MoWest week-long homecoming activities

Sept. 26, 2025-Missouri Western State University will round up Griffons and Griffon fans for Wild MoWest homecoming 2025 with a week full of activities beginning on Monday, Sept. 29.

The MoWest Student Nurses Association and the Community Blood Center invite students, faculty, staff and the public to roll up their sleeves and help save a life through a community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29 in Blum Union rooms 222 and 223. Donors can drop in or pre-register at griff.vn/HC25Blood.

The Career Development Center will host its annual Internship & Part-Time Job Fair in the Fulkerson Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 in the Fulkerson Center. The first 50 students will receive gifts.

Also on Tuesday, students will dance the night away at a Silent Disco from 8 to 11 p.m. in Blum Student Union, rooms 218-219.

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, students, faculty and staff are invited to join Wild MoWest Night at the Pony Express Museum from 6 to 8 p.m. Complimentary drinks will be provided by Hazel's Coffeebego, and participants will have the chance to carve pumpkins in preparation for Pumpkin Fest. A shuttle will be provided for students to and from Blum Union.

A pep rally will be held at the Bill Snyder Pavilion at Spratt Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. Performances by Griffon Spirit Groups, the Athletics Band and Greek life organizations will help prepare the Griffon sports teams for their weekend of competition. Food will be provided. The pep rally is free and open to the public.

The community is encouraged to come out and cheer on the Griffons with a variety of men's and women's sports throughout the weekend.

MoWest celebrates 50 years of women's sportswith weekend matchups beginning on Friday, Oct. 3. Volleyball takes on Nebraska-Kearney at 6 p.m. in the Looney Complex. Soccer faces Newman in Spratt Stadium at 7:30 p.m. MoWest volleyball is ranked No. 24 in the nation with a record of 8-3 so far this season, while women's soccer is the only undefeated team in the MIAA with a record of 4-0-1. To purchase tickets for all athletics events, visit griff.vn/GriffTix.

Friday evening features the 43rd annual Missouri Western Alumni Awards Banquet presented by E.L. Crawford beginning at 6 p.m. in the Fulkerson Center. Registration is required.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, the homecoming festivities start early with men's and women's cross country hosting the Griffon Invite beginning at 8 a.m. at the MWSU Cross Country Course, located on 50th Street east of the residential halls.

Volleyball competes against Fort Hays State at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Looney Complex.

The Homecoming Parade presented by Mosaic Life Care returns to the MoWest campus bigger and better than ever at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The parade will start in Lot B, in front of the Hearnes Center, and travel counterclockwise around Downs Drive, ending in Lot H. Spectators can enter campus via James McCarthy Drive from Faraon Street or Southwest University Drive from Mitchell and are encouraged to park in Lots C, E, F or G, near Blum Student Union. The parade will feature the MoWest Athletics Band, several high school marching bands, the Moila Shriners and several floats by student groups and the community. The top entries in several categories will receive a $1,000 cash prize. Premier sponsors for the parade are Gertsema Wealth Advisors and Tieman Spencer & Hicks.

Immediately following the parade, the Tailgate and Autumn Family Festival presented by Hillyard will begin at 4 p.m. in Lot H, in front of Baker Family Fitness Center. The tailgate includes several food trucks; kid-friendly activities such as face painting, bubbles, princesses, balloon artists, and more; henna tattoos; permanent jewelry; a classic car show; departments from each MoWest college and more. Premier sponsors for the tailgate are Altec, Pinnacle Electric Inc., and Shelter Insurance - Matt Judah.

The full day wraps up with Griffon football kicking off against Emporia State at 6 p.m. in Spratt Stadium. Homecoming Royalty will be crowned, and all female student-athlete alums in attendance will be recognized as part of the 50 years of women's sports celebration.

Homecoming activities will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 5 with a Black Alumni Ten Year Reunion at noon in the Blum Student Union and a Griffon soccer match against Central Oklahoma at 1 p.m. in Spratt Stadium.

The social media sponsor of MoWest Homecoming is Moss Marketing Group.

For a full list of activities, details and registrations, visit missouriwestern.edu/homecoming/.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.