Justin Corriss left New Hampshire to attend Stetson University and never imagined the home and family that he would make 1,300 miles away.

For the senior history major, Homecoming Week is a time for fun activities with his brothers in Lambda Chi Alpha and for socializing with an extended family of Lambda Chi alumni. That’s especially true this week as the fraternity cuts the ribbon Friday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. on its new Lambda Chi Alpha House at 208 E. Pennsylvania Ave.

“One thing that means a lot to me (at Homecoming) is, being from so far away, this fraternity has definitely become a home in and of itself,” said Corriss, who was drawing chalk art outside the Rinker Welcome Center with his fraternity Monday for the Greenfeather competition.

“We have such a great collection of alumni that getting together with them and experiencing the family that I’ve been able to build a thousand odd miles from home is really amazing. I came to Stetson and I never thought I would join a fraternity. Now here I am the vice president and I couldn’t be happier,” he said.

The annual Greenfeather Tradition, which raises $10,000 for charity, kicked off Homecoming 2017 on Sunday, Oct. 29, with student teams competing all week to win the coveted Greenfeather Trophy. The Trophy will be awarded during half time at Saturday’s football game against Butler University, and a check will be presented to this year’s charity, Arc of Volusia County, which helps people with intellectual and development disabilities.

For this year’s Homecoming, organizers moved the Airwaves talent show – the most anticipated event of the Greenfeather competition – from Thursday night to Friday at 7 p.m. in the Edmunds Center during Hatter Howl, said Amy Dedes ’04, associate director of Stetson’s Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement.

“It’s the big competition for the whole Greenfeather Week. It’s probably the one everyone puts the most planning into,” she said of the 3-5 minute choreographed performances with costumes, professional lighting and sound. “To give alumni the chance to see that, it was a no-brainer.”

Hatter Howl begins Friday at 5 p.m. with an outdoor carnival and food trucks on Rinker Field, and will wrap up at 9:30 p.m. with the annual Bonfire.

Also this year, the Pep Rally will move from Friday night to Saturday at 1:15 p.m. at Hatter Village during tailgating outside Spec Martin Memorial Stadium before the Hatters take on Butler at 4 p.m.

“I’m especially excited about the Pep Rally on Saturday. Hopefully, it will bring more people down there cheering on the team,” Dedes said.

Other highlights include a Ribbon-Cutting on Thursday at 4 p.m. for the new Centurion Sales Program in the Lynn Business Center, and the President’s Champagne Breakfast on Saturday at 9 a.m. to honor special guests and present the Alumni and University Awards. The Veterans Recognition Breakfast will be held on Sunday at 9 a.m. and events are scheduled throughout the week for the Class of 1967, celebrating its 50^th Reunion.

Stetson alumni and parents who register online for Homecoming will receive a free Stetson baseball cap when they pick up their nametags in the Rinker Welcome Center. Last year, 1,500 people registered for Homecoming, although Dedes said many more attended the events.

“For us to register 1,500, that was huge for us,” she said. “Last year was our highest number ever, so it will be hard to beat. But we’re working on it.”