Wesleyan Weekend 2022

Join us from September 29 – October 2, 2022, for Wesleyan Weekend, a new twist on our annual Homecoming and Parents’ Weekend! A weekend filled with traditions new and old, Wesleyan Weekend has something to offer for everyone. NWU students, parents, alumni, family, and friends are all welcome and encouraged to attend.

We are in the process of scheduling activities for the weekend, so the information below is subject to change. Please check back often for the latest updates on this year’s planned events.

For questions about Wesleyan Weekend, contact NWU Alumni Relations at alumni [at] nebrwesleyan.edu or (402) 465-2568.

We look forward to seeing you this fall!

Welcome home

As you arrive on campus, stop by our Wesleyan Weekend Welcome Center in the Story Student Center. Pick up your NWU Wesleyan Weekend t-shirt, get event updates and find answers to any questions about the weekend. Alumni Relations can also answer your questions. Just call (402) 465-2568 or email us at alumni [at] nebrwesleyan.edu.

Courtesy golf carts will be available at the Welcome Center during the day on Saturday to assist you on campus.

Welcome center booth hours and locations

Friday, September 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Lobby, Story Student Center
Saturday, October 1, 8:30 a.m. – noon, Lobby, Story Student Center

Dining

Many Wesleyan Weekend events include food. You can also enjoy a convenient meal on campus.

Archway Café Hours (located on the lower level of the Story Student Center)
7:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. (Thursday)
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Friday)
3 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Saturday)
3 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. (Sunday)

Prairie Point Dining Center Hours (located on the upper level of the Story Student Center)
Breakfast: (7:15 a.m. – 11 a.m. Thursday - Friday)
Lunch: (11 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Thursday - Friday)
Dinner: (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Thursday - Friday)

Common Ground Cafe (located on the second floor of the Acklie Hall of Science)
7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Thursday)
7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Friday)
Closed Saturday and Sunday

Show your spirit

Wear your NWU colors with pride on campus. NWU Wesleyan Weekend T-shirts are available to purchase when your register online or by mail (quantities are limited.)

Prairie Wolves Bookstore Hours

Story Student Center

Thursday, September 29, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, September 30, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, October 1, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Lodging options

All NWU Wesleyan Weekend guests may receive special hotel rates at the below establishments. To make a reservation please use the following phrasing—“I would like to make a reservation for NWU Wesleyan Weekend at the Nebraska Wesleyan negotiated rate.” Please book by August 29.

Current Schedule of Events

Check back often for updates for the latest news on this year’s events.

Thursday, September 29

6 p.m.
Legends and Legacies alumni award dinner
Hillcrest Country Club
Main Ballroom
9401 E O Street, Lincoln

Join us for an evening of celebration as the Nebraska Wesleyan Alumni Association honors the achievements of distinguished alumni.

Young Alumni Achievement Award
Phil Bakken ‘13/’16M

Alumni Loyalty Award
Greg Bergt ‘71

Alumni Medal of Honor
Brad Hurrell ‘73 and Peg (Kugler) Hurrell ‘75

Alumni Achievement Award
Charles Lang ‘60

Young Alumni Humanitarian Award
Tyler Richard ‘06

Rosentrater Act of Valor Award
Shelly (Gatzemeyer) Schwedhelm ‘07M

Alumni Humanitarian Award
Kathy Whitmore ‘72

Friday, September 30

11:30 a.m.
50th class reunion luncheon and medallion ceremony
Prairie Wolf A & B, Story Student Center

Join us as we honor the class of 1972. Social time will begin at 11:30. Lunch will be served at noon followed by the medallion ceremony.

1 p.m.
Campus tour for class of 1972

Join your classmates for a behind-the-scenes look at the NWU campus. Golf cart transportation is available.

2 p.m.
“Border Kid”
Learning Commons, Cochrane-Woods Library

Jaime Cano PhD, NWU Assistant Professor of Spanish will speak about growing up in a town in Texas where Spanish is the first language, and the journey that brought him to NWU. NWU students will perform vocal music related to the theme of the oral history exhibit, Coming to the Plains: Latinx Stories of Immigration to Central Nebraska. Make plans to visit the exhibit in the library before or after the presentation to experience this remarkable exhibit visiting NWU for a limited time.

4 p.m.
Wine and Cheese Reception for Faculty and Staff
2nd Floor Airport Lounge, Weary Center

Faculty and staff are invited to a wine and cheese reception hosted by the President’s office. After the reception, stay for the All-Class reunion in Snyder Arena to visit with NWU alumni.

6 p.m.
All-Class reunion
Snyder Arena, Weary Center

Reconnect with classmates and old friends at this special All-Class reunion gathering right on campus! Milestone classes will be recognized and have their photo taken during the reunion. Drinks and heavy appetizers will be provided.

9 p.m.
GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) after hours social
Lincoln’s Pub
4630 Leighton Ave

Join fellow GOLD graduates (alumni from 2012-2022) for an evening of socializing after the all-class reunion. Complimentary drinks and snacks will be provided.

9 p.m.
“Howl Like Hell” pep rally
Abel Stadium

Come watch this fun tradition as students participate in a cheer/dance/spirit competition to kick off their weekend celebration. The 2022 Platinum Prairie Wolf honorees will be announced.

Saturday, October 1

9 a.m.
Athletic Hall of Fame induction and breakfast
Snyder Arena, Weary Center

Hear the stories and honor the achievements of these outstanding alumni athletes as we celebrate the 2022 inductees during the annual awards breakfast.

Summer Allen-Portsche (’01), women’s basketball
Thor Esbensen (’01), cross country and men’s track and field
Lynette (Baker) Helms (’97), women’s soccer
Luke Klinker (’03), football and baseball
Troy Longe (’02), football
Clinton Solano (’96), baseball
Alex Linden (’03), Spirit of the Plainsman Award

9 a.m.
Fraternity and Sorority open houses

9:30 a.m.
Phi Mu alumnae brunch
Sunflower Room, Story Student Center

Join fellow Phi Mu alumnae for conversation and a light brunch. Please RSVP by September 16 to Shalla Young at 402-483-2121

9:30 a.m.
Campus tour
Lobby, Story Student Center

Take a walk down memory lane as you tour NWU’s historic campus. Led by current NWU students and staff, tour stops include visits to places new and old, including the recently-constructed Acklie Hall of Science! Golf cart transportation will be available.

11 a.m.
Family picnic and carnival
Taylor Commons

Join us for an old-fashioned picnic and carnival. This family-friendly event features free food, inflatables, and games!

11 a.m.
Outdoor Yoga
North Lawn, Cochrane-Woods Library

Join members of the NWU yoga club for an all-ages yoga class led by certified yoga teacher and mindfulness instructor, Dr. Karla Jensen. Mats will be available, or you may bring your own.

1 p.m.
Football vs. Central College
Abel Stadium
Students: $3; Adults: $6 (Pay at the door)

Come cheer on the Prairie Wolves as they take on the Dutch. The halftime show includes a performance by NWU’s dance team, recognition of the Hall of Fame inductees, and introduction of the 2022 Platinum Prairie Wolf honorees.

1:30 p.m.
Bingo on the green
Taylor Commons

Join us after the picnic and carnival for bingo on the green from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Complete with snacks and prizes. Open to all NWU students, families and alumni.

4:30 p.m.
Music showcase concert featuring students and alumni
O’Donnell Auditorium, Rogers Center for Fine Arts

Enjoy an evening full of vocal music at the music showcase. Alumni are invited to perform. If you’d like to participate, please contact Tom Trenney, Assistant Professor of Music, at tomtrenney [at] gmail.comrel="noreferrer".

5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Soccer vs. Coe College
Abel Stadium

Catch a soccer double header and cheer on the Prairie Wolves as they take on the Kohawks. The men’s game begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the women’s game at 8 p.m.

Students: $3; adults: $6 (Pay at the gate.)

6 p.m.
Theatre pre-show reception
Miller Theatre, Elder Theatre Center

Join us for complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres and get a sneak peek at our plans for what’s next for the Elder Theatre Center renovation project.

7 p.m.
Movie night
Olin B Lecture Hall, Olin Hall

Spend an evening at the movies! First feature begins at 7 p.m. with a second feature to follow at approximately 9 p.m. Open to all NWU students, families and alumni. Complimentary snacks will be provided.

Sunday, October 2

8:30/10:45 a.m.
Communion worship services
First United Methodist Church
2723 N 50th Street

Recurring Events

Art Exhibition “Salamander”
Elder Gallery, Rogers Center for Fine Arts

September 29 – 30, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
October 1 – 2, 1 – 4 p.m.

Salamander examines contemporary artists who make a material of the trash stratum of American culture. Movies, illustration, advertisements, children’s paperbacks, and other flotsam and jetsam of American media is routinely put through a gauntlet of mutation online through a proliferation of posting and image macros, oftentimes revealing thorny social and ideological residue through this memetic crucible. As methods of delivering content diversify and multiply, there is now more than ever an endless bumper crop of inherited images for artists to manage, analyze, synthesize, and perhaps expurgate through the process of making.

History Exhibition “Coming to the Plains: Latinx Stories of Immigration to Central Nebraska”
Learning Commons, Cochrane-Woods Library

“Coming to the Plains: Latinx Stories of Immigration to Central Nebraska” uses oral histories to explore the experiences of Latinx immigrants to central Nebraska. Participants from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic discuss how and why they came to the area, what challenges they’ve faced, and more. Coming to the Plains will be on view at NWU Cochrane-Woods Library from September 28, 2022 through March 20, 2023.

September 29 - 30, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
October 1, noon – 6 p.m.
October 2, noon - midnight

Theatre Production “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
McDonald Theatre, Elder Theatre Center

Purchase tickets online at www.nebrwesleyan.edu/theatre-tickets, call (402) 465-2384 or visit the box office between 3-5 pm, Monday – Saturday

Thursday September 29 – Friday September 30, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 1, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 2, 2 p.m.