Homecoming 2006 kicks off with Nov. 9 parade

Published or Revised September 26, 2006

Homecoming 2006 at Paris Junior College will bring together some former singers and former classes, and herald the naming of a husband and wife as Distinguished Alumni of the college. The annual celebration will begin on Nov. 9 with a 4 p.m. parade and will resume on Nov. 10 with the President's Reception and end on Nov. 11 with the Lady Dragons and Dragons basketball games. Jack Ellison and Virginia Paty Ellison, who met and dated at PJC and later married, will be the recipients of the Distinguished Alumni awards that will be presented at the awards luncheon on Nov. 11. The Madrigal Singers, a popular PJC singing group that performed throughout the country under the direction of the late instructor Charles Stephens from 1971 to 1980, will reunite during the homecoming weekend. Returning members of the Madrigal Singers will hold their reunion at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 in the Mayer Music Building. They will perform during the noon awards luncheon on Saturday. The Class of 1956 will celebrate its 50th reunion during the weekend. Betty Clement, representing the class, said they are inviting the classes of 1955 and 1957 to join them in the Student Center at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Friday activities will begin with the President's Reception at 6 p.m. in the Student Center. It will be followed by the Madrigal Singers reunion at 7 p.m. The PJC Drama Department will present its opening performance of "Songs for a New World" at 7:30 p.m. in the Ray Karrer Theatre. Tickets will be available at the door. Saturday will begin with a business meeting of the PJC Alumni and Friends Association and continental breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Student Center. Registration will continue at 10 a.m. A special Veteran's Day ceremony will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. on the front lawn and conclude at the Veteran's Memorial Monument in front of the campus. Following the noon awards luncheon, the classes of 1978 through 1983 will have a reunion in the Student Center cafeteria. A matinee performance of "Songs for a New World" will begin at 2:30 p.m. The Lady Dragon basketball team will open evening activities at 6 p.m. with a game against Ranger Junior College. The Dragons will face Ranger in an 8 p.m. game. During halftime, the Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned.