Memories will be made and tradition supported this weekend as junior students' mothers arrive in South Bend for Saint Mary's annual Junior Moms' Weekend.
"[The weekend is a] really great opportunity to spend time with our moms and have some girl time," junior class president Heidi Goeppinger said.
Activities will begin Friday with a wine and cheese reception accompanied by a silent auction. Juniors, families and businesses were asked to donate items for the silent auction, said Laura Corke, the Junior Moms Committee chair. The committee has been planning the event for about a year, she said.
On Saturday, campus tours will be offered, as well as a free movie. Event coordinators have scheduled appointments at Emerald Spa for many juniors and their moms. A Mass will be held later in the evening, followed by a semi-formal dinner downtown at the Century Center, where another silent auction will take place. Harmonia, the Notre Dame and Saint Mary's female a cappella group, will be performing at the dinner, and a slide show will be shown.
The juniors were also asked to write an essay, poem or letter about their mothers. These were compiled into a book that will be given to all of the mothers, Corke said.
"We like to leave free time so [the juniors and their mothers] have time to do whatever they want along with the activities," Corke said.
The wine and cheese reception is held earlier so that juniors are able to make other plans with their mothers after the event. Like many other students, Corke plans to go out to dinner with a group of friends and their mothers after the wine and cheese reception.
"A lot of moms go out," Corke said. "[It] depends on the girls and their moms."
Junior Jessica Jordan's mother will be traveling from Pennsylvania to attend the events.
"I might take [my mother] out with some of my education major friends," Jordan said.
She also plans to go shopping and to brunch with other mothers and daughters.
"[The mothers] get to see how your life is on the weekends here at Saint Mary's," junior Sarah Deshon said. "It's a lot of fun to spend time with your mom and hang out for the weekend."
Though she is looking forward to spending time with her mother and friends, Deshon said the event's timing was not ideal, calling it "probably one of the worst weekends" because of the pileup of assignments due before Easter Break.
"Hopefully it will be a good time," she said.
Jordan said the weekend may be hectic but will remain worthwhile.
"It's always busy, but it's a good weekend," she said.
Corke said juniors will enjoy the events and quality time.
"[It is] really just a relaxing weekend and kind of a nice break from all work and stuff like that," she said.
Almost 90 percent of the class sent out invitations to their mothers, and there are about 500 students and mothers set to attend the dinner, Corke said.
Lodging close to campus may be hard to find this weekend. Goeppinger said the Saint Mary's Inn has been booked for months.
