Alumni Weekend has aligned this semester with the Sept. 12 presidential inauguration of Joseph Stowell, Cornerstone University’s 11th president, and will include musical performances by Christian artists Aaron Shust and Pillar.

The event is usually the first weekend in October, but due to overwhelming desire by alumni to have casual time with Stowell, Ben Peterson, director of alumni relations, made the switch.

“We wanted them to have the chance to connect with Dr. Stowell,” Peterson said. “Dr. Stowell is a hero for our alumni.”

Peterson also said that CU used to have a Bible conference featuring Stowell as a guest speaker, and many former students listened to a morning devotional he had on the radio.

“They are extremely excited that he is the president of this university,” he said.

On Friday, the two-day event will kickoff with an intimate student breakfast with Stowell at 9 a.m. This will give students access to the former Moody president before his Cornerstone inauguration at 10.

“The idea is for students to welcome Dr. Stowell and then send him to the inauguration,” said Provost Bayard Baylis. It is a time for students to “come and relax in a good atmosphere and get to know Dr. Stowell, and hopefully, he will get to know them a little bit,” said Simeon Brace, CUSG president. It is about “hearing Stowell’s vision for the campus.”

Waffles with fruit topping, fruit bowls and pastries are some of the treats Brace said will be provided. All Friday classes beginning at 10 a.m. will be canceled and will resume at 1 p.m.

In the evening, there will be a “West Michigan Welcomes Joe and Martie Stowell” banquet for the West Michigan community at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. The event was sold-out in two weeks.

On Saturday, the campus will be turned into a mini outdoor festival that is open and free for alumni, students and the entire Michigan community.

“It’s a different year,” Peterson said. “We want to encourage people to spend the day here. Hang out for the day.” Peterson, who was also chairman of the inauguration committee, said Stowell will be there with his family, including his grandchildren.

This will provide opportunities for alumni, students and attendees to “be able to walk up casually and say, ‘Hey,’” he said. “Saturday is going to be very much for students as well,” he said.

The day will begin with a 5K alumni race beginning at the Hansen Athletic Center, followed by alumni volleyball and softball competitions.

An inflatable obstacle course, laser tag, a guitar hero competition and lawn games, such as crochet and bocce, will be set up for attendees followed by a concert featuring Aaron Shust at 2 p.m.

A CU men’s and women’s soccer match-up against Indiana Tech will also occur during the day. Lunch and dinner will be cookout-style and students will host the 6:30 p.m. Pillar performance.

“We want youth to see the concert,” Peterson said. “They should see that we are excited about what’s going on here.”

Hospitality coordinator, Darci Irwin and her team in CU admissions have joined with the alumni team for this event to promote the Pillar concert.

“We’ve worked with marketing to produce a great postcard,” she said. “We’ve also had students call for the last two weeks, specifically inviting high school students to the concert.”

After Pillar, the Saturday festivities will end with a theatrical performance of Steel Magnolias in the Matthews Auditorium with tickets ranging from $10 to $12.

The alumni weekend will be preceded by a community- wide worship service that invites the West Michigan community to worship along with CU students, faculty and staff at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Bernice Hansen Athletic Center. Classes will be canceled from 10 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.

Later that evening, a battle of the bands will be put on by CUSG. The reason for the event is “to give students and alumni a chance to play on campus,” said Lindsey Jacobs, vice president of student organizations.

The winner of the event will receive $100 cash and will become the opening act for Pillar on Saturday during Alumni Weekend.