Ya’marie Sesay | Campus Editor
Many students are excited for the arrival of their parents for this year’s Parents Weekend. With the many activities in store for them this weekend and the celebration of Hampton’s 150th anniversary, parents will have a lot to look forward to.
Parents weekend gives parents and family members the opportunity to visit their students since their last encounter from move in day. Although the weekend is targeted to family of freshmen, since this is their first time being away from, the eventful weekend is open to all parents.
“This is great time for them to really get an opportunity to experience the college setting that their children are attending,” said Calvin Harris, Assistant Director of Student Activities, and Parents Weekend coordinator.
Vice President of Administrative Services and Student Affairs Dr. Barbara Inman, and Director of Student Activities Anzell Harrell worked alongside with Calvin Harris and the Greer Dawson Student Leadership Program in the three-month planning process of this eventful weekend.
As of last Friday, 386 parents were registered, making it 413 expected guests including other family members. This is a larger number compared to last year’s Parents weekend.
“It’s been an amazing experience with my committee thus far, so the planning has been easy thus far,” said Delaria Ridley a senior strategic communications major from Atlanta, Ga. and co-director of parent’s weekend.
This year Parents Weekend will have a few new events including a cookout and step show performance before the football game hosted by the National Pan Hellenic Council.
“Everything is bigger and better this year and it’s just an amazing experience to be able to direct this weekend,” said Ridley.
The weekend will begin Friday with registration, classroom visitation for Parents and Tours from 9 a.m to 4 p.m, a dance concert hosted by the Terpsichorean Dance troupe in Ogden Hall at 7pm, and a talent show and reception for parents at 10pm in the student center atrium.
On Saturday, registration will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for parents arriving, University President Dr. William R. Harvey will give his remarks in the Student Center Ballroom at 9 a.m., an Information Fair will also be held in the student center ballroom and second floor at 9:30 a.m., a cookout hosted by the NPHC at 12 p.m. The HU football team encourages parents to attend their home game at 2 p.m. against Monmouth University at Armstrong Stadium. The night will end with a parent’s dance in the student center ballroom only costing $15.00.
Sunday, parents and family of graduating seniors can see their seniors dressed in their cap and gown at opening convocation in Ogden Hall, a ceremony that formally kicks off the 2017-2018 school year.
“It’s a beautiful moment for just senior parents to just see their children in cap an gowns before the commencement,” said Ridley
The ceremony will include remarks from University President Dr. William R. Harvey announcing Hampton University’s 150th historical anniversary and 40th anniversary of his career at Hampton.
Delaria Ridley, like many seniors are very excited to have their parents travel from far areas just to celebrate the start of their senior year. “They’ve never been to a parent’s weekend so I’m excited to be directing the one parent weekend that they actually get to experience,” said Ridley.
The Hampton Script 