Photo by Kayla Kyle
Elm Staff Writer
In some of the last days of summery weather, under threat of rain, Washington College students, parents and faculty gathered on campus and down on the Chester River waterfront to celebrate Fall Family Weekend.
“It was nice to see what the students have been accomplishing.” said Karen Votaw, mother of junior Kecheri Votaw. “Everyone was very welcoming.”
Fall Family Weekend began on Friday, Sept. 20, with the Graduation Fair at the Casey Academic Center, the Alumni House’s open house, and of course the Old Hollywood-themed Homecoming dance. Most of the parents arrived the next day just in time for Breakfast with the Faculty, starting at 8:30 a.m., and President Mitchell Reiss’s welcome at the Gibson Center for the Arts.
Saturday had an encore of the Graduation Fair, again at the Casey Academic Center. Hillel House had a meet and greet, and the Daniel Z. Gibson Center for the Arts held two talks with question and answer segments; one for first years and their parents and one for sophomores and beyond.
Student achievement were celebrated throughout the weekend. Toll Science Center featured a presentation of student’s scientific research posters in the McClain Atrium and a discussion of study abroad experiences and opportunities in the Litrenta Lecture Hall. Across the street in Goldstein was a congruent talk on internship opportunities and experiences. In the Norman James Theatre of Smith Hall, Junior Fellows of the Cater Society gave presentations in an information session about the enrichment program. The dance company performed in the Decker Theatre of Gibson, and authors of the Washington College Review read their papers in the Egg in Hodson Hall.
Also in Hodson, never-ending drumming resonated through the halls as the steel drum band, Steel Revolution, entertained families eating their breakfast and lunch.
In the Rosie O’Neill Literary House, students read their works while the volleyball and field hockey teams battled Gettysburg across campus at the Russell Gymnasium and the Roy Kirby Jr. Stadium. Later at the stadium, the soccer teams played against Franklin & Marshall.
Off campus, was the WC Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratory tour, given by interns.
At Wilmer Park and Leila Hynson Boating Park, the Waterfront Festival took place from noon to 4 p.m. There was food, games, live music and even live ponies. Organized by the WC Center for Environment & Society were guided boat tours and cruises, as well as the famous annual Cardboard Boat Regatta parade and race of boats built out of cardboard. Phi Delta Theta held a Crab Feast on the lawn of Truslow Boathouse. Proceeds were donated to benefit Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis research.
Back on campus, live music by Dale and the ZDubs, sponsored by Kappa Alpha boomed late into the night, emanating from Hodson instead of Martha Washington Square due to the rain.
The next day, the award’s ceremony for senior athletics took place in Hotchkiss Recital Hall and the men’s lacrosse played the alumni game at the Kirby Jr. Stadium.