Southwest Minnesota State University Homecoming will be held Oct. 1-2, with a host of events surrounding this year’s theme of “Vote Stanger.”

“Homecoming is a time when many alumni choose to return to campus,” said Alumni Director Tyler Bowen. “This year there are a number of events planned and we look forward to seeing alumni and friends of the university take part.”

Entertainment, a parade, Mustang athletics, the University Gala, alumni awards, Dueling Pianos, food and fun will be part of the weekend festivities.

The Alumni Association will honor six individuals this year at a noon luncheon on Friday, Oct. 1 in the Conference Center ballroom. Receiving Alumni Achievement Awards will be Bemidji State University associate professor of business administration Dr. Joann Frederickson, Class of ’84; and a trio of U.S. Navy personnel, Cpt. Jim Norton, Class of ’78; Cpt. Ken Norton, Class of ’81; and Cpt. Reed Eckstrom, Class of ’79.

SMSU graduate Victor Ramirez is helping educate people about college and the college experience at the Minnesota State Fair.

Ramirez has an internship with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) System and works at the system office’s booth at the Great Minnesota Get-together. It is the final requirement for his degree in Speech Communication: Public Relations.

Ramirez has been a fixture in the MnSCU booth in the Education Building on Cosgrove St., where he works mostly in the afternoons.

Ramirez is keeping a daily blog about the questions that are asked by fair-goers. “The blog about higher education. I get all kinds of questions from people and my blog is about the questions I hear throughout the day, expanding on some of the topics” he said.

It was a moment of inspiration.

While camping this summer at Itasca State Park, SMSU English Professor Dr. Elizabeth Blair decided she wanted some lunch. While walking up to the Douglas Lodge on a rainy day, she came upon a newly paved parking lot. It was but one day old. The rain moved on a gradual slope from one end of the lot to a drain on the other and mixed eerily with the pollen from the surrounding trees, making a unique tapestry that appealed to her photographer’s eye.

Thus was born the inspiration for her show at the William Whipple Gallery, which runs through Sept. 23. It is entitled, “Pollen Painting.”

“I saw an interesting, developing show right before me,” she said about that day last June. “I am fascinated by nature, the beauty of it. Here was a show right before my eyes. I was inspired.”