Family Weekend displays best of Gettysburg College
Megan Bailey and her family pose on the porch of the Garthwait Leadership Center during Family Weekend. For more Family Weekend photos from the Garthwait Leadership Center, visit their Facebook page.
By Brendan Raleigh, Contributing Writer
The students of Gettysburg College were reunited with their families for the school’s Family Weekend, which took place between Oct. 26 and Oct. 28, almost exactly two months after the first day of classes. Parents converged on campus to check in on their sons and daughters, get a taste of the Gettysburg atmosphere and take advantage of the weekend’s festivities.
For many of students, this was the first time they’ve seen their parents since the first day of school, while others have made parental visitation a weekly to biweekly matter. In contrast to normal weekends, though, Parents Weekend featured a number of events intended to show off the talents and strengths of the students and staff, as well as the history and culture of Gettysburg.
“I really enjoyed my Family Weekend because I got to experience it from all different sides,” said junior Megan Bailey. “I got to register and greet families as they arrived in Gettysburg, I was proud to receive my award at the Fall Honors day ceremony and so glad that my friends and family were there to support me, and I loved getting to meet other families throughout the weekend, especially at the (Garthwait Leadership Center) open house.”
Friday offered three exhibitions to those interested in the culture of Gettysburg and the surrounding areas: “Retratos/Portraits,” a collection of photographs of families who have immigrated to Adams County; “Rediscovering the Legacy of Thaddeus Stevens,” which commemorates the eponymous congressman’s contributions to both Gettysburg and the United States; and “A Tale of Two Cities,” a gallery of pre-World War I France, which was also open the following day.
Later, Professor Jennifer Bloomquist and Professor Heather Odle-Dusseau each held open discussions in Weidensall Hall. Bloomquist discussed the portrayal of African-Americans in children’s film while Odle-Dusseau discussed the balancing of “work, life, and family.” Professor Christopher Fee also offered a unique experience in Breidenbaugh Hall, where he and several students provided virtual tours of various Viking voyages throughout history.
Other Friday events included the Fall Honors Day, a free family photo session, visits to the college’s planetarium, an improv show courtesy of Shots in the Dark and, finally, a two-hour concert from the Jazz Ensemble & Dispatch.
The following day was opened with a welcoming speech from Gettysburg College President Janet Morgan Riggs. Riggs greeted students and their families before updating them on the school’s progress since the start of the school year. Riggs was followed by two crew members of “1,000 to 1: The Cory Weissman Story,” who discussed their roles in the film’s production process.
In addition to a number of informational sessions, the most popular events of the entire weekend appeared to be the sports events. Games were held for volleyball, swimming, field hockey, soccer and football. Following the pregame tailgate and Marching Band performance, hundreds of Gettysburgians cheered on their school’s team as they defeated Moravian College 42-20.
The Student Showcase also provided families a chance to show their support for students’ extra-curricular activities. Gettysburg’s various dance and vocal groups performed to raucous applause and praise in an overflowing CUB Ballroom.
Saturday night was closed with two more performances: “Squirm Burpee,” a variety show, which was hosted in the Majestic theater; and “Overboard,” an all-male a cappella group thatperformed in the CUB Ballroom.
Overall, both parents and students were smiling throughout the entire weekend, enjoying themselves and the festivities hosted by the college.
“It has been great. It’s really been a lot of fun,” said Kellie Wilson, a parent from Lancaster, Pa. visiting her son. “The campus is beautiful and there has been no snow this year!”
