Homecoming takes on an extra special meaning for Alpha Gamma Chi and Lee Singers. The weekend celebrates the 60th anniversary of both the Greek service club and the ensemble.
Both organizations are expected to welcome members back to Lee during several special events Homecoming weekend.
Lee’s campus may see a sea of burgundy and gray with the well-known Alpha Gamma Chi Greek letters as the club, fresh off their recording setting 120-hour softball event, host decades of alumni. Alpha Gamma Chi was founded sixty years ago, in 1963, on the principle “to be a Christian gentleman and scholar to the greater glory of God.”
Zach Constantinescu, the current president of Alpha Gamma Chi is excited to celebrate with those who have molded the club into the clay it is today.
“I’m really excited. I love Homecoming. I love making all these connections with people from the past and hear their stories,” Constantinescu said.
On Friday, November 3, Chi will host a dinner on the Ped Mall from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and end the night with a reception at the Alpha Gamma Chi Fountain at 8 p.m. These events will mirror a family reunion, as members across the span of sixty years will come together to celebrate the club and its continual impact on campus and in the lives of past and present students.
On Saturday, November 4, Chi will begin the day with a 60th Anniversary Celebration Breakfast at 5 Points Museum in downtown Cleveland.
“We’re going to have a couple videos about Alpha Gamma Chi and different things…remembering what we’ve done in sixty years. We’re going to have our big breakfast in the morning… giving away t-shirts and different things. It’s a big get together of a big brotherhood, a big family,” said Constantinescu.
Chi will end its Saturday festivities with a softball game at Intramural Field at 4:30 p.m. The game will feature current Chi members playing against Chi alumni. Softball is wound into the fabric of Chi, with the club breaking world records on three different occasions for the longest softball game.
On Sunday, November 5, Chi will conclude their Homecoming celebration at 10:00 a.m. in the Stone Chapel for a time of prayer, fellowship, and reflection.
Constantinescu said the club is expecting more than 200 members to attend.
Chi’s president hopes that visiting alums arrive at Homecoming expecting a memorable time and leave with even more memories of a club that made a transformative impact in their lives.
“It’s going to be a big family reunion…They’re going to realize, ‘Wow, this is something. I got to be a part of something great,’” Constaninescu said.
Sixty years from now, Constantinescu hopes Chi’s legacy will remain the same: to become Kingdom builders and keep God first in their lives.
“It’s all for the glory of God,” said Constantinescu. “It’s taking a step back and letting Him be in the driver’s seat. I think that’s the legacy we wanted to start and I think it’s the legacy we’re continuing.”
The Lee Singers will be heard making a joyful noise during Homecoming as the ensemble will also celebrate its beginning sixty years ago. The ensemble was established by Dr. Delton Alford in January of 1963.
Amber Trottman, the current president of Lee Singers described the ensemble’s history as a journey through different eras, having a total of four directors and two interim directors: Alford, Burns, Mauldin, and Moffett. Dr. Brad Moffett is the current and longest serving director for Lee Singers, beginning his time as director in 2006.
Over its sixty year course, the Lee Singers have performed on campus, within the United States, and across the world with the honor of sharing the Gospel through their music.
“One of our sayings is ‘God deserves a perfected gift.’ He deserves something we take time in, something that we are willing to get to the best we can, which doesn’t mean that has to be perfect, but not giving Him just two cents, but giving Him everything,” Trottman said.
During Homecoming, Lee Singers will take time to reflect and celebrate the music and memories that have influenced them and others who have heard them perform. At 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 3, past and present Lee Singers will meet in the Conn Center for a choir rehearsal. At 8 p.m., Lee Singers will divide to meet with their era-specific director across campus.
“Friday night there are different meetup spots with all of the different directors. We’re going to have name tags and just mingle with everyone,” Trottman said.
On Saturday, November 4, the Lee Singers reunion choir will perform in the Conn Center at 7:00 p.m. for the Traditions of Lee event.
“Each director has a piece that their directing from their era, which is going to be so amazing,” said Trottman, reflecting her excitement to sing with the different generations of Lee Singers.
At 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, Lee Singers will end their anniversary celebration on a sweet note at Westmore Church of God for their 60th Anniversary Worship Service.
Lee Singers expects to welcome and celebrate with over 500 Singers during Homecoming.
As Singer alums arrive to reminisce, Trottman’s hope is that alum will feel like no time has passed and the legacy of Singers has remained the same.
“That’s how Singers is, it’s this long continuous line of legacy, of beautiful music sung to the Lord and telling people about Jesus…I hope that it feels like nothing has changed and that this legacy will continue on for however long, hopefully sixty more years…I just hope that they feel at home.”
Reservations for various Homecoming events can be made through the Homecoming website at: https://www.leeuniversity.edu/alumni/alumni-events/
