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 (Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) [Click to enlarge] |
The Friday and Saturday reunion includes planned events and free time for alumni and friends to gather.
"Were you an athlete for Westmar?" reunion committee member Glenn Jagodzinske wrote in a letter to alumni. "For many of us, the opportunity to play sports drew us to Westmar initially."
Jagodzinske noted the college had great teams and won championships.
"But more importantly, we made lifetime friends and memories," he wrote. "Many became coaches and sent their athletes to Westmar."
Jagodzinske played football at Westmar and later returned to coach at the college.
He was a member of the team which in 1968 won its fifth consecutive Tri-State Conference championship and a year in which the team went without a tie or a defeat.
According to the Eagle yearbook, Westmar's football coach Jack Scott was the "winningest" college football coach in the nation and the college, entering several records in the college's record books.
Returning football players will have an opportunity to relive their time on the gridiron as they view football films starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. The films are from the Westmar archives and players' collections.
At noon, a football lunch for coaches, players, spouses and friends, will be held in the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center. Reservations are necessary.
Reunion organizers encourage football players from all years to come and reminisce and share their memories of Saturday afternoon Eagle football games at the stadium now known as Jim Lorenzen Field and owned by Le Mars Community Schools.
Dr. Wayne Marty, alumna and longtime biology professor at the college, will conduct a campus tour at 1:30 p.m. The tour will give alumni an opportunity to learn about how campus facilities are now being used after the City of Le Mars took over ownership of the campus property after the college closed in November 1997.
Informal class pictures will be taken in the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center at 5 p.m.
The reunion banquet will be at 6 p.m., also at the Convention Center. Reservations are necessary.
Friday evening offers a special event for the reunion early arrivals.
The Westmar Alumni and Friends Association is hosting a "Rock n Roll Party" at the Le Mars Municipal Swimming Pool from 8 to 10 p.m.
The "Meet and Greet" will feature DJ Ray Tucker's Rock and Roll Show.
"This is the first time such an event has been hosted at the pool," said Kooiker.
Anonymous alumni are sponsoring the DJ's show, which will include favorite songs from the '60s and concession food for purchase.
Tucker is a popular DJ in the Iowa Great Lakes area.
"We have several activities planned but also are allowing time for alums to visit places they remember and also get re-acquainted with Le Mars," said Dixie Kooiker, reunion committee member.
To make reservations for the reunion weekend, visit the The Westmar Alumni and Friends Association (WAFA) website at www.westmarcollege.org or contact Jan Kooiker at the alumni office at 712-546-7002.
The WAFA office is located in the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars. The museum has a room dedicated to Westmar memorabilia and also houses the college's archives.
Jan Kooiker serves as executive director of WAFA with Mary Holub as communications director.
Membership in WAFA includes a quarterly newsletter of the Westmar University Alumni and Friends Association.
Dixie Kooiker encourages all Westmar alumni and friends to attend the reunion. She added a number of those who chose to attend Westmar College also decided to call Le Mars home following their graduation.
"The reunion is a time to share all those good memories we have of Westmar," she said.