One non-football highlight of Homecoming Weekend this year at Fort Hays State University will be the re-dedication of Picken Hall at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Picken Hall reopened this summer as home to the Registrar, Academic Advising and Career Exploration, Financial Assistance, Student Fiscal Services, the Graduate School, and the Kelly Center. The convenience of the new site includes spaces reserved for visitors in the new parking lot directly across Park Street.
The first building constructed on the Fort Hays State University campus, the center portion of Picken Hall was completed in 1904, two years after the Western Branch of the Kansas State Normal School, as the university was then known, opened in three buildings on the abandoned military post. The cost of the new building was $20,000.
A wing to the north and one to the south were completed in 1908. Academic Hall would later be named for Principal William S. Picken, the school’s first leader.
The building remained basically unchanged until May 22, 1951, when a severe flood caused extensive damage to the campus. Despite a recommendation by the state architect to replace it as soon as possible, it was repaired and renovated. In 1998, construction was completed on a new tower at the south end of the building to provide an elevator and other ADA improvements, including accessible restrooms. Special attention was given to preserving the exterior character of the building.
An earlier cupola had been removed from the roof of Picken Hall in the 1950s because of persistent problems with leaks. A new cupola was added as part of the university’s activities leading to the Centennial in 2002.
And now, with a $6 million investment and a vision for what can be, the renovated and repurposed Picken Hall has been reborn as the site for just about anything a future or current FHSU student could need.
“This sort of welcome center was needed now more than ever in the competitive climate of college recruiting,” said Dr. Joey Linn, associate vice president for student affairs and registrar.
FHSU President Edward H. Hammond; U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R.-Hays; Dr. Tisa Mason, vice president for student affairs; and Tyler Hughes, president of the Student Government Association, will speak at the ceremony.
But Homecoming is also about football and reunions, food and dancing.
A complete schedule of event for Homecoming 2010. Advance registration is required. Contact 785-628-4430, or go to the website www.goforthaysstate.com/homecoming2010.
Thursday, Sept. 30
Tiger Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament-8 a.m. Registration, 9:30 a.m. shotgun start, Smoky Hill Country Club, 3303 Hall.
Exhibit Opening, Jerry Choate Photography 6-7 p.m. Sternberg Museum of Natural History; Tiger Bonfire and Pep Rally 7 p.m., Robbins Center (east lawn) -- live music provided by Brown Bag; snake dance from residential halls to Robbins; band, cheerleaders and football players will join in at corner of College and Gustad Drives. 7:30 p.m., Robbins Center (east lawn) -- pep rally, bonfire, music, coaches to speak, alumni awardees to be announced; FHSU Musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” 7:30 p.m; Felten-Start Theatre, Malloy Hall.
Friday, Oct. 1
Homecoming Registration 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Memorial Union; Half Century Club Luncheon and Induction 10 a.m., Facebook session, Memorial Union, 11 a.m., social, noon, luncheon, Memorial Union; Class of 1960 will be inducted into HCC; Class of 1950 will also be recognized; Campus tours 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Memorial Union; Oktoberfest 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Frontier Park, South Main Street; FHSU Tiger Alumni & Friends Tent 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Oktoberfest, Frontier Park, South Main Street; Sigma Phi Epsilon gathering 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Frontier Park, South Main Street; Alumni Awards Reception and Banquet 6 p.m., social; 7 p.m., banquet; Memorial Union; FHSU Baseball Reunion 7 p.m., Larks Park, West Fourth; Student Government Association Reunion 7 p.m., Rooftops, 1200 Main, sixth floor; Dominic Flask Exhibition “Process” & opening reception 7-9 p.m., Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art, Rarick Hall; Delta Zeta Sorority 85th anniversary celebration! 7-10 p.m., 8 p.m. - program and group pictures, Memorial Union; Alpha Gamma Delta Chapter Social 7-10 p.m., Precision Valley, 1500 W. 27th; FHSU Musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” 7:30 pm; Felten-Start Theatre, Malloy Hall.
Saturday Oct. 2
Homecoming registration 8 a.m.-noon, Robbins Center; Class of 1950 and 1960 reunion breakfast 8:30 a.m., breakfast; 11:45 a.m., board parade entry, Memorial Union; 5K Tiger Fun Run/Walk 8:30 a.m., Robbins Center; Picken Hall re-dedication ceremony 10 a.m., Picken Hall, Campus; Alpha Gamma Delta brunch & open house 10 a.m., AGD House, 409 W. Eighth Street; Sigma Alpha Epsilon reunion -- 10-year anniversary 10 a.m., brunch, Memorial Union, noon, parade entry, SAE house, 304 W. Seventh; “Tea with DZ” open house & parade entry 10-11:30 a.m., open house; noon, 410 West Sixth; Art exhibit: Dominic Flask Exhibition “Process” 10 a.m.-noon, Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art, Rarick Hall; Alumni baseball game 11 a.m., Larks Park, West Fourth; Homecoming Parade 1 p.m., Main Street, Downtown Hays;mLeader/Reveille/University Relations Reunion (past and current employees)
2:30-5:30 p.m., Robbins Center, Eagle Hall; Office of Admissions reunion -- past and current employees 3-6 p.m., Tiger Alley Tailgate outside of Lewis Field Stadium; The 2010 Gospel Extravaganza 3-5 p.m., Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, FHSU Campus;m Lewis Field Pioneer Reception 5-7 p.m., east side of Lewis Field Stadium, Tiger Friends & Family Picnic 4-7 p.m., chicken dinner with all the trimmings, live music by Warm Guns, east side of Lewis Field Stadium; Tiger Letter Winner’s Association (formerly K-Club) 5 p.m., Grid Iron Club, inside of Lewis Field Stadium at the southwest corner; FHSU vs. Washburn University football game 6 p.m., pre-game ceremonies; 7 p.m., game time, Lewis Field Stadium; Delta Zeta Turtle Tug Halftime, south end of Lewis Field Stadium; Delta Sigma Phi Carnation Ball 6, 7 & 8 p.m., social, dinner, dance, Fox Pavilion, 1202 Main; Baseball reunion social 7 p.m., The Golden Q, 809 Ash.
Sunday, Oct. 3
Baseball Alumni/Parent 4-Person Scramble 10 a.m., Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course, 1450 Golf Course Road; FHSU Musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” 2:30 pm; Felten-Start Theatre, Malloy Hall.