News
Dalton State Invites Community to ‘Paint Town Blue and Silver'
01/10/17
“Paint the Town Blue and Silver” is the theme of Dalton State’s fourth annual homecoming celebration which will feature a downtown parade that community members are invited to join.
The red hot Roadrunners men’s basketball team will face the Mariners of College of Coastal Georgia Saturday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m.; the Homecoming parade will be Thursday, Jan. 19 at 5:30.
Homecoming activities are the first of a yearlong schedule of events commemorating Dalton State’s 50th anniversary.
“If you were a student or graduate of Dalton Junior College, Dalton College, or Dalton State; if you ever worked at the College as a faculty member or staff; or if you’re just a friend of the College or a Roadrunners fan, then we hope you will join us to help us celebrate homecoming,” said Dr. Margaret Venable, president.
Special events on homecoming day include the third annual Hoops for Higgins alumni versus faculty basketball game in Bandy Gymnasium at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door, and all proceeds benefit the Spence Higgins, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund at Dalton State. Legendary Roadrunners men’s basketball coach Melvyn Ottinger will be the honorary coach for the alumni team. In 1968 Higgins was elected the College’s first student body president.
“We invite everyone who enjoys a good game, who knew Spence, or who wants to support scholarships for our students to join us for Hoops for Higgins,” said David Elrod, director of the Dalton State Foundation which is responsible for the College’s alumni relations and co-hosts the benefit basketball game along with the Campus Recreation department.
There will be a reception for all guests at 2:30 p.m. on the lower level of the newly-renovated Pope Student Center. All are invited to stop by, enjoy light refreshments and mingle with their fellow Roadrunners. The new and improved Student Center includes renovated and expanded areas for student dining, gathering, and gaming. The Dean of Students’ offices are located in Pope as is the Birdfeeder, a free food pantry serving Dalton State students.
At 4 p.m. the action moves to the Dalton Convention Center where the Roadrunner basketball team, currently 12-1 and ranked ninth in the NAIA, will play against College of Coastal Georgia. General admission tickets for the game are $13 at the Convention Center.
The Homecoming Court will be presented at halftime. Among the nominees for Homecoming Queen, King, Princess and Prince are Marlen Hernandez Garcia, Autumn Hooten, Roniqua Wright, and Meghan O’Toole. Also on the court are Maria Gonzalez, Laurely Caycho, Selena Martinez, Natalie Espinoza Hensley, and Leslie Sue Elrod. Other court members include Raven Braud, Diego Alvardo Ruiz, Quanah Zach Fields, Max England, Cillin Burriss, and Jake Bryant.
The celebration ends with a dance for students.
Homecoming Day festivities will be preceded with a parade downtown on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. Registered Student Organizations from Dalton State will sponsor floats, and community groups wishing to include a float in the parade are welcome to do so. They should contact deanofstudents@daltonstate.edu to enter their float. There is no entry fee.
Other campus events commemorating the week will include a window and door decorating contest, a t-shirt swap, fireside chat at the Mashburn Hall firepit featuring Dalton State history as shared by David Elrod and Nancy Whaley of the Dalton State Foundation’s Alumni Council. There will be a chili cook-off on campus and craft projects as well as a service project at Dalton’s Friendship House preschool and daycare.