Sports Hall of Fame Induction, Follies, Documentary Highlight MC's Bicentennial Homecoming

Mississippi Christian University's year-long bicentennial celebration is set to culminate in MC's 2026 Bicentennial Homecoming, when hundreds of alumni, students, faculty and staff will gather Thursday through Saturday, October 29 through 31, on the Clinton campus.

Jake Donald, MC director of alumni and family engagement, said attendees will enjoy homecoming festivities that have been 200 years in the making.

"There's always something special about Homecoming at MC, but celebrating it during our bicentennial year makes this one truly historic," Donald said. "For 200 years, MC has been a place where relationships and lifelong memories have shaped generations of students. I'm excited to see alumni return home, reconnect with the people and places that mean so much to them, and experience the energy on campus."

"This year, we have the unique opportunity to celebrate where we've been while looking forward with excitement to what God has in store for MC's next 200 years."

Alumni of classes ending in "1" and "6" will celebrate reunions, MC's volleyball team will host matches, and new events will be introduced to the Homecoming schedule. Among them are the Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, the Walter Anderson Adventures exhibit, and a special Bicentennial Documentary showing.

Lori Bobo, MC director of university events, said Bicentennial Homecoming is not to be missed.

"Students and alumni are excited to participate in MC's time-honored Homecoming traditions and look forward to passing them down to future generations," Bobo said.

Among the events planned for MC's 2026 Bicentennial Homecoming:

Thursday, Oct. 29 - Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, 6 p.m., B.C. Rogers Student Center, Anderson Hall. MC's Homecoming festivities will kick off Thursday when MC Athletics and the MC Alumni Association celebrate the 2026 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees: Blaine Crim '19, baseball; Thomas Matthews, basketball; James "JT" Trimble '80, track and field; Drew Brooks '03, '07, tennis; Brooke Smitherman '15, softball; Lance Wedgeworth '98, football; Mike Williams, football; and Courtney Shires '01, women's soccer.

Friday, Oct. 30 - Homecoming golf tournament, noon, The Refuge Golf Club, Flowood. Four-person teams will compete in the annual scramble with a shotgun start. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. Registration is $100 per person and includes lunch at 11 a.m.

50-Year Club Induction Dinner, 5 p.m., Alumni Hall, lower floor. The 50-Year Club ceremony will honor graduates of the Class of 1976.

Latimer House Reunion, 6 p.m., Latimer House. MC graduates from the Classes of 2000 through 2006 can catch up, enjoy a snack and relive their college days during this come-and-go gathering for the entire family.

Blues and Gold Gathering, 6 p.m., Belhaven Town Center, Jackson. The "Graduates of the Last Decade" will reminisce with their peers at the off-campus event for members of the Classes of 2016 through 2026.

Decade of the Seventies, 7 p.m., Alumni Hall, Grand Hall. Members of MC's Golden Anniversary Class of 1976 will be welcomed into the 50-Year Club by members of the Classes of 1970 through 1979.

Follies, 7 p.m., Nelson Hall, Swor Auditorium. Celebrating its 41st year, Follies is a can't-miss competition that showcases new club and tribe members in themed skits with original choreography, music, sets and clever humor about life at MC in their sketches.

Saturday, Oct. 31 - Coach "Hap" Hudson Homecoming 5k Run/Walk, 7:15 a.m., Cockroft Hall. The Department of Kinesiology's 19th-annual 5k race and walk through the streets of Olde Towne Clinton is named for a beloved professor, coach and member of the MC Athletics Hall of Fame.

Gore Galleries Open House and Alumni Juried Art Show, 9 a.m. to noon, Leland Speed Library, Samuel Marshall Gore Art Gallery.

Bicentennial Documentary showings, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aven Hall, Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall. MC's history and dedication to academic excellence and the cause of Christ is encapsulated in the documentary film, "MC 200: A Bicentennial Film," by award-winning filmmaker Anthony Thaxton '94.

Walter Anderson Adventures, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Leland Speed Library, Samuel Marshall Gore Art Gallery. "Walter Anderson Adventures" is a new multimedia, immersive exhibition exploring the life and art of one of the 20th century's most enigmatic artists.

Leland Speed Library Open House, 10 a.m. to noon, Leland Speed Library.

Tailgating, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Quad.

National Alumni Association Awards Brunch, 11 a.m., B.C. Rogers Student Center, Anderson Hall. Distinguished award recipients this year are Alumnus of the Year Ellis Liddell, '80; Young Alumnus of the Year Corey Vander Molen, '09; Order of the Golden Arrow recipients Joe Walker, '69 and Abby Street, '06; Award of Service recipient Hap Hudson, '59; and Award of Excellence recipients Dr. Bill and Carole West.

Bicentennial Homecoming Parade, 1 p.m., College Street.

MC Singers in Concert, 3 p.m., Provine Chapel. The nationally acclaimed MC Singers, the University's premier choral ensemble that has performed at the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and has toured throughout Europe and South Africa, will give a homecoming concert under the direction of Dr. Beth Everett, MC director of choral activities.

Additional activities are also slated for Homecoming weekend. To view a complete schedule of events for MC's 2026 Bicentennial Homecoming, visit mc.edu/homecoming/.