By Kim Kerremans
Quinnipiac held its annual parents weekend, where students got to be reunited with their families.
Parent’s Weekend had a full itinerary for everyone to enjoy, but for many parents the weekend was more about getting an inside look into their children’s college lives.
Families wait on the quad for President Olian to start her address.
“I didn’t get to move my daughter in at the beginning of the year, so this is the first time I’m on campus and I came to see what has improved or changed since the last time I was here,” said Kate Marcouillier.
Saturday’s events included an artisan fair, dean’s receptions, food stations, athletic games, the presidential address and family bingo. The events of the day started with a family breakfast at 9 a.m. and concluded with a family fest on the quad with food trucks at 6 p.m.
Parents and families had the option of following the itinerary or spend the day relaxing and going to the events when they wanted.
One family poses with Boomer the Bobcat on the quad.
“This is very relaxed,” said Debbie Hopkins. “We went to the dean’s reception to meet the dean of engineering because our son is a civil engineering major. We went to the chili station and our son showed us around campus while we were waiting to go to the cooking class we signed up for,” added Debbie Hopkins.
Many families walked around with paper shopping bags they received from the bookstore along with a goodie bag they received upon arrival.
“I didn’t come last year so I felt like I needed to make up for it and bought my daughter quite a few things from the bookstore,” said Pattie Donovan.
Other families chose to get off campus and enjoy some activities in Southern Connecticut.
“My daughter suggested going apple picking because the weather was perfect and it is something to do in the area,” said Pattie Donovan.
“I took my family to Wood-n-Tap, the local restaurant in Hamden to show them a small piece of student life. I go there all the time with my friends, so I wanted to share that with my family,” said Lacey Ventura.
President Judy Olian speaks with a parent after her address.
Parents’ Weekend events change year to year.
“Last year there was Rocktopia and no one showed up so I think that’s why they didn’t do it this year,” said junior, Ashley Cotto.
Last year’s Parents’ Weekend included many of the same events. However, last year some of the events were more in depth.
“The dean’s reception last year included short presentations from a couple professors in each school and this year they didn’t have that. I wish they did the same thing as last year because I wanted to meet some of my daughter’s professors,” said Arlene DePinho.
Daughter Olivia DePinho said, “We got to paint pumpkins last year, so I was looking forward to doing it again with my parents this year but they aren’t doing it, which is kind of sad. But I am looking forward to the food trucks later today.”
Besides the food trucks Family Bingo was a large hit with parents and their young kids who came and visited.
President Judy Olian began her presidential address by singing and dancing to Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen. She concluded her address by saying, “We are only getting started, let’s go Bobcats.”