Wilkes University hosted Family Day on Saturday, allowing students and their families a chance to bond while experience numerous aspects of campus life.
According to Melissa Howells, student development coordinator, roughly 422 people were registered for the event with 149 families in total. At the start of the event, Howells felt the event was off to a good start. “I think registration is going well… It’s nice to see families intermingling where students mingle.” As families gathered in the Henry Student Center Concourse, there was a free brunch and student groups set up various fundraisers. “We’re really excited to have this opportunity,” said Sarah Kennedy, sophomore class president, as her class was selling Wilkes baseball hats. Jessica Short, a graduate assistant, worked closely on this year’s Family Day festivities and commented that the staff researched what other universities do for their events.
One such activity that was added was the “Thinking of You” postcards, which families were invited to write. They will be sent a few weeks after the event as to show the “essence of Family Day,” according to Short.
Students gathered with their families and prepared for the day’s events as well.
Junior Pharmacy major Christian Giovannini talked about what his plans were for the day.
“We’re going to the tailgate and game… I’m excited to spend the day with them.”
The first session offered was entitled “Academic Issues: After the Mid-Term” which was hosted in the Miller Room and filled quickly.
In between sessions and activities, families milled about the Henry Student Center playing pool and visiting campus.
The Sordoni Art Gallery was also open from 12-4:30 p.m. which showed the Faculty exhibit and featured the work of faculty such as Richard Fuller, who was a professor from 1969 through 2000 when he retired. Fuller died in 2013.
Throughout the day, tours were also given.
At 1p.m. families gathered behind the Henry Student Center to take shuttles to the football game where the Colonels faced Albright College.
Activities in the evening included Open Climb at the University Center on Main, Interfaith Services, Wilkes Bingo and a Movie Screening of “The Amazing Spiderman 2.”
