Vincennes University recently held its annual Parent and Family Weekend, a time for family and friends to experience college life through the eyes of students.
Among other events, the university hosted a Bingo Night at the Jefferson Student Union, and the bowling alley was open to the public.
“We started with Bingo Night and dinner was provided by the cafe on Friday,” said Director of Student Activities Elizabeth Hutchinson. “We chose Bingo because it’s a quick and easy thing for families, and we have found over the years that the students really love it as well”.”
The weekend events continued through Saturday with yard games on the basketball courts and the annual corn hole tournament.
“This is our 5th year having a corn hole tournament here at VU. It comes as a replacement to the well-loved tube races,” Hutchinson said of the once popular event held on the Wabash River. “Unfortunately the river hasn’t been t0o cooperative, so we had to find something easy to replace it with.
“We (previously) opted to do both for people who didn’t want to get in the river, and we found that people really took a liking to corn hole,” she went on. “Since we started the tournament we’ve had repeat winners, with one being a grandpa and grandson duo who won the year his grandson was graduating so it’s really bonding.”
For families who wanted to escape the rays of the sun or if students had younger siblings, the campus also had the pool open for them to enjoy as well. A line wrapped around the terrace of JSU and was filled with eager students and their families wanting to get their hands on a fresh, cold slushie provided by the Cafe.
Hutchinson reflected on other successes of Parent and Family Weekend.
For families who wanted to escape the rays of the sun or if students had younger siblings, the campus also had the pool open for them to enjoy as well. A line wrapped around the terrace of JSU and was filled with eager students and their families wanting to get their hands on a fresh, cold slushie provided by the Cafe.
Hutchinson reflected on other successes of Parent and Family Weekend.
“I was very pleased with the turnout this year,” she said. “Fridays can be a little lower just because people have to work, but they try their best to make it for their students.
“Saturday’s numbers were through the roof,” she said excitedly. “We filled the JSU for lunch, and when the slushies came out, the line wrapped for almost 2 hours.”
When Hutchinson first came to VU during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the number of people who attended her first Parent and Family Weekend were disappointing. Watching those numbers rebound has been rewarding.
“We are starting to see students wanting to come out and wanting to be more involved on campus,” she said. “This year not only are students coming out of their shells, but their families are also very active this year, too.”
For those who missed Parent and Family Weekend, there will be another in the spring.
For more events, check the campus Event Calendar for the month of October. Questions can be directed to Hutchinson at www.s[email protected] or [email protected].
For more events, check the campus Event Calendar for the month of October. Questions can be directed to Hutchinson at www.s[email protected] or [email protected].
