Home sweet home.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus will be buzzing this weekend with alumni for the first Husker Spiritfest/Alumni Weekend.
People across campus have been involved in the 13-month-long planning, with the Nebraska Alumni Association and University Communications leading the way.
"We talked about the opportunity and the large number of reunions going on," said Andy Schadwinkel, marketing director for University Communications. "(We) talked about how we could maximize the opportunity to engage the community and invite the alumni back for a nice weekend back – like homecoming in spring."
The weekend centers on the crowds that come for the Red-White spring football game, but an extensive schedule has been put together for the Spiritfest/Alumni Weekend.
Colleges and campus departments are involved and will put on open houses, special tours and performances. UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Sen. Ben Nelson will speak at the Nebraska Union on Friday.
"We are just hoping that the synergy of the spring game and all the events that campus has planned will give everyone a reason to come and celebrate all the great things the University of Nebraska has to offer," said Shelley Zaborowski, the Alumni Association's senior program director.
About 340 people have pre-registered online, but Zaborowski said walk-ins are welcome. Some of the weekend's events will cost visitors, while others are free.
Zaborowski said having a second homecoming gives alumni another, potentially cheaper opportunity to return to their alma mater.
"It just seemed like the right time to invite everybody to come home," she said.
Several groups are planning their reunions this weekend, including the Class of 1959, Alumni of Color, New Student Enrollment, Love Memorial Hall and Late 60s Civil Engineering.
Besides filling up the downtown hotels – the Embassy Suites has only four rooms left for Friday and Saturday – Schadwinkel said this weekend's events will be important for keeping the Husker spirit strong.
"The university isn't just the campus, and it's not just the students today and the faculty that are here," he said. "It's everyone who has kind of a connection to the university, especially the alumni."
The schedule of events for the Husker Spiritfest/Alumni Weekend is on the Nebraska Alumni Association Web site.
andreavasquez@dailynebraskan.com
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