![]()
RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 10, 2012) – South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students are gearing up for M Week activities Sept. 16-22, and homecoming this year takes on a special significance as it marks the 100th anniversary of M Hill.
M Week includes a wide array of activities for students, with the public invited to Saturday, Sept. 22, game-day festivities on Main Street Square, followed by a parade and an evening football game against William Jewell College.
This year’s theme is “Hollywood.”
Seniors and freshman will kick off homecoming events with a Sunday, Sept. 16, picnic at Dinosaur Park. At the end of the picnic students will place an “M” banner over the dinosaur to signal the start of M Week.
The public is invited to join in festivities at Main Street Square beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, where the South Dakota National Guard’s Mobile Events Team will host inflatable activities for children until the parade begins at 3 p.m. There is no admission charge. The parade heads west from the starting point at Third and Main streets. At Seventh Street the parade will turn south, then east onto Saint Joseph Street, ending at the School of Mines campus.
One highlight of the parade will be the debut of a new Willy the Whale for Storybook Island. School of Mines civil engineering students have spent the past several months restoring the 60-year-old landmark, a project which remains in progress.
The School of Mines American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter has taken up the mantle of restoring Willy back to his former state of glory after it survived the devastating flood of 1972 and other effects of Mother Nature. Willy’s steel and rebar frame is complete and has been decorated for M Week festivities. Following the parade, work will continue on Willy for another week before he will be transported to Storybook Island where his concrete will be poured in October.
Other highlights of M Week include the School of Mines picnic at noon Friday, Sept. 21, at Founders Park off West Omaha Street, followed by the traditional M Hill climb.
The trek up the hillside takes on a special meaning this year as the university observes the 100th birthday of the installation of the “M,” which was originally constructed with rocks carried up by horses and wagons. Additional 100th anniversary celebration events will occur in October.
M Week Schedule:
- Sunday, Sept. 16: Senior/freshman picnic, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Dinosaur Park
- Monday, Sept. 17: Introduction of candidates, 7 p.m., Surbeck Center Ballroom
- Tuesday, Sept. 18: Free Armadillo’s ice cream, 4-7 p.m., Armadillo’s
- Tuesday, Sept. 18: Free movie, 9 p.m., Elks Theatre
- Wednesday, Sept. 19: Hypnotist Sailesh, 7 p.m., Surbeck Center Ballroom
- Thursday, Sept. 20: Coronation and bonfire, 7 p.m., Surbeck Center Ballroom and parking lot
- Friday, Sept. 21: M Hill picnic and M Hill climb, noon, Founders Park
- Saturday, Sept. 22: Inflatable activities for children, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Main Street Square
- Saturday, Sept. 22: M Day parade, 3 p.m., Downtown Rapid City
- Saturday, Sept. 22: M Day football game against William Jewell College, 5 p.m., O’Harra Stadium (Dunham Field)
- Sunday, Sept. 23: Student/Alumni Connection Golf Tournament, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Executive Golf Course
Online: Find out more about M Week activities at http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/m-week.