Timothy Moynihan
In Motion Staff Writer
DSC employees and students have planned a series of events to kick off the college’s first homecoming week, scheduled for Nov. 2-5. The inaugural event in celebration of the college’s rich heritage includes a wide variety of activities open to students, employees, alumni and friends.
Students, faculty and staff should mark their calendars for the Association for Florida Colleges Holiday Bazaar and Car Show, as well as numerous alumni reunions, music and events at the Southeast Museum of Photography.
What is the appeal of homecoming, some might ask? The anticipation of homecoming means the excitement of meeting new friends, the rekindling of old friendships, music that sparks memories, the smell of fall foods, the glamour of pageantry. Some might even say this event may be nothing short of epic.
Thursday, Nov. 3 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Hosseini Center on the Daytona Beach Campus, the pageant will crown the new King and Queen of campus, who will be expected to serve the College and their community to effect positive change.
SGA President Olivia Stuart is most looking forward to the pageantry of the Mr. and Ms. Daytona State College contest.
“I think this Mr. and Ms. DSC Pageant will be a huge factor in bringing the school closer together especially being centered around homecoming this year! I’m most excited for the selection of our new role models on campus.”
SGA Vice President Alyssa Gage added, “I’m highly excited to see what Daytona State students have to offer. I know our school has exceptional talent and great role models. I’m super excited for our new Mr. and Ms. Daytona State College.”
Also on that Thursday is the College’s alma mater apparel day and all participants are encouraged to wear clothing from the colleges they attended, whether it was DSC or somewhere else.
Festivities start on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the News-Journal Center, 221 North Beach St. with the Alumni Studio Arts Exhibit highlighting past Daytona State College art students. This group showing is meant to reflect the diversity of artistic talent in previous DSC graduates.
Friday, Nov. 4, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Association of Florida Colleges-DSC Chapter will host the Holiday Bazaar at Bergengren Hall on the Daytona Beach Campus. It continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A Fall Festival and Barbecue starts at 5 p.m. Friday on the DSC Campus and runs until 7 p.m. in the Echo Plaza and Student Landing. Donations in the form of packaged snacks or canned goods are encouraged. Any and all donations will be appreciated, hosts say.
Friday is also DSC apparel day and everyone is invited to show college spirit and wear Falcon colors. Saturday, is designated DBJC/DBCC/DSC apparel day, where the community is encouraged to show off vintage college apparel from over the years.
Starting out first thing in the morning 8 a.m. Saturday is a 5k run/walk with a $30 entrance fee, kids under 10 will be admitted free. Proceeds will benefit student scholarships.
Although this is the first-ever official homecoming at the College, there have been other pageants. Marilyn Schmidt was the first Miss Daytona Beach Junior College in 1960. Described as a freshmen with blues eyes and reddish, auburn hair, she was the first queen of Daytona Beach Junior College. Schmidt was a secretarial science major, spent a large part of her earlier education in Chicago before she moved to Ormond Beach and graduated from St. Paul’s High School in Ormond. At the time, she commented that she had no plans for the future and was content with studying, plenty of sleep ,and weekend parties and dates.
During that pageant, Richard Rosier was the master of ceremonies and the Four Failures provided the music of the day back in 1960.
For a full schedule of events, go to: https://daytonastate.edu/homecoming2016/