The highlight of the weekend is the dedication of Bruggeworth Field at the Ralston Athletic Complex on Oct. 5
Wilkes University will welcome alumni back to campus for the 2019 Homecoming weekend. The event, held Oct. 4 to 6, celebrates old friends, new memories and exciting campus improvements.
The weekend will be highlighted by two dedications. At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, Bruggeworth Field at the Ralston Athletic Complex will be formally dedicated. The nearly $8 million project includes a multi-purpose turf field that will be used for men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse and women’s field hockey. It also includes a new turf baseball field, a scoreboard, press boxes and stadium lights for evening competition.
The project was made possible by a leadership gift from Bob Bruggeworth, class of 1983. Bruggeworth, who majored in electrical engineering at Wilkes, is president and chief executive officer of Qorvo, a global communications chip maker headquartered in Greensboro, N.C. During his time at Wilkes, he played on the men’s soccer team as goalkeeper. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of business during the University’s spring commencement on May 18. He is establishing Bruggeworth Field in honor of his mother.
At 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, the engineering flex-lab in the Mark Engineering Center will be dedicated in honor of the late Umid Nejib. Nejib, the founding dean of the School of Science and Engineering and professor of electrical engineering, joined Wilkes in 1965 and died in July 2002. Later in his career, he laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. The dedication will take place in the Mark Engineering Center on the first floor of Stark Learning Center.
Throughout Homecoming weekend, Wilkes will host an online auction. Participants can text the word ‘Wilkes’ to 243-725 to bid on items and raise funds for Wilkes athletic programs.
Other homecoming highlights include:
Friday, Oct. 4
- Pints with Professors: 5 to 8 p.m. at the Karambelas Gateway. Attendees can share a few memories and drinks with their favorite professors. Communications studies, business, education, earth and environmental sciences, political science and psychology alumni and faculty will hold their reunions here. The event will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of Zebra Communications, the university’s student-run public relations agency.
Saturday, Oct. 5
- Tailgate Tent: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Many reunion groups will gather here, including classes ending in 4s and 9s, the A-List, and Golden Horde.
- Football game vs. Alvernia University: 1 p.m. at Ralston Athletic Complex.
- Twist & Stout” downtown bar tour: 7 to 10 p.m. Departing from the UCOM lobby, participants will sample different bars on South Main Street.
