OBU hosts “The Weekend” Homecoming events 

Zoe Charles 

News Editor 

Oct. 21-23 OBU hosted The Weekend, which aims to integrate current and former students through a series of community-building activities and events. According to the OBU website, The Weekend 2021 featured the following events: 

Thursday, October 21 

•  Pastors Conference | Geiger Center 218-220 at 3:30 p.m. 

• Featuring Dr. Hance Dilbeck, Dr. Todd Fisher and Dr. Heath A. Thomas  

•  Women of Vision Dinner | Cargill Advancement and Alumni Center at 6 p.m. 

Friday, October 22 

• Preview Day – Preview Day offers a look at life on Bison Hill for prospective students. They’ll be exploring the campus and engaging with current students. If you have the opportunity, tell them what Bison Hill means to you!  
• Family Weekend – The families of our freshman have been invited to experience The Weekend! There’s not a better time to show them the love and energy found on Bison Hill.  
• Pastors Conference | Stavros Hall 214 at 8 a.m. 
• OBU Men’s Basketball Golf Tournament | Shawnee Country Club at 8 a.m. 

• Class Reunion Luncheons | Geiger Center at 11:30 a.m. 

• Class of 1970 & 1971 Golden Anniversary | GC 218-220 
• 50 Year Club Reunion Luncheon | GC 214-215 

• Worship Service | Stubblefield Chapel at 2 p.m. 
• Mortar Board Reunion | WMU Lobby at 3 p.m. 

• Harvest Dinner | Geiger Center at 6 p.m. 
• Musical Gala | Raley Chapel, Potter Auditorium at 8 p.m. 
• Olde Fashioned Ice Cream Social | Geiger Center, Café on the Hill at 9:30 p.m. 
• Bison Basketball vs. USAO | Noble Complex at 5 p.m. 

Saturday, October 23 

• Bison Stampede 5K | Recreation and Wellness Center starting at 7 a.m. 
• Group Reunions: 

• Theta Breakfast | WMU East lawn at 7 – 10 a.m. 
• ODK Breakfast | GC 214 at 9:30 a.m. 
• School of Nursing Reunion | Stavros at 9:30 a.m. 

• Science & Math Reunion | Wood at 9:30 a.m.  
• Residential Halls Open House | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.  
• Music Reunion | RC 203 at 10:30 a.m. 

• Disc Golf Club Open Tournament | OBU Disc Golf Course at 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.  
• Alumni Decade Reunions BBQ | Oval at 12 p.m. 

• Alumni are invited to enjoy a BBQ lunch (ticket required) and an afternoon of live music, lawn games, and the Art on the Hill Festival on Saturday afternoon. Decade reunions (70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s) will gather in designated areas as we enjoy the fall weather on our beautiful Bison Hill.     

• Art on the Hill Festival | Oval from 12 – 4 p.m. 
• 1991 Glee Club Spectacular viewing | Ford Music Hall Rehearsal Room at 2 p.m. 
• McCabe Family Ribbon Cutting and Dedication | Shawnee Hall, Craig-Dorland Theatre at 2 p.m. 
• HoCo Walk | Oval to Intramural Fields starting at 3:45 p.m. 

• Featuring deco boards painted by students themed “Traditions and Icons”; alumni will vote on their favorites and awards will be given at half-time of the football game. 

• The Weekend: Tailgate | Intramural Fields 4 – 6 p.m. 
• Bison Football vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State | Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Memorial Track Complex and Bison Football Field at 6 p.m. 

The events were very successful, drawing many current and former students. When asked what she enjoyed about OBU’s The Weekend, junior family science major Grace Fairlie said, “I loved seeing people of all ages on campus throughout the week! It was remarkable to see how deep the OBU roots run on our campus.” 

On the same topic junior JMAS major Vicki Coolidge said, “I enjoyed getting to see campus full of energy as students, alumni, and parents came together for games and lots of fun events! I begged my parents to come down, and I’m so glad they did!” 

Sophomore musical arts major Gannon Dubin said, “I enjoyed seeing all of the alumni reconnecting!” 

When asked if they visited with any alumni, Fairlie said, “I talked to one of my alumni friends, Jana Satzler. It was good to hear about how she still is connected to the OBU community and I enjoyed hearing about how fondly she looks back at her time here. She was a big reason why I chose OBU, so it was cool to see her enthusiasm continue even after graduation.” 

Coolidge said, “My old Awana teacher is actually an OBU alumni! It was such a coincidence that I ended up going to the same school as her. She happened to move to Shawnee my freshman year of college, and we’ve gotten to connect many times! I got to listen to her reminisce, and hear how she made lifelong friends!” 

Dubin said, “I got to talk to people of all ages that were music majors as well and got to listen to their stories about their time at OBU!” 

In addition to the student/alumni experience, students were encouraged to invite family to visit. Coolidge’s parents came up to campus and she shared her excitement on the fact. 

Coolidge said, “I wanted to invite my parents to campus because I knew it would be such a fun time and I wanted them to experience it with me! OBU is such a special place and I’m so thankful that I get to go to such an amazing school! Zip bang!” 

For more information on The Weekend visit okbu.edu