The University of Maine at Presque Isle will present Homecoming 2022: Spirit Week + Alumni, Friends, and Family Weekend from Sept. 19 to 25, featuring sporting events, the Snowy Owl Marketplace, a concert by Star City Syndicate, the Alumni Awards Gala, and lots more! The full schedule of events can be found at www.umpi.edu/alumni/homecoming.

The theme for this year’s event is “Expect Connections.” Festivities will again include Spirit Week activities, with a different theme each day between Sept. 19 and 23: wearing blue one day, wearing gold another day, and sharing favorite UMPI memories on social media another day. All are encouraged to post photos on social media and use the “#umpispiritweek!” hashtag.

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, UMPI will present The Heart of Aroostook: A Book Reading & Auditorium Naming event at 6:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). During this special evening in three parts, two County writers will help to celebrate this singular place we call home. Writer Kathryn Olmstead will kick things off with an introduction and tribute to the stories of Aroostook County. Presque Isle native Ray Gauvin will then read from his newly-published memoir, “A Soldier’s heart: The 3 Wars of Vietnam”. The evening will end with the official naming of the Auditorium in Wieden Hall, in honor of Ray and Sandy Gauvin.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, the UMPI Women’s Basketball team will host a Spaghetti Supper fundraiser from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Campus Center MPR. All are invited to attend. Cost is $8 per person. That evening, the Student Activities Office will host UMPI’s first-ever Lip Sync Battle at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center MPR. Don’t miss what is sure to be an entertaining evening!

On Friday, Sept. 23, UMPI’s Student Activities Office will host a Punch and Paint event from 2-4 p.m. in the UMPI Clubhouse (Campus Center Room 112). At 5 p.m. in Gentile Hall, the Women’s Volleyball team takes on the University of Maine at Fort Kent. From 5-8 p.m., Star City Syndicate will offer an outdoor concert in the Tennis Court Parking Lot. Aroostook Sky (UMPI faculty member Dr. Larry Feinstein’s band) will open for the Syndicate from 5-6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. This event will feature food trucks, as well as tables hosted by UMPI student clubs and organizations.

On Saturday, Sept. 24, the Snowy Owl Marketplace returns to Gentile Hall from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with a full slate of crafters, artisans, and more. At 1 p.m., the UMPI Men’s Soccer team takes on SUNY Cobleskill, and at 3:30 the UMPI Women’s Soccer team takes on SUNY Cobleskill—both games take place at the Park Family Field. At 4:45 p.m., the Alumni Awards Gala event takes place in the Campus Center MPR. There will be a social at 4:45 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and program to follow. There will be a cash bar. For more information about this event, contact Sharon Roix at 207-540-5600. Also that evening, there will be a Glow Dance for current students at 10 p.m. in the Campus Center MPR.

Festivities cap off on Sunday, Sept. 25 with a 5K and soccer games. The UMPI Alumni and All-Comers XC 5K takes place at 11 a.m. at the Park Family Field. For start and registration information, contact Sandra McDougal in Athletics at sandra.mcdougal@maine.edu or 207-768-9506. At Noon, UMPI Men’s Soccer takes on SUNY Delhi and UMPI Women’s Soccer takes on SUNY Delhi at 2:30 p.m.—both games take place at the Park Family Field.

For more information about Homecoming 2022, contact Barb Blackstone at 207-768-9415.