Southeast Homecoming events planned; merit award winners announced

Southeast Missouri State University's annual Homecoming celebration will be held this weekend as the university celebrates this year's theme: "We Are One."

"When our alumni come back to campus, they invariably discover that even though we are many, we are also one in our shared experiences, traditions and overall spirit of Southeast," said Southeast's director of Alumni Relations Jay Wolz in a statement.

Festivities have been going on all week, including a Homecoming Talent Show on Tuesday and Field Day on Thursday, but the highlights will begin Friday.

The current school year marks the 10th anniversary of the University's River Campus, which will be open to visitor and alumni tours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Later Friday afternoon, the university's Alumni Association will honor seven alumni with the annual Merit Awards.

Recipients include:

• Teresa Mosley Dirks, a Kansas City, Missouri-based artist whose art will also be on display all week around the campus
• Jerry Durham, chancellor of Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa
• Janet Perez Eckles, an author, speaker and radio host
• William Gamewell, a manager of Commerce Bank's Commercial Real Estate Department in St. Louis and former Federal Reserve bank examiner
• Pamela Macke Johnson, a criminalist supervisor and forensic scientist with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E Crime Laboratory
• Pamela McClune, a retired compliance manager with the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and retired attorney and U.S. Navy captain with the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy Reserve
• Pernell Witherspoon, an associate professor of criminal justice at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, and founder of a criminal justice and community consulting group

Julie Ray, chair of Southeast's Department of Elementary, Early and Special Education since 2011 also will be awarded the Faculty Merit Award during the ceremony.

On Saturday morning, the annual Homecoming Parade will run from Capaha Park down Broadway and south on Main Street to Independence Street. The parade will run from 9 to 10 a.m., at which time tailgating will begin in front of Houck Stadium for the Southeast Redhawks' football game against the Jacksonville State at 1 p.m.

At halftime, the university's Man and Woman of the Year will be announced.

For event registration, tickets or a complete listing of the Homecoming festivities, visit semo.edu/homecoming.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627