Parents from around the country traveled to Saint Mary’s this weekend to spend time with their daughters for the annual First Year Parent’s Weekend.
Parents received an invitation to the weekend in December for this year's event, which had the theme of Winter.
The schedule was planned by the first year class council, including class representatives Kassy Acosta and Michelle Lester, with the assistance of Karen Johnson, vice president of student affairs, and Jennifer Terry, executive administrative assistant for student affairs.
First Year Parent’s Weekend is an important event for the class of 2020 because this is many first years' first time being away from family for so long. According to Acosta,parents were able to give input on what events they wanted to see during the weekend through Facebook and email.
The weekend kicked off with a reception Friday evening, where freshmen and their parents received gift bags with mugs.
Most of the day Saturday was taken up by bowling, go-karts and mini golf at the Strikes & Spares Entertainment Center in Mishawaka.
“For a lot of girls, this will be the only time that they get to share the campus and South Bend community with their parents,” Lester said.
Later in the day, parents and students attended a workshop put on by the College’s Career Crossings Office titled “Surviving Sophomore Year,” which aims to help students plan for their second year, when students declare a major and discern their career.
A Mass in the Church of Loretto on Saint Mary’s campus was also offered Saturday.
Saturday concluded with a cocktail reception and dinner at the Gillespie Center, which College President Jan Cervelli attended. The reception also included a photo booth.
“That's what most of our work has went towards, planning, so I'm just glad we'll get to see it all planned out,” Lester said.
According to Acosta, First-Year Parents Weekend was a chance for students to show their parents what life is like at the College.
“Parents weekend is important,” she said. “It allows the students to show their parents what they have accomplished here at Saint Mary's.”
