Owensboro, Ky. (July 9, 2015) – Kentucky Wesleyan College will host events in nine cities throughout the United States over the next three months, as part of an aggressive outreach effort to connect with alumni and friends across the country. The slate includes six summer gatherings centered around the national pastime. “Play Ball with the Panthers” begins on July 20 and features stops at the following regional ballparks:
July 20: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio (Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs)
July 21: Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio (Columbus Clippers vs. Louisville Bats)
July 22: Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Ky. (Louisville Bats vs. Columbus Clippers)
July 23: Victory Field in Indianapolis, Ind. (Indianapolis Indians vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders)
Aug. 20: Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Ky. (Bowling Green Hot Rods vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps)
Aug. 21: First Tennessee Park in Nashville, Tenn. (Nashville Sounds vs. Albuquerque Isotopes)
Baseball events include a pregame reception with food and beverages and a ticket to the game. Games in Louisville, Bowling Green and Nashville feature all-inclusive premium seating. Prices range from $25-$35 per person and can be purchased by contacting the Alumni Association at (270) 852-3146 or via e-mail at alumni@kwc.edu.
In addition to the baseball events, the annual Winchester Picnic, honoring those affiliated with the College prior to its move to Owensboro in 1951, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the site of the former campus along College Street in Winchester, Ky. Cost is $10 per person.
On Aug. 28, Wesleyan is the featured sponsor for the weekly Friday After 5 outdoor festival along the Owensboro riverfront. Student-athletes and coaches will take part in the festivities, which will include kid-friendly basketball and football contests, along with musical performances on all four stages by Wesleyan students from 5 – 6:30 p.m. The school’s new Panther mascot will be officially unveiled during the evening and will be available for photos.
As college football kicks off in the fall, the Panthers open their 2015 season on Thursday night, Sept. 3, as they travel to Murray State to face the Racers in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Stewart Stadium. A pregame tailgate for fans, hosted by the Alumni Association, will take place beginning two hours prior to the game.
On Friday, Sept. 18, a gathering for alumni in the St. Louis, Mo., area will take place at the home of Deborah and Ted Dearing in the historic University City district, located 15 minutes west of downtown St. Louis.
Kentucky Wesleyan’s annual Homecoming festivities are scheduled for Oct. 23-24 on campus as the Panthers host Louisiana College for a 1 p.m. Saturday kickoff, and the Alumni Association plans to host
additional events throughout the year in Kentucky, including a visit to historic Churchill Downs during the track’s spring meet. Representatives of the school will also travel to Florida, New York, California, Texas and Illinois in the coming months to connect with other alumni and supporters of the college.
“We need to create more opportunities, and in more places, for alumni and friends to engage with Kentucky Wesleyan,” said Tom Keith, Vice President for Advancement. “Sixty-one percent of our alums live in Kentucky, but we have thousands more outside the Commonwealth who are just as important. This is about being proactive and making it easy for everyone to connect with us.”
For more information, to register for these events or to host an event in your area, contact the Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Association at (270) 852-3146 or email alumni@kwc.edu.
-Kentucky Wesleyan College-