St. Norbert College Announces Heritage and Homecoming Week Celebrations for 2017

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From St. Norbert College, October 3, 2017
by Matthew Matuszak, matthew.matuszak@snc.edu, 920-403-3089

St. Norbert College announces activities for both its Heritage and Homecoming Week celebrations, running from Oct. 9 through Oct. 14. The week celebrates the history of St. Norbert College, which is the only Norbertine college in the world, and brings together the Norbertines, current students, faculty, staff, alumni and their families. Various events, lectures and sports activities will take place during the weeklong celebration. New this year is the Heritage Ball taking place at the end of the week.

Specific event details are as follows:

Opening Ceremony: Sunday, Oct. 8, beginning at 7 p.m. in front of Main Hall on the college campus. Students will receive candles to hold during the ceremony, which will include call-outs to student organizations, a blessing and a lighting of the campus, followed by the school song.

On-Campus Student Activities: Monday, Oct. 9, through Thursday, Oct. 12. Students and alumni will be able to participate in activities such as trivia night, on-campus games and attend a cannonball contest of their nominated peers in the new pool in the Mulva Family Fitness and Sports Center.

Founder's Day Prayer Breakfast: Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the Michels Commons Ballroom on the college campus. The Founder's Day Prayer Breakfast recognizes members of the college community who model the values the community upholds, such as communio (community) and radical hospitality. The Founder's Award honors the words and actions of several individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to the values of the college. The awards are given to college employees and students in recognition of their contributions to the Norbertine tradition and spirit on campus.

Pep Rally and Bonfire: Friday, Oct. 13, beginning at 7 p.m. Students will gather in the gym of the Campus Center for a pep rally that will include music, school spirit activities and comradery. Following the pep rally, students will continue the celebration outside on the Campus Center grounds during a bonfire event with music and games.

Homecoming Football Game: Saturday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m. The St. Norbert College Green Knights will face off against the University of Chicago at Schneider Stadium, 1600 Lost Dauphin Road in De Pere. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children, senior citizens and non-St. Norbert students. St. Norbert College students are admitted to the game for free.

Heritage Ball: The Norbertines of St. Norbert Abbey are hosting the first annual Heritage Ball on Saturday, Oct. 14, beginning at 8 p.m. It is an opportunity for the entire St. Norbert College community to come together to celebrate the college's history and legacy.

St. Norbert College was founded in 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Dutch immigrant priest who wanted to train young men for the priesthood. Abbot Pennings soon discovered a need for higher education in northeastern Wisconsin and started a commerce program for lay students. After World War II, enrollments increased dramatically, and in 1952 the college became coeducational. Over the course of the next 56 years, five more presidents took leadership of the college, each contributing to new course and divisional structures, the first substantial endowment for the college, and the expansion of enrollment and facilities. In 2008, Thomas Kunkel became the seventh president of St. Norbert College and continued an extremely progressive expansion of the college, including its facilities, enrollment and endowment. In 2017, Brian Bruess, a 1990 graduate of the college, succeeded Kunkel as president of St. Norbert College.

For more information about the history of the Norbertines and the college, contact the Rev. Andrew Ciferni, O. Praem., at 920-403-3496.

For more information about the events of Heritage Week, contact Julie Massey, associate vice president for mission and student affairs, at 920-403-3014.

For more information about the events of Homecoming, contact Christina Betcher, associate director of alumni and parent relations, at 920-403-3021.