Homecoming Weekend got off to a wonderful start with the dedication of Nugent Hall on Friday morning. Named for Timothy Nugent, founder and first director of the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services, the residence hall is the new home of the Beckwith program for students with severe physical disabilities. On hand to congratulate Dr. Nugent, at left in photo, are Joseph Konitzki, who was Dr. Nugent's assistant at DRES, and Brad Hedrick, current director of DRES.

Recipients of the Harold Scharper Awards and the Distinguished Alumni Awards, including Dr. Hitoshi Nishino, had lunch with student leaders in the College of Applied Health Sciences.

AHS Dean Tanya Gallagher cut the ribbon for the dedication of the renovated Audiology Clinic, surrounded by faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science.

Among those attending the dedication of the Audiology Clinic was Joan Camardo, a 1943 graduate of the speech program who was mentored by Dr. Severina Nelson.

The pre-game tent party on Saturday would not have been as successful without the invaluable assistance of a number of AHS students. They did everything from setting up tables...

...to registering guests...

...to entertaining youngsters at an activity table.

The Marching Illini stopped by to entertain our guests.

The New Orleans Jazz Machine played throughout the tent party.

Our guests enjoyed a hearty breakfast from Classic Events before the Homecoming football game.

Among those attending the tent party were our Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, including Dr. Laura Kann...

Dr. Donald Schum...

and Dr. Frank Hayden, as well as our Scharper Award recipients...

Scharper Achievement Award recipient Carl Suter...

and Scharper Humanitarian Award recipient Tom Brown.

2010 graduate Megan Dean took a break from graduate studies in speech-language pathology to join us...

as did 2010 graduate Brett Zimmerman, member of the first full graduating class of I-LEAP Scholars who is continuing his studies in sport management at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Liz Pelletier, a senior in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science and intern in Advancement/Academic Affairs in AHS, was a member of the 2010 Homecoming Court. She is pictured with AHS Dean Tanya Gallagher.