Posted on Friday, September 26, 2025
From the Flashback Friday party to the Red-and-Black tailgate, the enduring Panther spirit will be in full force as students and alumni gather on the Hill for Homecoming 2025 Oct. 16-19.
“As the years pass and the family gets larger, we enjoy introducing new generations to the time-honored traditions we hold dear,” said Martha Pirkle, Director of Alumni and Community Relations.
The festivities will start with a trip down to Truvy's Beauty Parlor in Chinquapin, Louisiana, in LC Theatre’s production of “Steel Magnolias.” The show opens Oct. 16 and runs through Oct. 19. Performance times are 7 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
During the week, Student Life will host various activities for the campus community. On Sunday, Oct. 12, there will be a praise kickoff and fellowship brunch held on the Residential Quad, followed by the Panther Ball, 90’s skate night, karaoke night and pep rally.
A close-knit bond
Homecoming is more than an annual celebration for Dr. Joy Baker Leaks ’02, Alumni Association President.
“It’s a time when memories, friendships and Panther pride come alive, reminding us that the Hill will always feel like home,” she said.
Mary Leslie Hardy ’93, Alumni Association President-Elect, said she loves reconnecting with the friends who shaped her life.
“We’ve always been a tight-knit circle, keeping in touch and maintaining relationships not only with our classmates but also with those in the years ahead of us and behind us,” she said. Homecoming is a reminder that no matter where life takes us, these friendships, memories, and moments of togetherness remain a lasting source of happiness and belonging.”
Embracing past and present
Homecoming weekend will feature events familiar and more recent to the lineup.
It will begin with the 41st Tom Duckett Golf Classic on Friday, Oct. 17, with registration at 8 a.m. and a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the Sports Management Club and LC Athletics.
Next, the Alumni Awards luncheon will be held at noon at Turner Hall. The event will honor Sarah Funderburk ’45, celebrating her 80th reunion. The ceremony will also feature the presentation of the 2025 Honorary Alumni Award to Marcia Brown, the 2025 Outstanding Young Alumni Award to Robert Allen Jr. ’19 and the 2025 Shackelford Alumni Achievement Awards to J. Christopher King ’88 and Emily Thigpen McCarthy ’04 RSVP is requested. The cost is $25 per person.
Later in the evening, the celebration will move downtown for the annual Flashback Friday party at Overlook Plaza, next to Wild Leap Brewing Company. The River City Horns, an R&B Soul and Contemporary band from Columbus, Georgia, will return to perform.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, Men’s Basketball will host a meet-and-greet event for alumni at 10 a.m. in Mariotti Gym.
Other Saturday events include an open house at Lamar Dodd Art Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Red and Black Reunion Row with a registration tent that will be in the Callaway Auditorium parking lot from 10 a.m. until the end of halftime. The Panther football team will go up against Brevard at 1 p.m. at Callaway Stadium. Halftime will feature the announcement of the 2025 Homecoming Mr. and Mrs. 1831.
Following the football game, the second-annual cornhole tournament will take place at Panther Field. It will begin at 5 p.m. Trophies will be awarded.
The week will close with the annual Memorial Service on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 10:30 a.m., at the Chapel. It will honor the lives of alumni and members of the LC community who have passed away since Homecoming 2024.
For a complete schedule, visit the Homecoming website.
Creative Prayer Practices
Thursday, Oct. 2
11 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room
1-Kelley Mautz, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
2-Bailey Eden, Advancement (Alumni & Community Relations)
11-Trey Sharpe, Admissions
13-Laurinda MacKinnon, Manufacturing Engineering Technology
13-Jan Webb, Financial Aid
14-Kelli Tolbert, Residential Life
16-Martha Pirkle, Advancement (Alumni & Community Relations)
16-Dixie Powers, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
17-Dolph Hardigree, Education
23-Brooke Kinney, Nursing
24-Nikkovia Sweet, Communications & Marketing
27-Christy Vanhoose, Nursing
28-Gretta Milam, Education
30-Kim Pece, Business Office
Football
The Panthers put on a statement performance on Saturday, Sept. 20, with a 20-6 win over regional power Centre College. The team will not play this week, but they will be back on the field on Saturday, Oct. 4, when they play host to North Carolina Wesleyan University in their USA South Conference opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
For the second time, freshman Dami’on Thompson was named USA South’s Offensive Rookie of the Week. In the Panthers’ victory over Centre, he reeled in three catches for 107 yards and one score.
Men's Soccer
LC had a tie and a loss this past week, fighting Greensboro to a 2-2 tie before falling 4-0 to Berry. The team is back on the field on Saturday, Sept. 27, when they play host to Belhaven University in a 3 p.m. conference matchup, the first of the season for both squads. They will stay at home on Sunday, Sept. 28, when they host Millsaps and have their senior day ceremony prior to the match.
Women's Soccer
The Panthers opened the CCS schedule with a 4-0 win at Agnes Scott on Monday, Sept. 22. The team is back on the field on Saturday, Sept. 27, when they host Covenant in a 1 p.m. game.
Women’s Volleyball
LC opened its CCS schedule with a 2-0 record with wins over Belhaven University and Huntingdon College. The team is back on the court on Saturday, Sept. 27, when they travel to Wilmore, Kentucky, for a CCS tri-match against Wesleyan College and host Asbury University.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Saturday, Sept. 27 – Women’s Soccer (Home) vs. Covenant, 1 p.m., Panther Field
Saturday, Sept. 27 – Volleyball vs. Wesleyan (@Asbury), 2 p.m., Wilmore, Kentucky
Saturday, Sept. 27 – Men’s Soccer (Home) vs. Belhaven, 3 p.m., Panther Field
Saturday, Sept. 27 – Volleyball at Asbury, 4 p.m., Wilmore, Kentucky
Sunday, Sept. 28 – Men’s Tennis (Home) vs. MUW, 11 a.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Sunday, Sept. 28 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. MUW, 11 a.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Sunday, Sept. 28 – Men’s Soccer (Home) vs. Millsaps College, 1 p.m., Panther Field
Wednesday, Oct. 1 – Women’s Soccer (Home) vs. Belhaven, 4 p.m., Panther Field
These 10 Georgia colleges made the grade in U.S. News rankings, AJC, Sept. 25
LaGrange College achieves Top 10 ranking, LaGrange Daily News, Sept. 25
Category: Events, Community, Students
Keywords: Festival, Athletics
