Homecoming at The Florida State University has always been an exciting time for alumni to return to campus and join current students in celebration of an extraordinary university and its unconquered spirit, and soon they’ll do it again during Homecoming 2009. This year’s theme is “Ignited by Tradition.”

Homecoming week activities will begin on Sunday, Oct. 25. For seven days, the nearly nonstop activities sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA) and Alumni Association promise to provide a spirited lead-up to the Homecoming game, which kicks off at noon on Saturday, Oct. 31, as the Seminoles take on the Wolfpack of North Carolina State University at Doak Campbell Stadium. Major events slated for Homecoming week include perennial favorites such as Warchant, Pow Wow, the traditional Friday afternoon Homecoming Parade, and Saturday morning’s Alumni Association Homecoming Awards Breakfast, at which prestigious honors are bestowed on distinguished alumni and staff. And, this year, several brand-new Homecoming events will make their debut — among them the Garnet and Gold Reception, to be held on Monday, Oct. 26, from 4-5 p.m. in the Oglesby Union Ballrooms in honor of all Florida State faculty and staff, and the game-day All College Tailgate, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and located between Doak Campbell and Dick Howser stadiums.

Homecoming happenings that comprise not only celebration but also service to the Tallahassee community include Sunday’s 5K Run/Walk hosted by FSUCares and the College of Medicine, and Renegade Recess on Oct. 27, at which Florida State students will supervise playtime fun for 350 elementary school students from the local Boys and Girls Clubs.

The following list highlights these and many of the other Homecoming week events slated for 2009. For a complete listing of activities, contacts and updates for all SGA-sponsored Homecoming activities, visit the Homecoming 2009 Web site. Additional information on alumni-related events is available on the Alumni Association Web site.

• FSUCares Homecoming 5K Run/Walk — Sunday, Oct. 25, 4 p.m., hosted by FSUCares and the FSU College of Medicine. Alumni and students are encouraged to participate. The race will begin at the College of Medicine and end at Warchant on Langford Green. All participants in the 5K Run/Walk will receive free admission to Warchant (others attendees will be asked for a canned food donation for Second Harvest). Go to http://med.fsu.edu/students/FSUCares/run.asp to register for the Run/Walk. All proceeds go to FSUCares’ medical philanthropic efforts.
• Warchant — Sunday, Oct. 25, 7-9:30 p.m., Langford Green (near the Unconquered statue). The event that kicks off Homecoming week will feature two nationally known acts, Gym Class Heroes and Pitbull. The first 1,000 arrivals get free food from Sonny’s Bar-B-Q. In addition, there will be a Chili Cook Off competition among student organizations. In lieu of an admission fee, organizers ask each attendee to donate two canned food items for Second Harvest.
• Garnet & Gold Reception — Monday, Oct. 26, 4-5 p.m., Oglesby Union Ballrooms. R.S.V.P. to sgahomecoming@admin.fsu.edu by Friday, Oct. 23. The 2009 Homecoming Executive Council will host this inaugural Garnet & Gold Reception — a celebration of the dedicated Florida State University faculty and staff and their commitment to Seminole values and promotion of school spirit and pride. The event is free and offers light refreshments. Guests can mingle with fellow employees and prominent student leaders.
• Renegade Recess — Tuesday, Oct. 27, 4-6 p.m., Old Intramural Fields (off of St. Augustine Road). A fun-filled example of Florida State’s dedication both to community service and future Seminoles, Renegade Recess is a “recess break” staffed and supervised by FSU students and replete with themed booth activities for more than 350 elementary students from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tallahassee. To learn more, contact Nikki Burney at nkb07@fsu.edu.
• Homecoming Parade — Starts rolling at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. The parade will feature the usual colorful array of floats from more than 100 campus organizations and community groups. As always, Renegade, Osceola, FSU cheerleaders, the candidates for Chief and Princess and the Marching Chiefs will be on hand. Beloved coach Mickey Andrews, long-time defensive coordinator for the FSU football team, and his wife, Diane, will serve as the Parade Grand Marshals. This year’s Faculty Marshal is William Moeller, co-director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Education. The parade will follow a different route than in 2008. It begins on West Madison Street near the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center and heads east, turning north on Martin Luther King Boulevard, west on College Avenue, south at Copeland Street in front of the Westcott Building, and east on West Pensacola Street, where it will conclude just west of the Civic Center.
• The 15th Annual Clock and Seal Leadership Banquet — Sponsored by Burning Spear; Friday, Oct. 30, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Civic Center, prior to Pow Wow. Current students, alumni, faculty and friends of Florida State are invited to celebrate leadership, devotion and service to the university as they meet and share their common experiences and memories. This year, FSU Rhodes Scholar and Burning Spear alumnus Garrett Johnson will be the keynote speaker. Tickets must be purchased no later than Oct. 26; they are $40 per person or $300 for a table for eight (plus applicable PayPal fee). Buy tickets online at www.burningspear.org/noles/clockseal.html or by e-mailing requests to Lauren Robertson at president@burningspear.org; she will provide an address to which payment (checks) must be mailed/received prior to Oct. 30.
• Pow Wow — Friday, Oct. 30, Civic Center; doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. This year’s headlining comedian is Jim Gaffigan. (Performance may contain explicit language; discretion is advised.) Open to students, alumni, friends, fans and the community at large. Advance tickets for Florida State students with a valid FSU Card are $17.75 ($18.75 day of show). FSU student tickets must be purchased in person at the Civic Center Box Office. Tickets for the general public are $28.50 ($30.50 day of show) and can be purchased either online or in person from the Civic Center Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Questions? Visit the Pow Wow Web site or e-mail powwow@admin.fsu.edu.
• FSU Panama City Campus 21st Annual ‘Nole Fest — Friday, Oct. 30, 5:30-8 p.m., behind the Holley Academic Center on Florida State’s Panama City campus. This homecoming tradition is geared to the entire family and includes family-friendly entertainment, live music and great food. The event also will feature the lighting of the bonfire and the 21st annual Torch Run. ‘Nole Fest is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Christy Grant, event coordinator for the Panama City campus, at (850) 770-2155 or cgrant@pc.fsu.edu.
• Alumni Association Homecoming Awards Breakfast — Saturday, Oct. 31, Oglesby Union Ballrooms. Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. and the program commences at 8:30 a.m. The event will honor the distinguished winner of the Westcott Medal, to be announced by FSU President T.K. Wetherell; the recipients of the Alumni Association’s 2009 Bernard F. Sliger Award and Parade Grand Marshal title; the 2009 “Grads Made Good,” chosen by the FSU Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) National Leadership Honor Society; and this year’s Ross Oglesby Award winner bestowed by Garnet and Gold Key, a student-run leadership honor society, and always a closely held secret, even to the recipient, until the name is revealed at the breakfast. Tickets for the Homecoming Awards Breakfast ($10 per person) are required and must be purchased on the Alumni Association Web site. To learn more, contact Megan Barnes: (850) 645-8133 or mebarnes@fsu.edu.
• FSU Circle of ODK National Leadership Honor Society Initiation Ceremony — Saturday, Oct. 31, Oglesby Union, rooms 312 and 313. The brief initiation ceremony for the 71 new members of the FSU Circle of ODK is expected to begin at around 9:30 a.m., or immediately following the Alumni Association Homecoming Awards Breakfast. All ODK Circle members, including alumni and faculty, are invited to attend. The event is free; no advance reservations are required, though seating will be limited. To learn more, contact ODK President Chelsea Ziembko at (850) 516-7731 or cmz06@fsu.edu or e-mail ODK adviser Adrienne Frame at aframe@admin.fsu.edu.
• All College Alumni Tailgate — Saturday, October 31, beginning at 9 a.m., on the green between Doak Campbell and Dick Howser stadiums. Florida State alumni from all of the university’s 15 colleges will gather to socialize in the morning hours leading up to the Homecoming game kick off at noon. On tap at the All-College Alumni Tailgate: food, entertainment, a cash bar and plenty of Seminole spirit. Admission is $5 (no charge for children 5 and under), which includes a free drink ticket for all FSU Alumni Association members. Register for the tailgate online at this link. For additional information, contact Mandi Capeletti at mcapeletti@fsu.edu.
• Homecoming game: Florida State vs. North Carolina State — Saturday, Oct. 31. Kick off is at noon as the Florida State Seminoles face the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Among the other SGA-sponsored activities planned for Homecoming 2009 are the Spear-It Night Talent Competition, Big Fan on Campus Competition, and Alma Mater Singers Competition (Oct. 26); Vires, Artes, Mores Knowledge Bowl (Oct. 27); Seminole Festival and Pep Rally, Skit Night, and Homecoming Court elections for Chief and Princess (Oct. 28); and the Garnet and Gold Gala (Oct. 29).

Adam Gismondi
A0303L Oglesby Union
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4026
(850) 644-1096

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: August 5, 2009
Please Contact: Adam Gismondi (850) 644-1096

Seminole Sensation Week Welcomes New Students

Tallahassee, FL— Looking for a way to kick off the upcoming fall semester? The Florida State University will welcome new and returning students to campus this fall with dozens of great events. Festivities will start Wednesday, August 19th in the Oglesby Student Union and continues for four more days with activities including bowling at Crenshaw Lanes, Paint-a-Pot at the Art Center, movies at Student Life Cinema and much more.

Not only does the event welcome returning and new students to the university’s culturally rich and diverse center, but it showcases some of the student programming and services that the Oglesby Student Union has to offer.

The four day event will kickoff with mentalist, Craig Karges and an outdoor movie double feature of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl & the Goonies, Last Call Before Fall, an American indie dual performance featuring the Walkmen with White Rabbits and an Involvement Fair with an array of student organizations;

Seminole Sensation Week will continue with several other highlights, which include: Multicultural Showcase in Moore Auditorium, a Lego Block and movie showing (Star Trek) at the Student Life Cinema, Henna Tattoos, Psychic Readings, Blacklight Sidewalk Chalk, a sketch comedy performance by the American group The Whitest Kids U’ Know, and Breakfast for a Buck.

The Oglesby Union’s Crenshaw Lanes is located in the courtyard of the union.  For more information about Seminole Sensation Week, access our website or contact Adam Gismondi at http://ssweek.fsu.edu or by phone at (850)-644-1096.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: July 6, 2009
Please Contact: Crenshaw Lanes (850) 644-1819

Crenshaw Lanes to Host the 7th Annual Crenshaw Sport Bowling Classic

Tallahassee, FL— You can experience the challenge of bowling on the same lane patterns that the Florida State University’s Bowling Team sees in intercollegiate competition during the 7th Annual Crenshaw Sport Bowling Classic on July 25-26 and August 1-2. Competitions are held for both Youth and Adult, scratch and handicap.

Single tournaments will be held on July 25 and August 1 at 9am and 5pm; and on July 26 and August 2 at 12:30pm. Team events will be held on July 25 and August 1 at 1:30pm; and July 26 and August 2 at 9am and 5pm. The event will take place in the Florida State University Oglesby Union in the Crenshaw Lanes.

The Florida State University’s Bowling Team competes exclusively on Sport Patterns. House patterns traditionally consist of a large amount of oil in the middle of the lanes with significantly less oil on the outside. A bowler can project the ball to the outside and allow it to read the lane, recover and hit the pocket. In Sport Bowling, the oil pattern has a more equal amount of oil across the lane. This requires more accuracy and consistency to be successful. In addition to Collegiate Bowling, the PBA, USBC Masters and International Events all utilize Sport Bowling Patterns.

“This sport lane condition is like hitting the back tee in golf, it rewards consistency and accuracy”, said Head Crenshaw Bowling Coach Michael Fine. For this seventh annual bowling event, Fine said he expects the event to be one of “discovery and awakening, and will definitely be a challenge”! Participants will be arriving from Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The event will not only be a fundraiser for the Florida State University’s Bowling Team, but Fine says that “it’s always fun to see youth programs come out and also to get our name out there locally and nationally”.

The Oglesby Union’s Crenshaw Lanes is located in the courtyard of the union. For more information about Crenshaw Lanes and the 2009 Crenshaw Sport Bowling Classic’s, access our website or contact Crenshaw Lanes at
http://union.fsu.edu/crenshaw/tournaments.html or by phone at (850) 644-1819

By Rickey Goins

The construction began with renovating the drainage system on the Union Green in April. Greg Akridge, The Director of Operations, placed signs on the area informing students to stay off the grass until the renovation is complete. A 2009 Orientation Leader, Raul Fernandez is thrilled about the renovation:

“I think the renovations are going to be great, especially for FSU and students themselves, because there are going to be so many people coming here. There are always going to be concerts playing and I just think the renovations will provide us more availability to be able to have those concerts,” Raul said.

Club Downunder is undergoing a makeover that will include new television sets, a projector screen, video system and lights. The club is expected to be open by July 24.

Adjacent to Club Downunder, the roof of the post office is undergoing renovation. Construction workers can be found painting the breezeway, lifting heavy boxes, and sweating from the heat to finish the renovation before the fall semester.

Clutter briefly mentioned specifics about the renovation process, “The renovation taking place right now is the old post office building. It’s the oldest section of the Union. Essentially they’re putting a new roof on it. We’ve had some leaks that have actually come over in the Chili’s area so that’s really going to help us not having leaks.”

Oglesby Union is becoming more sustainable by replacing T-12 light bulbs with T-8. These new bulbs will be thirty-three percent more efficient while saving energy. Over Spring Break, Crenshaw Lanes became more sustainable by replacing the same type of bulbs.

At the completion of the renovation, the students will find Oglesby Union looking brighter with the new paint job, a UPS store in The Copy Center and an area to take a nap or read.

By TaRhaun Russ

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 19, 2009

Please Contact: (850) 644-0828

FSU Flying High Circus to Launch "Summer Camp 2009"

Tallahassee, FL—This summer, families, patrons, and friends of the Florida State University Flying High Circus will be treated to an exciting new feature to the Big Top—Summer Camp 2009. Under the Big Top tent on the campus of FSU, the circus will conduct a summer day camp like no other. Finally, children in the Tallahassee area will get a chance to be a part of the circus, learning everything from juggling to flying on the trapeze. Our staff is made up entirely of FSU circus performers, who are all students taking classes at FSU. Camp will be available for ages 7-17. Campers will not only learn and experience a variety of circus activities, but will be able to display their newfound skills in their Friday Showcase performance at the conclusion of camp.

There will be eight (8) week-long camp sessions available beginning June 22nd. The last week of the program will begin August 10th. Day camp will run from 8:00am to 3:00pm, Monday-Friday. After care programming is also available, from 3:00pm — 6:00pm at an extra charge. After care will not be available for the final week of the program, August 10-14th. Registration Fees are as follows: One Camper: $250.00 (includes tax)

After care program (Sessions 1-7 only): $70.00 (includes tax).

As one of only two collegiate circus programs in the United States, the FSU Flying High Circus draws its audience from throughout Florida, South Georgia and Alabama. The FSU Circus is located on the Florida State University campus, on the corner of W. Pensacola Street and Chieftan Way. We are across the street from University Center A and Howser Baseball Stadium. For more information about the FSU Flying High Circus or high-resolution photographs, press information and logos, access http://circus.fsu.edu or contact us at circuscamp@admin.fsu.edu or by phone at 644-0828.

The Florida State University Flying High Circus
269 Chieftan Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4026
(850) 644-4874

PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Browning Brooks
(850) 644-4030

By Bayard Stern
April 1, 2009

ELAINE GEIGER TULLY WOODWARD ENDOWS CIRCUS SCHOLARSHIP

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As a member of Florida State University’s Flying High Circus in the early 1950s, Elaine Geiger enjoyed the spotlight as she defied gravity performing aerial acts such as the cloud swing, the Spanish web and the triple trapeze.

Now in her 70s, Elaine Geiger Tully Woodward finds herself in the circus spotlight once again with the announcement of a $25,000 endowed scholarship that is being established in her name.

The announcement of the scholarship’s second recipient will be made during the Flying High Circus home show on Saturday, April 4, at 2 p.m.

“I can’t even begin to describe how thrilled I was when I learned about the scholarship,” Woodward said. “The circus was such a large part of my life, and I still love it. We were a close-knit group and Coach (Jack) Haskin really cared about all of us. He was always pretty strict about grades and morals and such, and he treated us like his children. We were like a family. I can’t think of anything that teaches students the importance of cooperation and trust more than being in the circus.”

The $500 Elaine Geiger Tully Woodward Award will be given annually to a student who has demonstrated significant contributions to the overall circus program through a helpful, enthusiastic and positive attitude toward the circus and Florida State, while maintaining an above-average grade point average. The scholarship was presented for the second time this spring, but now it is fully endowed.

Elaine Geiger Tully Woodward was first married to Jim Tully, the brother of Bobby Tully, for whom Florida State’s Tully Gym is named. Woodward now is married to Robert Davidson “Bob” Woodward III.

The oldest of Woodward’s three daughters, Katee Tully, helped lead the effort to raise the money to endow the scholarship.

“From the time that we were small children, we heard such lovely stories from my mother, and my father (Jim Tully), about their experiences as students at Florida State,” Katee Tully said. “And being small, we were absolutely intrigued that our mother had been involved in some way in a circus. As we grew older, we could better understand how the circus experience had helped to shape my mother, both as an individual and as a student. When Helen Levine (Katee Tully’s partner) and I were thinking about a tribute to her, it just seemed like nothing would have been a better fit than to help a student in the circus at Florida State share that same joy and incredible experience that my mother had. She has always kept in touch with many of her friends from the circus. She still loves going to the circus, being around young people and meeting the students.

“What we did not foresee, is that shortly after we started trying to raise money for the scholarship, my mother had open heart surgery,” Tully said. “That became an even greater motivation for us to get moving with everything. She’s quite a force and just a lovely person, and thankfully, she’s doing great now.”

They sent out letters of solicitation to family and friends and said they received a generous level of support.

“We also were so impressed with Liz Maryanski (associate vice president for Student Affairs, financial operations) and Mary Coburn (vice president for Student Affairs),” Tully said.”They were absolutely gracious and so helpful to us with the entire effort.

“My mother was just absolutely thrilled and overwhelmed when she found out the scholarship had been endowed,” Tully said. “It’s not like her to seek recognition or be in the limelight. I think for her to be honored like this came as both a surprise and a delight.”

Founded in 1947 by Jack Haskin, the Flying High Circus is one of only two collegiate circuses in the United States. A unique tradition on campus since 1947, the circus is a year-round, extracurricular activity for Florida State students under the Division of Student Affairs.

The program was originally created as a way to integrate men and women when Florida State became a co-educational institution — and it continues to do so today. Said to rival any professional circus, the Flying High is primarily an aerial and stage presentation with three rings of “spellbinding” entertainment. Unlike professional circuses, it has no animal acts. Student performers rig all of their own equipment, sew their own costumes, produce lights and sound for performances, and set up the Big Top tent on campus.

For more information, visit www.circus.fsu.edu.