February 23, 2004

TSU St. Patrick's Celebration to Begin Friday, March 12

The fourth annual Troy State University Alumni, Parents and Friends St. Patrick's Day celebration will begin Friday, March 12.

“We're encouraging our alumni and friends, as well as the general public, to take part in the celebration,” said Faith Ward, Director of Alumni Affairs.

“This year, we are adding a new event to kick off the reunion weekend.”

A Friday-afternoon carnival is the new addition to the TSU festivities. It will be held from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the end zone plaza at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium. The carnival will feature games such as a dunking booth, the Army ROTC rock climbing wall, a moonwalk for children sponsored by the TSU Panhellenic Council, and a mechanical bull ride sponsored by the TSU Rodeo team. At 6:30 p.m. and at 9 p.m. , the comedy “ School of Rock ” will be screened on the stadium's large-screen replay board.

There is no admission charge for the carnival, but vendors will have food for sale during the carnival.

The carnival will offer something for everyone and we think it will be a great way to bring the university community and the local community together for an evening of fun,” said Dawn Railey , TSU Director of Development, who is organizing the event.

Other highlights of the week include a St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 13 beginning at 11 a.m. The parade route will run down University Avenue through the heart of the campus. Following the parade, the band “The Spicolis” will play in the Shackelford quadrangle.

The annual T-Day Game will be at 1 p.m. in Movie Gallery Stadium following the parade. Tailgating and special events will precede the game.

The day's events will also include the annual reunion dinner and the presentation of the Distinguished Leadership Award, scheduled this year for the ballrooms of the Trojan Center , beginning at 6 p.m. Cost for the reunion dinner is $20. A jazz band composed of TSU music students and led by Ray Smith, Associate Professor of Music, will perform dance music following dinner and the awards.

The Reunion Weekend begins a week of St. Patrick's Day-related events on the TSU campus, including an Irish Cooking Contest, Irish Bazaar and a Pot-of-Gold Search in the Adams Administration Building on the campus of TSU.