First Blugold Family Weekend begins Friday
Relatives invited to experience students' lives on campus, meet professors
Luke Anderson
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Campus News
Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends of UW-Eau Claire students are expected to flood campus April 24 to 26 as part of the first Blugold Family Weekend.
Jennifer Lee, director of the Blugold Family Connection, said the weekend is in collaboration with Little Siblings Weekend, as well as with numerous honors' award programs. There will be around 30 different activities and events for families, she said.
"We are hoping this is an effort that includes everyone, even families of students that live off campus," Lee said. "We are hoping families have the opportunity to showcase some of the cool stuff students get to see on campus, and (we) hope we offer things for grandma to the little sib."
There are two highlighted events for the weekend, Lee said. One is a library reception starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday in McIntyre Library, where professors, administrators and authors will mingle with students and families. Student researchers will also be displaying their works.
The second is a breakfast on Saturday morning, where an essay contest will be judged by the Residential Hall Association group. Winners will be chosen based on students' explanations of their families' have impacted their lives, Lee said.
"I'm really excited because we have parents coming that will be able to talk with faculty who have written books," said Staci Heidtke, arts and sciences internship manager at Career Services. "I think that it is just a great chance for us to network and for parents to learn a little more about their children's professors."
Heidtke was part of the committee that planned the event and helped coordinate family hospitality, including giving families local information, grab bags and pamphlets about the weekend. Lee said one of her favorite parts will be right at the beginning.
"We are going to have a personalized goodie bag for each of the families, so I think it will be fun to just welcome the families to campus," Lee said. "To see people actually arrive and be excited, I think, will be a lot of fun."
Jennifer Lee, director of the Blugold Family Connection, said the weekend is in collaboration with Little Siblings Weekend, as well as with numerous honors' award programs. There will be around 30 different activities and events for families, she said.
"We are hoping this is an effort that includes everyone, even families of students that live off campus," Lee said. "We are hoping families have the opportunity to showcase some of the cool stuff students get to see on campus, and (we) hope we offer things for grandma to the little sib."
There are two highlighted events for the weekend, Lee said. One is a library reception starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday in McIntyre Library, where professors, administrators and authors will mingle with students and families. Student researchers will also be displaying their works.
The second is a breakfast on Saturday morning, where an essay contest will be judged by the Residential Hall Association group. Winners will be chosen based on students' explanations of their families' have impacted their lives, Lee said.
"I'm really excited because we have parents coming that will be able to talk with faculty who have written books," said Staci Heidtke, arts and sciences internship manager at Career Services. "I think that it is just a great chance for us to network and for parents to learn a little more about their children's professors."
Heidtke was part of the committee that planned the event and helped coordinate family hospitality, including giving families local information, grab bags and pamphlets about the weekend. Lee said one of her favorite parts will be right at the beginning.
"We are going to have a personalized goodie bag for each of the families, so I think it will be fun to just welcome the families to campus," Lee said. "To see people actually arrive and be excited, I think, will be a lot of fun."
Be the first to comment on this story