs Dance Clinic students will also perform.

Immediately after the game until 7:30 p.m., Morningside will host its annual Taste of Morningside event around the Mason Family Tennis Complex. Vendors confirmed to participate include Patti’s Pit Stop, Brightside, Smash, Jerry’s Pizza, Taqueria El Buen Gusto, Benny’s Dogs, Tastee’s Inn & Out, Bob Roe’s, Palmer Candy Company, and Hardline Coffee Co.

The Taste of Morningside will also feature an Alumni Milestone Tent. This year, the classes celebrated will be 2019, 2014, 2009, 2002, 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1979, 1974, 1969, 1964, 1959, 1954, 1949, 1944, and earlier classes in increments of five years. Anyone from those classes is asked to register here and stop by the tent from 3-6 p.m. to receive a gift and a complimentary drink ticket from Morningside.

On Sunday morning, alumni and friends are invited to the Homecoming Worship service at 10 a.m. in Eppley Auditorium. This will be a shared celebration with Grace United Methodist Church, featuring Morningside student speakers, choirs, and Holy Communion.