Incoming Lamoni Campus Graceland students for Fall 2023 –

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Homecoming

September 29 –
October 1, 2023

We are thrilled to welcome alumni and friends back to campus for Graceland’s 2023 Homecoming festivities. Join fellow alumni and friends in Lamoni for a weekend of food, fellowship and fun.

September 29-October 1, 2023

We will share more details about this exciting event early this fall.

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Honor Classes

1963  |  1973  |  1983  |  1988  |  1993  |  1998  |  2003  |  2013

In addition to a special dinner for these honor classes, we will have activities, events and meals planned for all alumni regardless of class year.

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Alumni Awards Banquet - 2022

Every Homecoming, Graceland honors distinguished alumni and friends at its annual alumni awards banquet. It recognizes three awards: the Graceland Award of Recognition, the Honorary Alumni Award, and the Distinguished Service Award and new this year, we are happy to recognize our Wall of Fame and Hall of Fame inductees.

This year’s award winners included:

  • Hall of Fame: Elizabeth Beckman-Baethke, ’94
  • Hall of Fame: Jim Reynolds, ’78
  • Hall of Fame: Mike Stowell, ’98
  • Graceland Award of Recognition: Kent Bradford, ’79
  • Honorary Alumni Award: Rachelle Johnson
  • Distinguished Service Award: Everett Graffeo, ’56
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Hall of Fame and Wall of Fame

Each year, Graceland inducts distinguished alumni into its athletic program’s hall of fame and wall of fame. Since they were established, Graceland has honored those alumni each Homecoming with a presentation at halftime of the Homecoming football game. This year, we are also honoring these alumni at the Friday night Alumni and Friends Awards Banquet to be held in the Shaw Center Lobby.

We will announce the 2023 schedule of events in the fall.

In the meantime, below are all the fun and exciting events we hosted during the 2022 Homecoming weekend.

Event Ticket
Indicates a ticketed event.

  • Thursday, September 29, 2022
    TIME EVENT LOCATION
    7:30 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Homecoming Production: The Play That Goes Wrong

    The Cornley Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

    Shaw Center/Shaw Family Auditorium
  • Friday, September 30, 2022
    TIME EVENT LOCATION
    8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Alumni Board Meeting Newcom Student Union/CETL, Room 18
    11:30 a.m. Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament

    Registration opens at 11:30 a.m., tournament starts at Noon
    Putting contest followed by four-person best shot tournament.The $40 entry fee supports the Graceland Golf program

    Lamoni Municipal Golf Course
    3 – 6 p.m. Softball Home Run Derby North Park
    4 p.m. Baseball Alumni Game North Park
    5 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Alumni and Friends Awards Banquet ($30/person)

    Shaw Center Lobby
    7 p.m. Art Show and Reception: Collage by Jim Murray

    Jim Murray (b.1951) originally from Clinton, Iowa, graduated from Graceland University with a BA in Elementary Education and Art in 1997. Murray studied with Bette Sellars and Steve Greenquist in the old art building of Kelley Hall. Prior to his Graceland experience, Murray underwent extensive world travel that later informed his body of work in Collage.

    Since Graduating from Graceland Murray has been teaching Studio Art at Seymour Community School for the past 25 years. Murray hopes that by sharing his work with the community it will inspire others to start making their own collages. Murray currently lives and works in Humeston, Iowa.

    Helene Center/Constance Art Gallery
    7:30 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Homecoming Production: The Play That Goes Wrong

    The Cornley Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

    Shaw Center/Shaw Family Auditorium
    10 p.m. Air Band Morden Center
  • Saturday, October 1, 2022
    TIME EVENT LOCATION
    8:30-10 a.m. Women’s Volleyball Intersquad Scrimmage Morden Center
    9-10:30 a.m. Gadets Alumni Event Shaw Center/Movement Room
    9-10:30 a.m. Harmony & SAGE Reception Resch Science and Technology Hall #106
    9:30 a.m.
    Event Ticket
    Ergo and Friends Recital
    (tickets required, no charge)
    Shaw Center/Carol Hall
    9:30-10:30 a.m. Resch Open House

    Student demonstrations along with robotics, gaming and more. Former CS, CE, CIS, IT, CSIT, Biology and Chemistry majors are encouraged to stop by.

    Resch Science and Technology Hall #130
    9:30-11 a.m. Agape Pastry Reception Gunsolley Hall/Dan B. Kelley Lounge
    10 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Soccer vs Alumni Training Pitch
    10-10:30 a.m. Alumni Endowed Scholarship presentation Shaw Center Lobby
    10-11 a.m. Women’s Varsity Volleyball vs Alumni Morden Center
    10 a.m.-1 p.m. International Club Silent Auction Campus Quad (In case of rain, location will be moved to Newcom Student Union/Great Room.)
    10 a.m. Future Student Campus Tours Higdon Administration Building/Lobby
    11 a.m. Pep Rally
    (In case of rain, location will be moved to Shaw Center Lobby.)
    Shaw Center Amphitheatre
    11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Yellowjacket Tailgate Party
    ($8.25/person credit/debit card only at the event)

    Hamburgers, hotdogs, walking tacos, potato salad, coleslaw, chips, cookies and a drink.

    Campus Quad (In case of rain, lunch will be available in the Commons or The Swarm.)
    12-2 p.m. Men’s Basketball Open Practice/Scrimmage Morden Center
    12-2 p.m. Sustainability Garden Open House Hoop House (east of the water tower)
    1:35 p.m. Freeman Awards Presentation

    Tom ’55 and Terry Moore ’56 Freeman present medals to the top scholar-athletes in each sport.

    Huntsman Field (In case of rain, location will be moved to Morden Center.)
    2 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Homecoming Football Game vs Baker University

    Half-time: Hall of Fame Inductions.
    Online tickets with a valid ID are required for entrance.

    Huntsman Field
    2 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Homecoming Production: The Play That Goes Wrong

    The Cornley Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

    Shaw Center/Shaw Family Auditorium
    5 p.m. 10, 20, and 25 Honor Class Dinners
    ($10.50/person credit/debit card only at the door)
    Floyd M. McDowell Commons (east side)
    5 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    50-year Honor Class Dinner
    ($30/person)
    Newcom Student Union/Great Room
    5 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    30, 35, 40, and 60 Honor Class Dinners ($30/person)

    Shaw Center Lobby
    6 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Women’s Soccer vs. Central Methodist University

    Online tickets with a valid ID are required for entrance.

    “The Razz” Soccer Facility
    6 p.m. Softball vs Alumni North Park
    7:30 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Music Showcase
     Grand concert featuring the Graceland University Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Harmonium, and Orchestra. Entrance is free but tickets are required.  
    Shaw Center/Shaw Family Auditorium
    8:30 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Men’s Soccer vs. Central Methodist University

    Online tickets with a valid ID are required for entrance.

    “The Razz” Soccer Facility
    9 – 11 p.m. Food Trucks and Music
    (Accepting cash and credit/debit card payments)

    Food trucks will be parked in the circle drive on Saturday night and music will be playing throughout the campus. Gather with your friends for food and fun!

    Campus Quad / Circle Drive
  • Sunday, October 2, 2022
    TIME EVENT LOCATION
    8 a.m. Crescent Breakfast Helene E101
    8:30 a.m. Communion Service Cheville Chapel
    10:30 a.m. Homecoming Worship Service Shaw Center/Shaw Family Auditorium
    11:30 a.m. The President’s Brunch

    This “invitation only” event salutes Presidential Society members and Heritage Club inductees.

    Newcom Student Union/Great Room
    2 p.m.
    Event Ticket
    Homecoming Production: The Play That Goes Wrong

    The Cornley Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

    Shaw Center/Shaw Family Auditorium

Lodging Information

Looking for a place to stay near Lamoni? We’ve got you covered.

BUSINESSDISTANCEPHONEWEBSITE
Cobblestone Inn & Suites
Lamoni, IA
2.4 miles641.784.4000
Rodeway Inn
Lamoni, IA
2.1 miles319.315.0080
Eagles Landing
Eagleville, MO
14 miles660.867.5228
Little River Inn Motel
Leon, IA
16.1 miles641.446.4884
Lesanville Inn at Ramsey Farms
Mt. Ayr, IA
17.8 miles641.414.8550
Charlie-Jane's B&B
Mt. Ayr, IA
22.8 miles641.464.2564
Mount Ayr Inn
Mt. Ayr, IA
21.5 miles641.464.3500
Armstrong Guest house
Mt. Ayr, IA
24 miles641.344.5553
Quality Inn & Suites
Bethany, MO
25.8 miles660.425.8006
Family Budget Motel
Bethany, MO
25.8 miles660.425.7915
Super 8
Bethany, MO
25.9 miles660.240.0597
Relax Inn
Osceola, IA
32.2 miles641.342.2123
AmericInn of Osceola
Osceola, IA
32.5 miles641.342.9400
Quality Inn
Osceola, IA
32.2 miles641.342.6666
Super 8
Osceola, IA
32.2 miles641.638.6475
Evergreen Inn
Osceola, IA
33.2 miles641.342.3162
Blue Haven Motel
Osceola, IA
33.4 miles641.342.2115
Lakeside Hotel & Casino
Osceola, IA
*Ask for the Graceland Rate*
34 miles641.342.9511
Hotel Rea
Corydon, IA
39.3 miles641.895.6074
Nodyroc Motel
Corydon, IA
39.4 miles641.872.2533
Inn of the Six-Toed Cat
Allerton, IA
40.2 miles641.873.4900

Airbnb

The Lamoni area has a few Airbnb options, though Graceland cannot verify their quality. Search for locations here.

RV Camping on Campus

Graceland has several RV camping spots on campus, located in the parking lot southwest of Resch Science and Technology Hall. No reservations are accepted – all camping spots are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Suggested rate: $15 per camper, per night. Please deposit RV fees in the drop box located at the northwest corner of the west events parking lot.

Facilities include

  • Eight full hookup spots (the larger spaces located on the west side of the lot) are equipped with dedicated water, sewer and an electrical pedestal that provides both a 50 amp and a 20 amp receptacle.
  • Four single pedestal connections provide a 30 amp and a 20 amp electrical connection.
  • Two double pedestal connections contain two 30 amp and two 20 amp electrical connections.
  • Six non-dedicated water spigots are not meant for dedicated RV connection. These are in addition to the dedicated water spigots in the full hookup spaces.
  • One sanitary sewer disposal station

Nine Eagles State Park

There are three campgrounds with 68 campsites (28 with electrical hookups), modern showers, restrooms and a trailer dump station just 12 miles from Graceland at Iowa’s Nine Eagles State Park. Find out more information and make reservations.

Contact Alumni Programs

Email our alumni programs team at alumni@graceland.edu or call us toll-free at 866.GU4.EVER tel:866.484.3837