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WBU Homecoming 2018

Homecoming 2018 Logo

While you're at Wayland, it's your second home, your new family. And no matter where you go after you leave the campus, Wayland remains home.

At Homecoming 2018, themed “Home” and slated Oct. 26-27 in Plainview, you'll have the perfect opportunity to revisit the special places and faces from your college years. We’ll be honoring alumni, outstanding students and members of our anniversary honor classes --1958, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008 -- and having a great time together reminiscing about your Wayland experiences.  The Friday night banquet will be a special time for attendees, and Saturday’s family-friendly pregame activities and the football game is geared to make for a great day for all ages.

The full schedule is included below, so mark your calendars now and plan to join us in Plainview. We hope to see you back “home!”

Schedule of Events

  • Thursday, October 25, 2018
  • 7:30 p.m.: Musical Theatre Performance: Into the Woods, Harral Complex, $4 for alumni 
  • Friday, October 26, 2018
  • 10 a.m.: Registration begins in Harral north hallway
  • 11 a.m.: Homecoming Chapel, Harral Auditorium (honoring alumni from 1968 Golden Anniversary Honor Class as well as attendees from 1958, 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008; International Choir performance; panel discussion with selected alumni)
  • Noon: Golden Anniversary Luncheon, McClung Center Room 211 (for graduates from 1968 and prior and spouses)
  • 1-4 p.m.: Art Exhibit, Abraham Art Gallery, Mabee Learning Resources Center lower level, free
  • 1-4 p.m.: Jimmy Dean Museum and Museum of the Llano Estacado open for tours, 8th & Smyth Streets, free
  • 1:30 p.m.: School of Mathematics & Sciences Guest Lecture, Moody Science Auditorium
  • 2 p.m.: Campus Tours Available, Admissions Office, Gates Hall (golf cart tours leaving every half-hour from Gates Hall)
  • 2:30 p.m.: Class of 1968 Reunion Come and Go Gathering (to 4:30), President's House Bed & Breakfast, 1307 W. 6th Street
  • 3 p.m.: Alumni Memorial Service and Business Meeting, Trinity Auditorium
  • 3:30-5 p.m.: Honor Class Reunions, Trinity Fellowship Hall
  • 5:30 p.m.: Alumni Awards Banquet, Trinity Auditorium, $15
  • 7:30 p.m.: Musical Theatre Performance: Into the Woods, Harral Complex, $4 for alumni 
  • 8 p.m.: Hutch Hysteria, Hutcherson Center, introducing basketball teams, various activities
  • 9:30 p.m.: Pioneer Pride Pep Rally
  • 10 p.m.: Student Late-Night Hangout
  • Saturday, October 27, 2018
  • 9:30 a.m.: Athletic Hall of Honor Induction, Laney Center
  • 10 a.m.: International Choir Mini-Concert
  • Noon: Pioneer Palooza Pre-Game with Food Trucks, Location TBA (Cost varies by vendor)
  • 2 p.m.: Homecoming Football Game vs. Texas Wesleyan, Bulldog Stadium (including recognition of alumni honorees, crowning of Homecoming King & Queen)
  • Dinner on your own
  • 7:30 p.m.: Musical Theatre Performance: Into the Woods, Harral Complex, $4 for alumni 

Distinguished Alumni Awards

  • The Distinguished Alumni Awards return to Homecoming 2018 but the entire awards program is changing. Three awards will be presented on the Plainview campus during the homecoming weekend, while each of the other Wayland campuses will honor one alum with the Distinguished Alumni Award during the 2018 year, with all honorees to be recognized during the homecoming awards banquet. The awards are as follows:
  • Distinguished Alumni Award: Winners should make a distinctive contribution to their profession, serve in exemplary leadership roles in their community and/or demonstrate a strong loyalty to Wayland through service or giving.
  • Distinguished Young Alumni Award: Winners must be age 35 or younger and have demonstrated distinctive career accomplishments, leadership and/or service to their community or the Wayland family. This award is presented in Plainview only.
  • Distinguished Benefactor Award: Winners should demonstrate extraordinary support for the university through giving of their financial resources or service and leadership roles. Winners are not required to be alumni though preference is given to WBU alums.
  • Alumnus of the Year Award: The winner from each campus will be pooled for voting by a select committee, with one overall award presented to a single alumnus at the homecoming awards ceremony.
  • Winners for 2018 have already been selected, but you may submit nominations for future years here.

Homecoming King & Queen Information

  • Students wishing to run for homecoming king (males) and queen (females) must be sponsored by an organization, office or academic school and submit an application. The application fee is $20, payable by the nominating entity, and deadline to submit is Oct. 12.
  • Nominees are introduced during the Friday Homecoming Chapel and voting is conducted during the chapel service. Nominees will also be found on this site closer to the homecoming weekend. Nominees will be introduced at halftime of Saturday's football game.
  • Winners receive a $150 scholarship for the fall term.
  • Click here to download the application for homecoming royalty.

Hotel Special Rates

  • Comfort Suites, 3615 Grandview Dr., Plainview, TX 79072; Call 806-293-7700, Ask for WBU discount (10% off current rate)
  • Days Inn, 3600 Olton Road, Plainview, TX 79072; Call 806-293-2561, ask for WBU discount
  • Holiday Inn Express, 4213 W. 13th, Plainview, TX 79072; Call 806-296-9900, ask for WBU friends and family rate ($110-120) 
  • President's House Bed & Breakfast, 1307 W. 6th, Plainview, TX 79072; Call 806-676-2060, ask for WBU rate (10% discount)
  • Quality Inn, 600 N. I-27, Plainview, TX 79072; Call 806-293-9454, WBU rate of $79.99 per night
    WBU does not endorse any given hotel but only provides information for your convenience of those providing discounts. Other hotels are available in Plainview.

Registration Form

  • Ready to register for the weekend? Click here to sign up using our easy online form. We can't wait to see you back HOME!

2017 Alumni Honorees:

Distinguished Alumni Award Winners for 2017

Distinguished Alumni Award: Maj. Gen. Michael Fortney, BSOE'86. Major Gen. Michael Fortney has spent a career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in October 2017 as vice commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, which prepares combat-ready forces for strategic deferrence, global strike and combat support. Enlisting in the military in 1978, Maj. Gen. Fortney started his service in photo reconnaissance as an interpreter before moving into leadership roles at the squadron, group and wing levels. He earned his bachelor’s degree with Wayland at the Hawaii campus in 1986. Over a 39-year career, Maj. Gen. Fortney has received many honors, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and Achievement Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Gen. Thomas S. Power Award for Air Force Best Missile Combat Crew Commander. Fortney and wife Karen have an adult son, Andy, a grandson, Brenden, and two dogs. In retirement, Maj. Gen. Fortney has started a consulting firm and will serve as a senior mentor for Air Force leadership and education forums. He also plans to have more time for hobbies such as motorcycling and fishing. 

Distinguished Young Alumni Award: Dr. Rosemary Pelphrey, BS'11. Dr. Rosemary Ribera Pelphrey came to Wayland from Canyon, bringing dreams of becoming a dentist. The daughter of Laura Ribera and Steve Ribera, Rosemary earned her Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology in May 2011. While at Wayland, she was involved in medical missions and was a President’s Ambassador. She then enrolled at Baylor College of Dentistry and earned her Doctor of Dental Science degree in May 2015. Rosemary works part-time for Ideal Smiles of McKinney, a group dental practice, and part-time for a mobile dentistry company, Elite Mobile Dental. She plans to open her own dental practice in the near future. She and husband Micah married in May 2016 and live in Richardson.

Distinguished Benefactor Award: Dr. Glenda Payas, BS'69. A native of Albuquerque, Dr. Glenda Lightfoot Payas earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1969 from Wayland in biology and education. She went on to earn two master’s degrees from New Mexico Highlands University. Dr. Payas earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa and then served with the U.S. Public Health Corps with the Indian Health Service at the Claremore Indian Hospital. She recently retired after 28 years in private practice in Tulsa. Since graduation from WBU, Dr. Payas has contributed financially to various projects at the university, including completion of two scholarships honoring some of her faculty mentors in science. She then endowed a scholarship honoring her parents and one for her grandparents. She makes an additional impact as a regular member of the Sally Society women’s philanthropy group and the President’s Circle. Payas and husband Brad manage residential property.

Click here for a full list of previous years' winners.