Northwestern College to host Raider Days Homecoming and Family Weekend

Northwestern College will celebrate Raider Days, the college’s annual Homecoming and Parents Weekend, Sept. 30–Oct. 1, with reunions, celebratory banquets, and traditions such as the Red Raider Road Race and Morning on the Green carnival as well as Red Raider football.

During Raider Days, eight classes (2016, 2011, 2006, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1976 and 1966) will celebrate reunions at a Saturday tailgate picnic on campus. A Saturday afternoon reunion is also being held for alumni who participated in Spring Service Project trips to Amsterdam’s Shelter Youth Hostels and Calvary Commission in Lindale, Texas.

Alumni baseball, softball, men’s basketball, and men’s and women’s soccer games will be played in athletic venues around campus. Former Red Raiders are invited to contact athletic department assistant Kara Smit, kara.smit@nwciowa.edu or 712-707-7280, to participate.

Northwestern will host its annual Legacy Celebration Banquet Friday night to honor milestone givers to the college. Saturday’s celebration will include a luncheon for seven 2016 Hall of Fame inductees and an evening banquet to celebrate this year’s distinguished alumni: Sheila (Born ’94) De Jong, Sioux Center; Junko (Hirasawa ’70) Nagao, Tokyo, Japan; and Glenn Van Ekeren ’74, Elkhorn, Neb.

Raider Days events open to everyone on Saturday, Oct. 1, start with the 23rd annual Red Raider Road Race at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is $25/runner and $15/walker; cost is $30 the day of the race. Visit nwciowa.edu/raider-road-race for registration details.

From 10 a.m. to noon, enjoy Morning on the Green in the center of campus. The carnival will include games and prizes; proceeds support student clubs and organizations. At 10 a.m., students’ parents can check in and receive a schedule of the day’s events at the Ramaker Center, and alumni are invited to enjoy refreshments with emeriti faculty and staff in Ramaker Center’s Fireside Room.

A tailgate picnic lunch will be served on the campus green from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for kids ages 6 to 10; children five and under eat free. The Raider football team will kick off against Hastings at 1:30 p.m. on Korver Field.

C.S. Lewis’ beloved classic, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” takes the DeWitt Theatre stage at 4 p.m. (There also is a showing at 7 p.m. Friday night.) Tickets for either performance are free for alumni and can be reserved at nwciowa.edu/tickets starting Sept. 20. Day-of-show tickets will also be available at the door.

The Northwestern College music department will present a free concert at 7 p.m. in Christ Chapel, followed by a reception for the parents of students involved in music at Northwestern.

All alumni and friends of Northwestern as well as students’ family members are invited to Raider Days. For more information, visit nwciowa.edu/raider-days, or contact the Raider Days event staff at 712-707-7134 or events@nwciowa.edu.