October 01, 2014

SIU will be ‘Wild with Pride’ for Homecoming

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale will be “Wild with Pride” throughout the Oct. 20-26 Homecoming celebration. 

The kickoff to homecoming week is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 20, at the Student Center’s north entrance and features free food, giveaways and prizes for SIU students, faculty and staff. Online voting for the Homecoming king and queen begins at 8 a.m. that day and continues until 8 a.m. on Oct. 23. 

The Homecoming parade through downtown Carbondale kicks off at 10 a.m. Oct. 25, featuring more than 50 units including student and community groups, area marching bands and the homecoming court. Harold Bardo, a triple alumnus of the SIU system, standout athlete in basketball and track and recently retired director of the university’s Medical/Dental Education Preparatory Program (MEDPREP), is this year’s grand marshal. He is now providing management guidance on a part-time basis to the admissions team during a national search for a new admissions director. 

Bardo is also the 2014 recipient of the Lindell W. Sturgis Memorial Public Service Award, presented by the SIU Board of Trustees annually to SIU Carbondale employees for public service unrelated to their employment.  Bardo’s contributions include volunteerism throughout Southern Illinois and beyond, and his work with schools, health care organizations, athletics and academia.    

The complete “Wild With Pride” Homecoming 2014 schedule is available online at homecoming.siu.edu, or by calling 618/536-3393.