Northwestern to host Raider Nation Homecoming Celebration

Northwestern College will hold Raider Nation Celebration, the college’s annual Homecoming Weekend, Sept. 17-18. The weekend’s events include class reunions, banquets, athletic events and traditions such as the Red Raider Road Race and Morning on the Green carnival.

At 10:05 Friday morning, Olivia Holt Iekel will speak in chapel. Iekel, a 2014 Northwestern College graduate, serves as a Reformed Church in America missionary in Nicaragua.

The dedication of the Frank and Lois Vogel Welcome Center, which houses the college admissions, financial aid and marketing offices, will take place at 4:30 p.m. Tours of the new facility will follow.

Friday evening, Northwestern will host its Celebration Banquet, an event that recognizes the generosity of donors and the achievements of students. All Northwestern supporters are invited to attend the banquet, which begins in the Rowenhorst Student Center with appetizers at 5:30 p.m. Complimentary tickets will be available at the door for those who received invitations, but invitees should also RSVP. Others may attend at a cost of $15 per person. Email events@nwciowa.edu or call 712-707-7134 by Sept. 10 to reserve a seat.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, Raider Nation Celebration continues with the annual Red Raider Road Race. Visit nwciowa.edu/raider-road-race for registration details. Red Raider alumni games will include baseball at the NWC/MOC-Floyd Valley baseball diamond at 9:30 a.m. and softball at the NWC/MOC-Floyd Valley softball diamond at 10 a.m.

From 10 a.m. to noon, Morning on the Green will take place on the campus green. The family-friendly carnival will include games and prizes with proceeds to support student clubs and organizations. Also at 10, members of the reunion classes of 1970, ’71, ’80 and ’81 can check in at the Ramaker Center for information and campus tours.

A tailgate picnic lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus green. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 10; children five and under eat free. Space for the reunion classes of 1970, ’71, ’80 and ’81 will be reserved under the tailgate tent.

Raider Nation Celebration’s Saturday events will also include the Athletic Awards Luncheon honoring Hall of Fame inductees and athletic award winners, as well as an evening banquet to celebrate the 2021 distinguished alumni: Dr. Bob Boerigter, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Donna (Heerspink) Bunce, Zeeland, Michigan; Dr. Michael Holm, Ovid, Michigan; Karen (De Boer) Woudstra and Dr. Earl Woudstra, Orange City.

The Red Raider football team will kick off against Doane University at 1:30 p.m. Students’ parents can get into the game for free with their student’s ID. During halftime, the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award winners will be recognized, and the dance team will perform. The women’s and men’s soccer teams will play Briar Cliff University at 5 and 7:15 p.m., respectively.

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