A colorful glitter makeover for Herm, 91短视频鈥檚 mascot, supplied by winning artist Violet Horst, took first place in this week鈥檚 Homecoming coloring contest. 

Approximately 50 entries were judged by Visual and Communication Arts professors Cyndi Gusler, Jerry Holsopple and Steven David Johnson.

Jennifer North Bauman, interim director of alumni and parent relations, was delighted with the turnout for the contest. 

鈥淗erm is usually wearing his coat of blue and white, but clearly he should be considering a trip to the store to pick out some other colors, or maybe he鈥檚 wearing them on the sly when we don鈥檛 see him, because these artists have given him many fresh new looks,鈥� Bauman said. 

Bauman said she planned to show all of the artwork to the new Herm when he appears for the Friday Opening Celebration. 鈥淚 think he鈥檒l be inspired and so pleased to see how our young fans have portrayed him.鈥�

This is likely just the first year of what will become a popular tradition, she said. 鈥淓specially this year, when we could not host our Lil鈥� Royals on campus for fun during the Fall Festival, Saturday afternoon of Homecoming and Family Weekend, the art contest was a great way to connect with kids.鈥�

The two designs for coloring were created by Rachel Holderman, media specialist in 91短视频 Marketing and Communications, and are still available on the Homecoming website for downloading if you want to have some fun. 

HERM COLORING CONTEST WINNERS

First Place: Violet Horst, age 7. Her proud parents are Mark Horst 鈥�05 and Debbie Boese 鈥�07.

Second Place:  Muhammad Babar, age 6. Proud parents: Nabeel Babar & Sharmila Afzal 

Third Place: Sydney Byler, age 8. Proud parents: Holden Byler 鈥�06 and Heidi Bowman Byler 鈥�04 

Fourth Place: Nora Sandberg, age 7. Proud parents: Daniel Sandberg 鈥�05 and Megan Yoder Sandberg 鈥�05 

Newsflash! Wondering how the Great Herm Search of 2020 was going? Mark Oct. 16 on your calendar. 91短视频鈥檚 new blue lion mascot will meet his fans during the first  day of the all-virtual Homecoming and Family Weekend.

If recent events are any indication, the annual celebration at 91短视频 from Oct. 16-18 will stretch around the globe.

鈥淲e anticipate the virtual format will allow many who couldn鈥檛 otherwise attend to join us in our celebration of all things 91短视频,鈥� said Jennifer North Bauman, director of alumni relations and parent engagement. 鈥淲hile it鈥檚 disappointing that we can鈥檛 gather in-person, we鈥檙e excited to connect with our alumni, students and parents in new ways.鈥�

Registration is free, but still encouraged, as the links to some homecoming events will only be available to registered participants. 

The 2020 event includes old favorites like TenTalks, but also a virtual fun run/ride/walk (pick your transportation!) and a coloring and design contest judged by students and faculty in 91短视频’s Visual and Communication Arts Department. Enter to win prizes!

More on the coloring and design contest: Download the Royal Lion and Herm coloring sheets or draw on an 8 陆 by 11 sheet of paper a different 91短视频 mascot. Submit using or send by mail to Homecoming Contests 1200 Park Rd. Harrisonburg, VA 22802. Deadline for submission is Oct. 7.

Royals fans will also be introduced, virtually, to 91短视频鈥檚 new blue lion mascot. 

鈥淎fter many good years of service, our 鈥榦ld鈥� Herm went into retirement this spring,鈥� said Bauman. 鈥淭hankfully, the search went well over the summer and our 鈥榥ew鈥� Herm will finish up his intensive training just in time to be introduced at Homecoming.鈥�

Herm will be among honored guests at the Friday evening opening celebration, joining President Susan Schultz Huxman and this year鈥檚 alumni award recipients.

This year鈥檚 Jubilee alumni gathering, a recorded program on Friday at 10 a.m., should interest even those who are not yet members with a look back on 91短视频 (well, yes, EMC!) as it was 50 years ago. Featured interviewees include John and Kathryn Stoltzfus Fairfield ’70, Marty Kolb-Wyckoff ’70, and Everett Ressler ’70 (with Phyllis Pellman Good, class of ’70). Ressler will reflect on the 1969 fund drive 鈥� a collective event that mobilized students, alumni, and townspeople to build the Sadie Hartzler library 鈥� and was covered in an issue of National Geographic.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, registered participants can join discussions hosted by academic departments in biology, business and leadership, education, nursing, and Bible, religion, and theology. The Center for Interfaith Engagement also hosts a time of sharing.

Class reunions for those who graduated in years ending in 0 and 5 will begin at 11 a.m., except for the class of 1960, which will be on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.

The class of 1970, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their commencement, will host additional celebrations, including a memoir book for which each class member is invited to write a page. 

This year’s 91短视频 TenTalk: “Lead together in crisis: health, economics, race” will broadcast vie Facebook live at 3 p.m on Saturday. The featured speakers are Jeff Boodie ’07, co-founder and CEO of the tech startup JobSnap; Jeannine Uzel MSN ’18, the director of public health nursing at the Virginia Department of Health; and Ram Bhagat GC ’19, manager of school climate and culture strategy for Richmond Public Schools.

Saturday’s festivities will close at 7:30 p.m. with a live streamed concert from the 91短视频 music department’s various ensembles. Then, on Sunday morning at 10:30, join alumni from all over the world to celebrate and pray together for the world and 91短视频 in a homecoming worship service.