Are you a current Palmer College student wanting to get involved in Homecoming? Here’s ways you can join us on Main Campus, Sept. 18-20, 2025.

View this list as a printable PDF

Register for Homecoming for FREE!

How to Register
Current Palmer students can attend Homecoming for FREE! Follow this link. Under the drop-down menu, select Student of Palmer College. Then select Student Package (food not included). This is free. If you want to add the food package, select the 3-day Meal Card. This is $125. Click Register Now. If you haven’t created an account in the past, you’ll need to create one now.

Want to attend the Saturday Night Festival?
You can purchase a festival ticket additionally OR volunteer to help with Homecoming and earn a festival ticket for free. To purchase a Saturday Night Festival ticket, follow this link. Click RSVP for events and fill in your information. Click Saturday Night Festival and select your name and an adult ticket. These are $60. If you are registering for Homecoming to enjoy the other events, your Festival ticket will be in your registration bag. If you are just getting a Festival ticket and NOT registering for Homecoming, you can pick up your ticket during Homecoming at the Registration Desk in the R. Richard Bittner Athletic and Recreation Center.

If you would like to serve as a Homecoming monitor to earn a free festival ticket, please email kathy.boone@palmer.edu. Monitors must attend one training session and monitor for a minimum of six hours.

How to Pick-Up Your Homecoming Packet
After registering, please visit the Expo Registration Desk to pick-up your bag and packet. This includes your nametag, program, and any tickets purchased (ie, food tickets, Festival Tickets, etc.). Expo Hours:

• Wednesday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 19, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 20, 8 a.m.-noon

Homecoming Spirit Week

Get excited for Palmer’s Homecoming! We invite everyone to dress up for Spirit Week. Participate in all three themes to win prizes! There will also be awards for “Best Dressed of the Day” so make your outfits stand out!

Themes:

• Monday, Sept. 15: Sports Day! Put on your favorite sports jerseys or team apparel!
• Tuesday, Sept. 16: Students dress like faculty/staff.
• Wednesday, Sept. 17: Palmer Pride! Wear your favorite Palmer merch or go all out in a complete Palmer Purple-themed outfit to show your Palmer Pride!

How to Win Prizes: 

• Monday: Come to the Learning Commons between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in your sports day outfit. Staff will be there to give you your Spirit Week Punch Card and punch your card for Monday.
• Tuesday: Come to the Learning Commons between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in your best faculty/staff outfit. Staff will be there to punch your card for Tuesday.
• Wednesday: Wear your Palmer gear and bring your card to the Courtyard Party from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Staff will be there to punch your card for Wednesday. You will leave your completed card in a box and be entered to win various prizes that will be drawn throughout the night. Only completed cards will be valid for winning. Must be present to win.

Prizes include: Homecoming Saturday Night Festival tickets, Dave’s coffee cards, Palmer merch, and more! There will also be awards for “Best Dressed of the Day” each day, so make your outfits stand out!

Please email Carly Miller or Kaitlin Clevenger with any questions.

Homecoming Schedule for Students

This schedule has been curated for students who have registered to have a legendary experience!

Wednesday, Sept. 17

Visit the Expo, COME DURING POWER HOUR!
11 a.m.-5 p.m., R. Richard Bittner Athletic and Recreation Center
Students are encouraged to visit during the pre-party Power Hour from 3-4:30 p.m. before the Courtyard Party!

We will have vendors, snacks, music and giveaways! Get a sample or two from your favorite vendor and there’s a chance to win FREE SATURDAY NIGHT FESTIVAL TICKETS! Open to all students and it’s free! This is the kick-off to a Legendary Weekend!

Courtyard Party
4:30-7:30 p.m., West Hall Courtyard
All faculty, staff, alumni, students and their families are invited to kick-off the Homecoming festivities at the Courtyard Party. Enjoy delicious, free food provided by Aramark and a cash bar. Take pictures with your family and friends in the photo booth, listen to music from current student Jay C. Whalen as the DJ, and watch the Campus Store fashion show and Student Talent Show. Everyone is encouraged to come in their Palmer gear! Hosted by Student Council and Student Services.

Campus Store Fashion Show Information: Watch your friends, family, faculty/staff and classmates strut their stuff in new items featured in our own Campus Store. Model call for all ages (students, staff, faculty, children)! Spots are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Stop in the Campus Store Mondays through Fridays to sign-up between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Aug. 18-29.

Student Talent Show Sign-Ups: Interested in showcasing your talents? Contact Elise Aguilar at e.aguilar23@palmer.edu to secure your spot by Monday, Sept. 8. The show will be limited to 10 participants. Acts can be up to 5 minutes long. Prizes will be awarded to the top three acts.

Thursday, Sept. 18

Visit the Expo
8 a.m.-5 p.m., R. Richard Bittner Athletic and Recreation Center

Opening Session: State of the College, Presented by Chancellor and CEO Dennis Marchiori, D.C., Ph.D.
10:15-11:05 a.m., Vickie Anne Palmer Hall
Join Dr. Marchiori as he opens Homecoming 2025 by offering an insider’s view on the State of the College. In the tradition of the last several years, he will share our latest measures of success, on-going challenges, and strategies to advance Palmer’s mission. Facilities updates, curriculum improvement, and new opportunities will be addressed. As the largest and most successful chiropractic program in the world, Palmer College’s future depends on the continued support and engagement of our full college community. This session will celebrate who we are and lay out the path forward as The Trusted Leader in Chiropractic Education®.

General Session: AI vs. Innate Intelligence, Presented by Aaron Hinde, D.C.
11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m., Vickie Anne Palmer Hall
In this general session, Dr. Aaron Hinde shares his journey of how his deep belief in natural health led him to become a successful chiropractor and later co-founder of LIFEAID Beverage Company. What is the difference between AI and innate intelligence? Dr. Hinde explores this timely question.

10-under-10 Alumni Award Panel
1:30-2:30 p.m., The NCMIC Center for Business Development
Hear from recipients of the 2025 10-under-10 Alumni Awards as they share their perspectives and unique insights. Moderated by PSAF members, this panel will provide a platform to gain valuable insights from graduates of the past 10 years who have made significant contributions, are emerging leaders and are active mentors or volunteers.

Big Tent Philosophy
7:30-9:30 p.m., Palmer Family Residence Courtyard
Enjoy a longstanding tradition of listening to our alumni speak on the importance and history of chiropractic philosophy.

Friday, Sept. 19

Visit the Expo
8 a.m.-5 p.m., R. Richard Bittner Athletic and Recreation Center

General Session: Bridging the Gap: The Science and Art of Chiropractic, Presented by Wren Burton, D.C., M.P.H.
10:30-11:20 a.m., Vickie Ann Palmer Hall
Dr. Wren Burton will share her path from chiropractic patient to clinician-researcher. This keynote will explore how personal experiences and her journey through clinical settings — from private practice to the VA system — evolved into a passion for evidence-based chiropractic care. Dr. Burton will highlight the unique position of chiropractic in whole-person health care and the critical role research plays in advancing the profession. Learn how chiropractic research serves as a bridge between science and clinical practice, and the creative approaches being developed to measure the multifaceted nature of chiropractic care.

General Session: Epigenetics, Presented by Dan Weinert, D.C., Ph.D.
11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m., Vickie Ann Palmer Hall
DNA is the code for all possible proteins within your body. It is your genotype. But not all proteins are made. What is made/expressed (phenotype) is heavily dependent on environmental factors. The chiropractic “State of the Organism” equation encompasses this concept. This session discusses how the factors above (epi) the genetic code affects well-being. The session explores environmental stimuli, methylation/acetylation, and resultant genetic expression.

Palmer Night at Armored Gardens
5 p.m., Armored Gardens
With 100 beers on tap, good food, and a great outdoor hangout space, Armored Gardens is a favorite for Palmer students and alumni visitors. Be one of the first 50 alumni in attendance and receive a drink on us!

Saturday, Sept. 20

Visit the Expo
8 a.m.-12 p.m., R. Richard Bittner Athletic and Recreation Center

General Session: Hynes of the Times: Lessons from Yesterday, Visions for Tomorrow, Presented by Roger Hynes, D.C., DPhCS, FICA
10:30-11:20 a.m., Vickie Ann Palmer Hall
Where is chiropractic headed, and how can the past help guide us there? In this thought-provoking session, we will explore the defining moments, triumphs, and missteps of our chiropractic forebears to uncover valuable insights for today’s challenges. Will we continue to repeat our errors? Will we make the same decisions as other professions that have faded into obscurity, or can we chart a smarter, more resilient course forward? Join us as we honor the legends of our profession who built our foundation while exploring how their legacy might shape a thriving, relevant future for Palmer College and the chiropractic profession.

General Session: From Hospitality to Healing: Building a Practice on Purpose, Presented by Nicole Ingrando, D.C.
11:30 a.m.- 12:20 p.m., Vickie Ann Palmer Hall
What do Marriott Hotels and chiropractic have in common? More than you think. In this inspiring and unconventional keynote, Dr. Nicole Ingrando shares her journey from hospitality and sales into the world of spine care, and how the same principles that built world-class service brands can be used to build a thriving, results-driven chiropractic practice.

Attendees will explore how intentional communication, purpose-driven systems, and precise diagnostics form the foundation of exceptional patient outcomes and long-term practice success. Dr. Ingrando will also unpack the concept of the margin — the often-invisible space between surviving and thriving — and how mastering that space is the difference between being overlooked and being indispensable in health care.

This session will challenge chiropractors to rethink the way they approach spine pain, marketing, and patient engagement. Whether you are building a practice or looking to reignite your purpose, this keynote will leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to lead with clarity and conviction.

Palmer Rugby Games
Noon, 315 S. Marquette St.
Fill the sidelines and cheer on Palmer Rugby! Women kick off at noon, followed by men at 2 p.m.

Legendary Lessons, Featuring Chuck Gibson, D.C. and Paul Liechty D.C.
3:30-4:30 p.m., Room P201
Gather with legends. Leave with a lesson. Join us for an hour of thoughtful conversation and reflection during Legendary Lessons. In this relaxed, armchair-style interview session, alumni will share stories, insights, and lessons learned from their experiences in the field. Dr. Chuck Gibson will also offer his perspective, drawing on more than six decades of involvement in chiropractic education and practice. It’s an opportunity to connect across generations and celebrate the shared experiences that continue to shape the profession.

Saturday Night Festival*
6-9 p.m., Campus Plaza
We’re bringing back Fair Warning, delicious food, and the fireworks finale. It’s the perfect way to cap off Homecoming and create new memories with fellow alumni and friends. Cost is $60 for adults and $20 for kids 12 and under. *EXTRA TICKET NEEDED!