Dixie State University celebrates D-Week 2017 — Destination: Dixie

Dixie State University celebrates D-Week 2017 — Destination: Dixie

Dixie State University invites alumni, students and community to participate in D-Week 2017, held Monday, April 3, through Saturday, April 8. Themed, “Destination: Dixie,” the 103-year-old tradition is akin to Homecoming Week but brings its own set of traditions that are cherished by the St. George community. In connection with this year’s theme, D-Week participants can win a free cruise for two, a 55-inch TV and other prizes through a contest on Seek —an augmented reality, location-based app. To participate in the contest, download the app by visiting seekadventureapp.com, and join the “DSU D-Week” contest. Points can be accumulated daily at D-Week events, Trailblazer Art in the City bison statues and local sponsoring businesses throughout town. The Monday of D-Week, April 3, commemorates DSU’s unveiling of the Trailblazer identity and mascot on the first day of D-Week last year. Now, Brooks the Bison invites students and community to his birthday celebration at Food Fest: a tasty roundup of local food trucks, north of the DSU Encampment Mall from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is $5 for community members and free with a DSU student ID. On Tuesday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m., The D-Queen Pageant will be held in the Cox Performing Arts Center where talented DSU students will compete for the coveted title and crown. Admission for the pageant is $5. Thursday night, April 6, at 6 p.m., community members are invited to the fields next to DSU’s Innovation Plaza (formerly East Elementary) to play in the largest ever game of Twister in the World Record Event.  The Great Race, one of the most highly anticipated traditions of the year, will kick off on Friday, April 7, at 5 p.m., where relay teams of 10 will have to run, pedal, swim, scoot and slide their way to the finish line. All ages can join in the race, and community members are highly encouraged to participate. This year, due to construction, the race will be relocated from its usual venue at Legend Solar Stadium to the North Encampment Mall. Following the race, community members are invited to a night of fun, food, treats and games at Dixie’s D-Week Carnival on the South Encampment Mall at 6:30 p.m. The Saturday of D-Week, known as “D-Day,” on April 8, will begin with the age-old tradition of whitewashing the “D” on Black Hill along with the singing of the Dixie State University School Song at 7 a.m. and free breakfast afterward. Later, at 7 p.m., DSU’s Evening of Dixie event will be held in the Zion Room of the Holland Centennial Commons, where distinguished alumni and friends will be honored. Local Chick-Fil-A franchise owner Deven Macdonald will receive the Dixie Spirit Award, CEO of the DiFiore Center for Arts and Education Ernie Doose will be given the Big D/Roene DiFiore Award, President of Camping World Roger L. Nuttall will receive the Rebel Award and both Dixie Foundation Board members and former co-chairmen of the Fire and Ice Gala Dorothy Orton and Marcia Wade will be honored with the Community Service Award. In the final hours of “D-Day,” the lights of the “D” on Black Hill — which glow red every night of D-Week and Homecoming Week — will shut off and be replaced with a fiery outline. The tradition hails back to the days before electricity when the school lit the “D” with fire once a year on D-Week’s final night. All D-Week events are open to the public. For more information and a complete D-Week schedule, please visit utahtech.edu/dweek.