Blue Hen families experience a weekend at UD with students

1:19 p.m., Oct. 9, 2012--Parents and Family Weekend, sponsored by the University of Delaware Division of Student Life, took place during the weekend of Oct. 5-7. Parents, siblings, grandparents, family and friends flocked to UD to experience all that campus has to offer.

The weekend was packed with special events that students could attend with their families. José-Luis Riera, associate dean of students, said he was pleased with how many families participated in the weekend. 

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“We had nearly 1,500 families that registered for events,” he said. “Our parents are a large part of what makes UD so great. They are Blue Hens, too, so we enjoy celebrating their contributions to the community.”

Among the most attended events, were a sold-out comedy show with comedian Martin Short and a Parents and Family Weekend tailgate before the football game. 

Short dressed up as one of his characters, Jiminy Glick, to interview UD women’s basketball star Elena Delle Donne. The video can be viewed on the UD Athletics page.

At Saturday’s Parents and Family Weekend tailgate, families enjoyed a buffet, got their faces painted and cultivated school spirit with the help of cheerleaders, the marching band, the dance team and mascot YoUDee. 

There were many other events over the course of the weekend that proved to be a hit with Blue Hen families. 

“Saturday morning, we had the President’s Welcome Social, and that was a success,” said Riera about the event at which parents got the chance to meet UD President Patrick Harker as well as deans and vice presidents. The President’s Welcome Social was also a great opportunity for parents with students in the same college to mingle with one another. 

“In addition, all the colleges held open houses so parents could learn more about the unique identities of specific colleges and meet faculty and staff,” said Riera. 

Families also got the chance to attend the football game on Saturday, with the Blue Hens suffering an upset loss to the University of Maine.

Neither the football loss nor the chilly weather on Sunday could dampen the excitement of Parents and Family Weekend. 

“It was a good weekend and there was a lot of good energy on campus, so that was great to see,” said Riera. 

Article by Kelley Bregenzer

Photos by Duane Perry