Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University's 2017 Homecoming will celebrate the service of the institution's 11th president.

Homecoming weekend will kick off with the 55th running of the Sycamore Tricycle Derby beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct 20. The teams, who will compete in two separate races, reflect campus life -- sororities, fraternities, residence halls and student organizations -- and now feature men's and women's teams racing on specially built tricycles at Recreation East and the Michael Simmons Student Activity Center at Ninth and Sycamore streets.

Activities ramp up on Saturday, Oct. 21, with the 101st annual Blue and White Homecoming Parade at 9 a.m., which will run west on Wabash Avenue to Fifth Street and will end at the intersection of Fifth and Chestnut streets, will be led by Grand Parade Marshals Indiana State President Dan Bradley and First Lady Cheri Bradley.

Bradley, who has served as Indiana State's 11th president since 2008, plans to step down as university from the position in January.

His nine-year tenure as president is marked by improved student success with increases in retention, graduation rates and degree production, an increased focus on community engagement leading to more than 1.3 million hours of service per year by State students and earning a national reputation for Indiana State including several number one national rankings from Washington Monthly's College Guide; development of new degree programs in high-demand fields including numerous health care programs as well as unmanned systems, engineering and others; infusion of experiential learning components into all degree programs; strengthening of relationships with members of the Indiana General Assembly leading to support for the largest capital projects in the university's history; significant improvements to the University's physical plant with more than $300 million in capital projects completed during his tenure including several renovations of historic structures; successful completion of Indiana State's first comprehensive fundraising campaign; continued diversification of the student body, faculty, staff, and campus leadership; a new energy and renewed sense of purpose and cooperation among all of the University's constituencies; and major contributions to the redevelopment of downtown Terre Haute and the riverfront area.

As first lady, Cheri has been instrumental in building campus and community relationships through a variety of activities, including serving lemonade and cookies on the first day of classes and hosting student groups and alumni for dinner at Condit House.

In addition to serving on the boards of several local non-profit organizations, Cheri also started the Women of Indiana State, which meets for brunch twice annually. The group donates gifts for women in need at the winter meeting, and makes donations to fund scholarships for nontraditional women at its spring brunch.

There will be a gala honoring the Bradleys for their service on Friday, Oct. 20 at Hulman Center. A cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The event is black-tie optional. Proceeds will go to the State Works Scholarship Program, which Bradley initiated in 2016. For more information on State Works or to donate to the program go to http://indstate.edu/gala.

Following Saturday's parade, the festivities continue at Memorial Stadium with Tent City opening at 11 a.m., featuring live entertainment, and Indiana State will host Missouri State University for the Homecoming game, beginning at 3:05 p.m.

For more information about Indiana State's Homecoming activities, go to http://www.indstate.edu/homecoming, email ISU-HomeComing@indstate.edu or call 812-237-3773 or 812-237-3830.

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Photo: https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/AD-Headshot-Proofs/Bradley-Dan-and-Cheri-2017-SELECTED/i-37BdQ2L/0/438a7a15/X3/April%2011%2C%202017-%20April%2011%2C%202017-%2004_11_17_Cheri_Dan_Bradley-2197-X3.jpg -- Indiana State University President Bradley and First Lady Cheri Bradley

Photo: https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/AD-Headshot-Proofs/Bradley-Dan-and-Cheri-2017-SELECTED/i-bbDFJ2X/0/0744ae08/X3/April%2011%2C%202017-%20April%2011%2C%202017-%2004_11_17_Cheri_Dan_Bradley-2202-X3.jpg -- Indiana State University President Bradley and First Lady Cheri Bradley

Writer: Betsy Simon, media relations assistant director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-7972 or betsy.simon@indstate.edu