FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (1/06)
Contact: Lynn Stewart or Kelsey Johnson, Centenary News Service, 318-841-7265

See also
Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees
Homecoming Weekend Schedule
Shreveport Times Feature about Handbook of Critical Approaches

Homecoming at Centenary College Begins with Tribute to 40th Anniversary of A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature on Feb. 2

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College will open its Homecoming Weekend with its annual Founders’ Day Convocation at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, in Brown Chapel. The program is open to the public.

This year’s convocation will include a tribute to the 40th anniversary of A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, an English textbook authored by Centenary professor Earle Labor, professor emeritus Lee Morgan, former Centenary professors Wilfred Guerin and John Willingham, and Centenary alumna Jeanne Reesman, Class of 1977. The guest speaker will be John Hardt, Class of 1974, dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs at Brevard College in North Carolina.

Now in its fifth edition, A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature is a comprehensive guide for the interpretation of literary works and is used in college classrooms across the country. It is the first textbook of its kind and has been translated into over half a dozen languages. Conceived by Centenary English professors and authored by those professors and an alumna, the Handbook stands as a testament to collaborative effort at Centenary.

Along with the Founders’ Day Convocation, there will be numerous Homecoming Weekend events open to current students, alumni and the public. The theme this year is "Recollect and Reconnect," highlighting the many opportunities alumni will have to reminisce about days spent at Centenary and to renew their connections with the college.

Centenary's annual Legacy Luncheon will be held on Friday, Feb. 3 in the Fitness Center. This is an invitational luncheon allowing scholarship recipients to thank their donors. Speakers will be Timothy Farrell, Class of 1972, and student Darrius Hills of Alexandria, La. Alumni are invited to bring their college-bound children to the campus that day to learn more about Centenary.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, activities include the annual Homecoming Parade at noon, followed by a pep rally and Centenary Ladies and Gents basketball games at 2 and 4:30 p.m., respectively, in the Gold Dome. Students will recognize the members of the Homecoming Court during halftime of the Gents game.

Additionally during homecoming, the Centenary Alumni Association will announce the recipient of its highest honor, the Alumni Hall of Fame designation, and will announce its Alumni Loyalty Award winner and Honorary Alumnus and Alumna Awards.

The Centenary College Choir will join the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Shreveport Civic Theatre. An all-alumni reception reception will be held before the concert.

For a listing of all Centenary Homecoming 2006 events, see http://www.centenary.edu/alumni/homecoming.

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