Northwest celebrating ‘A Bearcat Homecoming ... Now Showing’

Northwest celebrating 'A Bearcat Homecoming … Now Showing'

Northwest Missouri State University's annual Homecoming celebration returns Oct. 25-31 with activities and events planned for students, employees, alumni and friends of the University.

The celebration begins Sunday, Oct. 25, with the hanging of the banners at the J.W. Jones Student Union and concludes Saturday, Oct. 31, with the Homecoming football game. Highlights include the Homecoming parade, Bell of '48 ringing, Variety Show, International Flag-Raising Ceremony and the 50th-year reunion for the Class of 1976.   

Additional details about all Homecoming activities are available at https://www.nwmissouri.edu/homecoming, or by contacting 660.562.1226 or [email protected].

This year's theme, "Now Showing ... A Bearcat Homecoming," celebrates Northwest traditions in conjunction with the spirit of classic Halloween movies and TV shows.

"It's important for students and alumni to get involved in Homecoming," Director of Student Involvement Faith Thompson said. "It allows students to be part of something that's bigger than themselves and work towards something with their student organization. For alumni, it allows them to honor their alma mater and support the organizations they were involved in."

Northwest's 2026 Homecoming Executive Board consists of Anna Clark, a junior biology and psychology major from Liberty, Missouri; Sam Young, a mass media and broadcast production major from Platte City, Missouri; Kelsey Tallman, a senior public relations major from Glenwood, Missouri; and Caroline Utz, a junior elementary education major from Gower, Missouri.  

Homecoming parade

The annual Homecoming parade begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at the corner of Ray and College Avenue. It proceeds east on Fourth Street and ends at Main Street. It traditionally features more than 100 entries, including marching bands and floats sponsored by campus and community organizations and businesses. 

Mark Rosewell, the head coach of Northwest men's and women's tennis teams, will serve as the Homecoming grand marshal. He began his coaching tenure at Northwest in 1984 and has amassed more than 1,300 career victories to go with 29 MIAA Coach of the Year awards. His teams have collected 30 MIAA regular-season championships and made 45 NCAA tournament appearances.

Additionally, Northwest alumni are invited to the Homecoming Welcome prior to the parade at 8 a.m. at the Michael L. Faust Center for Alumni and Friends. Alumni representing the classes of 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 are encouraged to visit the Faust Center or the Bearcat Zone tailgate in College Park to pick up their commemorative Homecoming button and reunion year ribbon. 

Athletic events

The annual M-Club Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom. This year's individual inductees are Trevor Adams (football), Maddy Bruder (volleyball), John Coffey (Bearcat Radio Network), Ben McCollum (former men's basketball head coach), Justin Pitts (basketball) and Kim Spriggs (track and field) as well as the 2016-17 men's basketball team. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased online by contacting Brenda Lutz, Northwest's assistant athletic director for business and finance, by email at [email protected] or phone at 660.562.1977.  

All fans are invited after the conclusion of the Homecoming parade to the Bearcat Zone at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion to enjoy tailgate activities before the football game. Admission to the Bearcat Zone is free, and a meal is available to purchase.  

Then, the Bearcat football team will face Emporia State University in the annual Homecoming football game, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Bearcat Stadium. Tickets may be purchased online at www.bearcatsports.com/tickets.

Other Bearcat athletic contests during the week include the soccer team hosting Rogers State at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, and Missouri Western at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, both at Bearcat Pitch. The volleyball team welcomes Northeastern State at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, in Bearcat Arena. 

Other activities and entertainment

Student organizations will compete in the Donation Creation Contest on Sunday, Oct. 25, at J.W. Jones Student Union. The displays will remain in the Student Union until Sunday, Nov. 1, and canned items used during the contest are donated to Northwest's Bearcat Food Pantry and Maryville Ministry Center. Individuals also may vote for the People's Choice Award by leaving donated canned goods at their favorite display; those cans will be donated to Bearcat Pantry as well.

Student organizations also will participate in the annual banner decorating contest, a long-standing Northwest tradition that rewards banners with the most original expression of Bearcat pride and the year's Homecoming theme. Student organizations will begin hanging their banners at noon on Sunday, Oct. 25.

The annual Homecoming Variety Show is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, in the Mary Linn Auditorium at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts and features an array of individuals and student organizations performing skits and musical acts. Tickets will be sold for $5 at https://www.nwmissouri.edu/homecoming/. 

The Homecoming king and queen will be announced at the conclusion of the Homecoming Variety Show. Undergraduate students may vote for Homecoming royalty candidates, beginning at midnight Wednesday, Oct. 14, and voting ends at midnight Wednesday, Oct. 28. 

Walkout Day, the Northwest tradition of canceling all classes during the Friday of Homecoming week, is Friday, Oct. 30. Walkout Day activities include the Ringing of the Bell of '48 at 8 a.m. and the annual International Flag-Raising Ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Joyce and Harvey White International Plaza. The Student Activities Council also will distribute Walkout Day T-shirts and other items, beginning at 7 a.m. in the Student Union, while supplies last. 

Northwest Homecoming history

Homecoming at Northwest is a week-long celebration each fall that features athletic events, entertainment and other opportunities for community members to show their Bearcat spirit.

The school's first general Homecoming took place Oct. 10, 1924, in conjunction with an annual district teachers' meeting at Northwest. The weekend included a Friday evening social gathering at the Nodaway County Courthouse, the Bearcat football game on Saturday and a dance that evening in the Administration Building gymnasium.

In 1941, Northwest selected its first Homecoming queen. During the second half of the decade, Homecoming became an annual event on the campus, and several of the institution's modern-day traditions were born. The Variety Show and house decorations were added to the festivities while the parade grew to include more marching bands, large floats, jalopies and clowns. The weekend ended with a Homecoming dance featuring big bands.

On the Friday of Homecoming week, all classes are canceled and students participate in a variety of activities on the campus. The tradition dates back to Oct. 22, 1915, when students walked out of classes and declared the day an unscheduled holiday. Early Walkout Days featured all-school picnics and hikes. In 1977, after an absence of several years, the University reestablished Walkout Day and set it as an annual event on the Friday of Homecoming week