By Patrick Smith / Staff writer

This weekend, for the first time, Pitt-Greensburg will celebrate the University of Pittsburgh’s Homecoming. There will be festivities on campus Friday night and a shuttle to the Pitt Homecoming football game on Saturday.

Friday night’s activities will include a reception in the Fireside Lounge for Pitt-Greensburg Alumni and a Monte Carlo Casino Night, set up in Chambers Hall for the Alumni and current students. According to student-activities director Jana Valentine, the games will include, “Black Jack, Texas Hold ‘Em, Slot Machines, Big 6 Wheels.” In addition to the games, there will be food and prizes.

“This event was planned to help bring alumni back to campus and connect the alumni with the campus, the students and the PGAA,” said Valentine. PGAA stands for Pitt Greensburg Alumni Association and was one of the key groups in the planning and execution of the homecoming festivities.

Alumni are encouraged to bring their children. SPSEA will be hosting events for kids in the gym.

There will be musical entertainment in the Wagner Dining Hall as well. The entertainment will be provided by the band Higher Ground, led by a UPG alumnus that performs covers of songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band is well-known in the Pittsburgh area.

The Monte Carlo Night event will run from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

“Overall, we are hoping that students attend the Monte Carlo Night and get a chance to interact and network with the alumni in a fun and relaxed environment,” says Valentine.
The celebration continues Saturday morning.

“There will be a breakfast in Wagner Dining Hall Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., after which, at 9:15 a.m., the shuttle bus will depart for Heinz Field for the 12 p.m. football game between the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Cincinnati,” says Nancy Murphy, director and coordinator of Alumni Affairs here at Pitt-Greensburg.

The highly anticipated game is what is annually known as the “river city rivalry.”
The events were originally the idea of a committee made up of alumni. Along with the PGAA, the Homecoming festivities will be co-sponsored by the Student Activities Board and Resident Student Council. Members of each group will volunteer to help set up for the Casino Night and also help out as dealers for the games.