Over the past weekend, Buena Vista University hosted its annual activity-filled Family Weekend. The three-day event welcomed students’ families to campus where they could enjoy a number of events set up by the Student Activities Board (SAB) and the university.

Junior Cara Hahn, VP of Traditions, began the planning process for Family Weekend alongside Ebony King last May.

“Ms. Ebony King is the main planner of the event and she takes care of all the logistics,” Hahn said. “I am there to give a perspective on what I believe student’s will enjoy.”
King’s expectations for Family Weekend were simple: she wanted everyone to have a nice time.

“Activities were organized in a way where families were able to spend alone time with their student and also engage in activities on-and-off campus,” King explains. “There were various activities to choose from.”

SAB hosted the following events on Friday:

•  Hypnotist
• Open Gym
• Fireside Chats

Campus bustled, allowing organizations such as KBVU and ALPS to host events for both students and their family members.

On Friday, attendees were invited to join the audience for “Music for Marfans,” a concert event hosted by KBVU. [Video and audio by Mackenzie Rappe]

Following Friday’s events, Buena Vista University welcomed in Fall Visit day on Saturday, where ROTC, Career Services and Student Senate held booths for prospective students and their families.

Exiting the event, families were encouraged to watch the annual Boat Races led by the  Adventure Leadership Program Scholars (ALPS) organization.

This year, ALPS decided to the push the event to the beginning of the year in order to utilize the lake. In previous years, the spring event landed on inclement weather, causing the boat float to take place in Siebens Pool.

BVU’s campus was invited to build cardboard boats to the specifications and later race them alongside other students.

This year’s first place winner was awarded to ROTC’s the VSS ‘Embrace It,’ second place to OASIS and third place went to Luke Hastie and Ryan Mellot’s boat.

Senior Dakota Popp, two-year ALPS member, was happy with this year’s turnout, despite the rain that occurred earlier in the morning.

“Last year after the races we talked about moving back so that more people could be involved, better weather,” Popp said. “This was a great turn out and in the future, we hope to get more groups and people involved.”

Outside the South Forum Lawn, SAB’s events were underway, inviting families to participate in a cotton candy machine, mock-“build-a-bear” machine, lawn games and blow up rides.

Elisabeth Niebuhr, two-year member of SAB, helped pass out cotton candy to families. Besides passing out cotton candy, she also led student tours for the Fall Visit Day.

“I haven’t helped before, but I’m glad I had such a positive experience with this one,” Niebuhr said. “We heard from a lot of families that they enjoyed the different activities we had to offer.

Following the lawn event, families were able to attend the BVU football game and later the men’s and women’s soccer games on Sunday.

For those wishing to wind down the night, a showing of “Finding Dory” was put on in Anderson Auditorium.

In order to stay busy and entertained, King explains how each event was selected for the Family Weekend schedule.

“The decision process was made by researching and talking to committee members as well as past Co-Chairs for feedback,” King said.

As the weekend came to a close, families were able to attend Sunday Chapel at the university and later brunch provided by Sodexo.

“I think the whole weekend was a great success,” Niebuhr said. “There was a great turn out and  I’m glad I had such a positive experience with this one.”

Just like Niebuhr, King was happy with how the weekend enfolded for both SAB members and participants.

“One of my favorite moments was seeing the smiles of students and family members that enjoyed their time together,” King said. “The families seemed to appreciate spending this time with their students.”

Family Weekend was previously held in the spring semester, but changed to the fall in 2015.

Story – Kiley Wellendorf
Multimedia – Mackenzie Rappe