 |
| The Wittenberg Tigers clowns around during Parents Weekend 2005. |
The first few weeks on Wittenberg’s campus are filled with the hustle and bustle of adjusting to new schedules, old students re-acquainting themselves with their second home, and new students familiarizing themselves with their fresh surroundings. Family Weekend gives students a break from their busy schedules, and it allows them to reconnect with family members while enjoying a wide range of campus activities.
The kickoff to Family Weekend on Friday night offers such events as campus tours, which start at 3 p.m., and the New Student Showcase, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30, in Blair Hall Theatre. The stage production will showcase the talents of Wittenberg’s class of 2010 as students perform a variety of dramatic scenes, monologues and musical numbers. The performances are free and open to the public.
In years past, families have been invited to Wittenberg’s casual dining area, now known as Post 95, for a movie. However, movie night has been revamped and will feature the film RV in the Myers Hollow, a picturesque gathering place in the heart of the Wittenberg campus. In the event of inclement weather, the movie will be shown in the HPER Center.
In addition, Dan Fleisch, associate professor of physics, will host a night gazing experience through the 10-inch refracting telescope in Weaver Observatory on Friday, and at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30, the Wittenberg Choir Variety Show will take place in 300 Krieg Hall. Tickets for the show are $5 for adults, $3 for children, and the performances are open to the public.
Not only will Family Weekend allow students time for family bonding, but it also serves the purpose of acclimating family members to Wittenberg’s campus. President Mark H. Erickson will host a Meet and Greet in the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Immediately afterward, various panels and discussion forums will provide complete information about Wittenberg’s Greek Life program, the Career Center, the university’s community service requirement, study-abroad opportunities and the Wittenberg Experience.
“Family Weekend is such a great time,” Alicia Lewis, Wittenberg class of 2008 from Milford, Ohio, said. “Your parents are able to come and socialize with you, and you can introduce them to your home away from home.”
Saturday afternoon offers a choice of a horse-drawn wagon tour of Ferncliff Cemetery, an Open House at The Gallery at Ambience to enjoy artwork by Wittenberg alumni and a professor emeritus of art, and Weaver Chapel Tours in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
Sports fans can get their fix by supporting the men’s and women’s soccer teams as they face Oberlin and Indiana Wesleyan, respectively, beginning at 4 p.m. at Edwards-Maurer Field.
At 5 p.m. Saturday, seniors and their families are invited to Ness Family Auditorium in Hollenbeck Hall for the annual Senior-Parent Wine and Cheese.
“Although it’s a small event in your senior year, [Senior-Parent Wine and Cheese] is a symbol of the end of our college experience and makes you realize the real world is just around the corner,” Domonique Hardy, Wittenberg class of 2007 from Wyoming, Ohio, said.
Immediately following Senior Wine and Cheese, Concerned Black Students will host its second annual Parents Banquet: Honoring Those Who Make A Difference. Although a more recently added staple to Family Weekend events, students have taken full advantage of the opportunity to pay tribute to their parents for the admirable job they do every day, although the hard work can sometimes go unnoticed.
“The banquet really gives students a chance to honor their parents for all the hard work they do,” Lewis said. “It’s a great way to show appreciation, and I really think the parents love it.”
Sunday morning will bring Family Weekend 2006 to a close with brunch in the newly renovated Center Dining Room (CDR), a meet and greet with Wittenberg’s pastors, followed by a church service in Weaver Chapel at 11 a.m.
For more information on dates and times pertaining to Family Weekend, visit the Family Weekend Web site.
- Written By: Erica Strauss '08
112-06
|
Related Links: |
