West Virginia University students and alumni are gearing up for annual Homecoming Week activities on campus next week, Oct. 29-Nov. 4. Theme for the week is”WVU: Where Greatness is Learned.”

The annual Homecoming Parade down High Street begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday. It will be led by Parade Marshal Kristin Quackenbush, former All-American gymnast at WVU who recently competed in the pole vault for a spot on the U.S. Olympic track and field team.

Also featured in this years parade is Outstanding Alumna Irene Keeley of Clarksburg, U.S. District Judge from the Northern District.

Both will also be honored at halftime of Saturdays WVU -Syracuse football game which begins at noon at Mountaineer Field.

Students can begin the week by getting to know the 10 Homecoming king and queen candidates during a”meet the candidates”forum at 1 p.m. Monday in the Mountainlair.

Voting for king and queen will be held Tuesday at the Evansdale Residential Complex between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and will continue Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Mountainlair Commons. The winners will be named at halftime of Saturdays game.

A reception to honor past student administration presidents and vice presidents will be held at 8 p.m. Friday in the Mountainlair Grandview Gallery. Approximately 40-50 student leaders are expected to attend, including the oldest known SA president”Blaker”Herrod of Columbus, Ga.

WVUs Alumni Association will host several events throughout the weekend, beginning with a pre-parade reception for alumni and their family members at 5 p.m. Friday in the Greenbrier Room, Mountainlair.

On Saturday, the Alumni Association will hold their pre-game tent celebration at 9:30 a.m. in Tent City. A post-game Alumni Association reception will take place at Erickson Alumni Center immediately following the conclusion of the game.

The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will hold its fifth annual Arts&Sciences Homecoming Lectures and Brunch Program on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 8:3011:30 a.m. in Woodburn Hall. Participants can listen to one of five lectures collectively called”An Appalachian Odyssey”and then enjoy the Mountaineer Brunch, which will feature an assortment of Appalachian and international treats. Guests are asked to RSVP by Oct. 31 to Brenda Riggle at 293-4611.

Other homecoming events include:

• Games on the Lair Plaza, Monday, 5 p.m.

• Red Cross Blood Drive, Tuesday, Blue and Gold Ballrooms, noon-6 p.m.

• Canned food drive, Tuesday, noon-4 p.m. (drop off items at the Student Organization Services conference room)

• Song and Cheer competition, Thursday, 6 p.m., Mountainlair Ballrooms.

• Mountaineer Maniacs pep rally, Thursday, 10 p.m., Mountainlair Food Court.