Homecoming 2021

All events are in eastern time zone.

Convocation | 11 a.m. 
Collegedale Church or southern.edu/streaming
Speaker: Chantal Klingbeil, M.Phil

Chantal Klingbeil is an Associate Director of Ellen G. White Estate. Co-author of the book Illuminating Shadow Figures of the Bible, a 2010 Adult Bible Study Study Guide titled Background Characters of the Bible, and many other articles, Chantal currently develops multimedia resources for children, youth, and young adults, while managing social media for the White Estate.


Virtual Alumni Awards Ceremony | 6:30 p.m. 
southern.edu/streaming | RSVP HERE

Join us virtually as we recognize the 2021 award recipients. The award ceremony will be live-streamed at southern.edu/streaming.

• David Jimenez, ‘75, Distinguished Service
• Esther (Kim) Liu, ‘02, Alumna of the Year
• Chris Stiles, ‘14, Young Alumnus of the Year
• K. Jamal Hopson, ‘09, Graduate Studies Alumnus of the Year
• Holly (Jones) Greer, ‘92 & ‘17, Southern Lady of the Year
• Eric and Sherri Schoonard, Honorary Alumni

E.O. Grundset Lecture Series | 8 p.m. 
Lynn Wood Hall Chapel or southern.edu/streaming
Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Geach, '01, M.D.

In Dr. Geach's presentation entitled, "Comfortably Numb," he will discuss the anatomy and physiology of nerve blocks and his career as a pain specialist.

All events are in eastern time zone.

Explore Campus | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
-  Take a self-guided tour of campus and visit with academic areas
-  Visit Lynn Wood Hall chapel and the Dollhouse
-  Explore the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum


Psychology Symposium | 8:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Various Locations | Learn More

Alumni are invited to attend the School of Education and Psychology's annual symposium. Click here to see the schedule of events and click here to RSVP for the Lunch and Learn.  


Smart Planning Workshop: How to Reduce Taxes and Leave More to Heirs | 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Collegedale Church South Wing, Lead Room | RSVP HERE
Speaker: Ken Turpen

Join us in person or virtually for this event! A continental breakfast will be provided from 9:15 - 9:30 a.m. 

In almost every estate are hidden taxes that one can avoid. If you are interested in learning how you may reduce or eliminate taxes and leave more to your heirs, this is the workshop for you. Additionally, we will talk about recent legislation regarding transferring your estate to the next generation. Smart planning makes a world of difference. 

Bietz Center for Student Life Tour | 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Bietz Center for Student Life Lobby

Join Joey (Norwood) Tolbert, '01 and '07, facilities manager, and students for a tour of the new student center. We are grateful to alumni and friends for their financial contributions that made this building a reality!


School of Business Alumni Luncheon | 12 p.m.
Wright Hall, Presidential Banquet Room or southern.edu/streaming | RSVP HERE

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

School of Business alumni and former faculty are invited to an executive luncheon, as we recognize distinguished alumni and connect with former colleagues. 


Math Department Virtual Reunion | 2-3 p.m.
Hosted on Zoom | RSVP HERE to receive the link

Math Department alumni and former faculty are invited to this come-and-go virtual event to reconnect with classmates and professors.


Physics and Engineering Department Hybrid Reunion | 3-4 p.m.
Hickman Science Center, #1409 | RSVP HERE

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

Physics and Engineering alumni are invited to this come-and-go event to reconnect with classmates and professors while also getting to experience live demos and tours of the Advanced Physics lab. 


Picnic in the Park | 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Student Park | RSVP HERE

Alumni and their families are invited to join the Alumni Association for a complimentary picnic. Reconnect with former classmates and meet new friends around the campfire!


Southern Scholars 40th Anniversary Reunion Dinner and Vespers | 6 p.m.
McKee Library | RSVP HERE
Speaker: Ryan Thurber, '10, JD

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

Southern Scholars alumni are invited to join current students in the program for dinner and to celebrate 40 years of critical and creative thinking, leadership development, and lifelong learning since the program was founded in 1981.


Vespers and AfterGlow | 7:30 p.m. 
Collegedale Church or southern.edu/streaming
Speaker: Anthony WagenerSmith, '03

Alumni are invited to join students in welcoming the Sabbath during this long-standing, meaningful Southern tradition followed by Afterglow, an opportunity to engage in deeper conversations and experience community. Learn more about Anthony WagenerSmith, '03. 


BCU Reunion Vespers | 7:30 p.m. 
Lynn Wood Hall Chapel | RSVP HERE 

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

Black Christian Union alumni are invited to join current students in welcoming the Sabbath together.

All events are in eastern time zone.

Adoration Worship Service | 9 a.m.
Collegedale Church or southern.edu/streaming
Speaker: Don Keele, Jr., '81

Join us in person or virtually for this event! A family-oriented traditional worship experience built around Christ-centered preaching. 

Don Keele Jr., '81, lives in Calhoun, Georgia, where he currently serves as the Young Adult Ministries and Adventist Christian Fellowship Director at the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He has spent his career pastoring children, teens, and young adults and plugging them into active ministry in the church.

Through the years, he has answered to many titles, but the one most of his friends and parishioners know him by is simply Pastor Don. He lives with his lovely wife of 40 years, Sandy (Rowe), attended. He is also father to two incredible adult children: Andrea, ’06, and Donnie III, ’08; and one awesome daughter-in-law, Rachel (Hopkins), ‘10.

BS Nursing Class of 1976 | 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Collegedale Church Fellowship Hall or via Zoom | RSVP HERE
Hosted by Jan (Schram) Mathews, '76, and Tina (DeVries) Ruf, '76

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

The BS Nursing Class of 1976 will meet for Sabbath School at 10 a.m. and a special church service at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at 12 p.m. For those unable to attend in person, the group will host a virtual reunion via Zoom at 6 p.m.


Archaeology Lecture | 10:30 a.m.
Hulsey Wellness Center, rooms 3145, 3149 or via Zoom | RSVP HERE
Presenter: Michael Hasel, PhD, School of Religion Professor and Director of the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

Dr. Hasel will present, “From Script to Scripture: Continuing the Reformation.” This topic will focus on the unique exhibit From Script to Scripture in Southern’s Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum containing some of the rarest Bibles and Reformation documents, including an original Bifolium of the Gutenberg Bible, an original 1611 King James Bible, the first two Waldensian Bibles translated into French (1500, 1534), a first edition of Luther’s 95 Theses, and the Bible of the Revolution (1782). Rediscover the sacrifices of the early Reformers and the legacy they have left us today.


Renewal Worship Service | 11:45 a.m.
Collegedale Church or southern.edu/streaming
Speaker: Don Keele, Jr., '81

A student-led worship service planned with the entire community in mind. 


Merge Worship Service | 11 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.
Lynn Wood Hall Chapel or stream online

A student-led and community-led soulful place of praise.


Sabbath Lunch | 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Iles P.E. Center | RSVP HERE

Catered lunch for alumni and their families. Honor classes can also meet to take photos at this time.


Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum | 2-5 p.m.
Hackman Hall

Journey into the biblical world! The museum is honored to be the home of the William G. Dever Near Eastern Collection, which, together with other donations and acquisitions, provides the basis for a stunning visual display of more than two hundred objects from Egypt, Babylonia, Persia, Syria-Palestine, Greece, Cyprus, and Anatolia. 


Thatcher Farm Tour | 2 - 3 p.m.
Past Collegedale Academy, turn right, continue up the hill, farm is on the right.

Join Seth Shaffer, ’13, and current students for a tour of the campus farm that uses organic methods to produce vegetables and fruits year-round with the primary focus on offering agriculture training so that students, faculty, and community members can learn to garden.


School of Nursing Open House and Virtual Honor Classes Reunions | 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 
AdventHealth Hall, room 1210 or via Zoom | RSVP HERE

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

The School of Nursing will recognize alumni achievements during their annual awards ceremony. Following the program, honor classes will be able to reconnect via Zoom in breakout rooms available for online chat. 


Bietz Center for Student Life Tour | 3 p.m.
Bietz Center for Student Life Lobby

Join Joey (Norwood) Tolbert, '01 and '07, facilities manager, and students for a tour of the new student center. We are grateful to alumni and friends for their financial contributions that made this building a reality!


Biology Department Origins Exhibit Tour | 3-4 p.m.
Hickman Science Center, second floor

Join Keith Snyder, PhD, Dean of the Biology Department, and other professors for a tour of the Origins exhibit. The exhibit offers an understanding of origins from a creationist worldview. Consider the intricacy of the cell, the relationship between the Geologic Column and the biblical flood, and the significance of beauty in nature.


School of Music Virtual Reunion | 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Hosted on Zoom | RSVP HERE to receive the link

School of Music alumni, former ensemble members, and former faculty are invited to this come-and-go virtual event to reconnect with classmates and professors. 


BCU Panel Discussion: The Color of Christianity | 4:30 p.m. 
Thatcher Hall Chapel | RSVP HERE 

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

The Black Christian Union club on campus invites alumni to join current students for this panel discussion. 


Chemistry Department Virtual Reunion | 5-6 p.m.
Hosted on Zoom | RSVP HERE to receive the link

Chemistry Department alumni and former faculty are invited to this come-and-go virtual event to reconnect with classmates and professors. The department will also recognize those who have served others under challenging conditions during the pandemic.


English Department Virtual Reunion | 5-6 p.m.
Hosted on Zoom | RSVP HERE to receive the link

English Department alumni and former faculty are invited to this come-and-go virtual event to reconnect with classmates and professors. 


School of Journalism and Communication Virtual Reunion | 5-6 p.m.
Hosted on Zoom | RSVP HERE to receive the link

School of Journalism and Communication alumni and former faculty are invited to this come-and-go virtual event to reconnect with classmates and professors.


50-Year Combined Reunion | 5:30 p.m. 
Collegedale Church South Wing, Lead Room | RSVP HERE
Hosted by Ben Maxson, '71, and Mary Holmes-Maxson, '70

Join us in person or virtually for this event! Members of the classes of 1970 and 1971 are invited to reconnect with former classmates. For those unable to attend in person, the group will host a virtual reunion via Zoom at 6 p.m. A light supper will be provided.


Evensong | 7 p.m.
Collegedale Church or southern.edu/evensong

Join us in person or virtually for this event!

A special concert by Deep 6, a Southern alumni low brass-ensemble featuring: Darin Bissell, '03, and Brian Dickinson, '97, (Horns), Ron Johnson, '79, (Trombone), Reggie Thomas, '00, (Bass Trombone), Shane Nelson, '92, (Euphonium), and Shawn Nelson, '89, (Tuba).


25-Year Combined Reunion | 7:30 p.m.
Collegedale Commons Complex, 4950 Swinyar Dr, Collegedale, TN 37363 | RSVP HERE
Hosted by Rob, '95, and Angi (Ascher) Howell, '95

Join us in person or virtually for this event! Dinner will be provided for alumni and their families. 

Members of the classes of 1995 and 1996 are invited to reconnect with former classmates. For those unable to attend in person, the group will host a virtual reunion via Zoom at 8 p.m. 


Southern Shuffle Moonlight 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run | 8 p.m.
Mabel Wood Hall, Parking Lot | RSVP HERE

This event is open to all ages and skill levels on a cross-campus course. Event participation fee is $10 and all pre-registered participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

All events are in eastern time zone.

Alumni Golf Tournament | 9 a.m.
The Ooltewah Club | RSVP HERE

Join us for Southern's annual alumni golf tournament, hosted by your alumni volunteer golf committee. Space is limited. This four-person scramble, three-flight tournament is open to the first 112 individuals who complete their registration. Learn more at southern.edu/golf.

On-campus lodging is temporarily suspended.

For your convenience, the following hotels are located a short distance from campus and offer a discount* to those visiting Southern.  Please specify that you would like the "Southern Adventist University Discount" upon calling:

• Hampton Inn—Ooltewah
  423.305.6800
• Holiday Inn Express—Ooltewah
  423.591.8500 
• Springhill Suites—Ooltewah
  423.301.5669

*Discounts may cease to be offered during events or when a certain number of bookings has been surpassed.  

By choosing to attend Homecoming Weekend in-person, attendees are acknowledging the possibility of exposure to COVID-19. Vaccination for COVID-19 is not required, but strongly encouraged.

Masks are required indoors. (Exceptions are when eating, teaching, working in private space, and in residence hall rooms.)

If you feel ill or recently tested positive for COVID-19, please do not attend Homecoming in-person events.

For more information, please visit the Safety Information and Updates website.

If you are unable to join us for Homecoming Weekend events in person, we look forward to seeing you virtually! Reunions will be hosted via Zoom. 

For the best experience download Zoom at least one hour before the meeting. Download the free Zoom app here. 

If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, we encourage you to watch these video tutorials.