Registration Underway for Featured Events During “The Weekend” Oct. 13-15 at OBU

September 29, 2022

OBU welcomes family, friends, alumni and the community-at-large for its annual celebration of The Weekend Oct. 13-15 on the university’s campus in Shawnee. Many of the activities require advance registration and online registration is available on the OBU alumni website.

The Weekend festivities kick off Thursday evening with the Pastors Conference, which runs through Friday morning and features guest speakers Dr. Todd Fisher, Dr. O.S. Hawkins and Dr. Tom Elliff. A free fish fry dinner, sponsored by GuideStone, is scheduled for Thursday evening. Also taking place Thursday evening is OBU’s Women of Vision dinner and annual meeting at the Cargill Advancement and Alumni Center. Members, potential members and guests are invited to attend and learn about the mission of the organization and the impact WOV is having on campus. Reservation deadline for the Women of Vision event is Oct. 6.

Prospective students and their families are encouraged to register for Bison Day, coming Friday, Oct. 14. Bison Day is facilitated through the OBU Office of Admissions and offers attendees the chance to tour campus, explore academic program areas, meet current students and learn about life on Bison Hill.

Current students and their families will find many events tied to Family Weekend during The Weekend. These events include Smores at the Halls on Friday evening, a time of worship and fellowship with OBU faculty as well as residential hall tours Saturday morning, and the BBQ lunch on the Oval held Saturday at noon.

Other highlights on Friday include traditional homecoming activities like the 50+ Club Luncheon honoring the Class of 1972, the worship service at historic Stubblefield Chapel, Harvest Dinner, Musical Gala and Ice Cream Social. The Harvest Dinner, beginning at 6 p.m., will honor individuals receiving the Alumni Achievement, Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) and Profile in Excellence awards. Tickets are required for the dinner and must be purchased in advance.

The Musical Gala spotlights performances by OBU’s University Chorale, Bisonettes, Bison Glee Club, University Ringers and Symphonic Winds. The Ice Cream Social will follow at Café on the Hill in the Geiger Center.

On Saturday, a variety of morning activities will take place including the Bison Stampede 5K run, a disc golf open tournament at 10 a.m., as well as open campus tours of the residential halls and buildings. The OBU women’s soccer game will be held at 11 a.m. against Ouachita Baptist University. A focal point on Saturday is the Alumni Decades/Family Weekend BBQ Lunch set for noon to 2 p.m. on the Oval. The event will include alumni decade gatherings in designated areas on the Oval. A community-wide Art on the Hill Festival will be held from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the Oval in conjunction with the barbeque lunch. 

A new activity for this year, also requiring registration, is Dances of the Decades at 2 p.m. in the Geiger Center. Dr. Daryl Green, Dickinson Chair of Business and associate professor of business, will instruct attendees in a fun and recreational manner in styles of dance such as the swing, hustle, salsa and more. All proceeds benefit the African-American student scholarships within the Dickinson School of Business.

Beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, the traditional HoCo Walk will commence from the Oval along the route to Raley Chapel. Following the walk, individuals can enjoy the Bison Bash Tailgate at 4 p.m. ahead of the 6 p.m. kickoff of the football game against East Central University. Halftime festivities include the crowning of the Harvest Court and a fireworks display (weather permitting).

“This is THE Weekend to be on Bison Hill,” said Lea Ann Quirk, director of the OBU Alumni Association. “OBU alumni, friends, current students, prospective students and their families are all welcome to join in all the experiences and festivities. We strive to reach multiple audiences during The Weekend to provide opportunities for reconnection, new friendships, traditions and fun. On behalf of the OBU Alumni Association, we extend a sincere and earnest invitation for our alumni to take a trip back in time and join us for this incredible weekend of events on Bison Hill.”

Many of The Weekend activities require a reserved ticket or registration prior to attendance with a deadline of Friday, Oct. 7. All activities and times, as well as a detailed description of each event and online registration, may be found online at OBU alumni website.