During Family Weekend 2023 from Sept. 15 to 17, students, along with their families and friends, united to celebrate their bonds and create unique memories. This annual event strengthened the connections between the university and students’ families.
The Family Weekend activities included Family Game Night, Color Run, Family Weekend Breakfast, Family Festival, a Mules Football game and more.
I see it as an event to reconnect people with their families if I haven’t been able to see them for a while. I personally haven’t seen my mom since the start of the semester. So it’s good to be able to see her a couple of weeks in and not have to travel all the way back home in order to do so.
— Koby McCollum
A total of 137 people participated in the Color Run, including students, their families, and community members.
Trey Coloney, a senior, participated in the Color Run and Family Weekend Breakfast with his mom Toresa Coloney.
Coloney said, “It’s really the connection from the family that you left to go to school, and it’s connecting with the family that you’ve made here.”
The Color Run started at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.Participants wore white T-shirts and were doused with various brightly colored powders along the route.
“I see it as an event to reconnect people with their families if I haven’t been able to see them for a while,” said Koby McCollum, a senior. “I personally haven’t seen my mom since the start of the semester. So it’s good to be able to see her a couple of weeks in and not have to travel all the way back home in order to do so.”
- Photo by Mingzhu Zhu
- Photo by Mingzhu Zhu
- Photo by Mingzhu Zhu
- Photo by Mingzhu Zhu
After the Color Run, UCM Alumni Foundation hosted a Family Weekend Breakfast outside of SRWC. Chris Cakes served pancakes to 560 people.
Pancakes were flipped in the air, releasing a fragrance that combined a blend of buttery richness and a hint of toasty sweetness.
Hyemin Huang, a freshman and international student from South Korea, hasn’t seen her family for a year.
“I really missed my family,” said Huang. “But still I can hang out with my friends and my classmates or other friends too. So I think it’s gonna be okay.”
Huang participated in several Family Weekend events with her friends and roommate.
After fueling up with the pancake breakfast, around 500 people participated in the Family Festival hosted by the Office of Student Activities at the Elliot Student Union that day.
Anna Kasindi, a junior, is Huang’s roommate. Kasindi’s family was originally from Africa and now lives in Kansas City.
“When I miss my family because they live very close, I can go back so that’s a plus,” said Kasindi. “It was really awesome to see some of our college schoolmates lie hanging out with their families and being happy.”
Huang and Kasindi had their portraits drawn at the booth by student artists. It gave them a personalized and creative experience at the Family Weekend.
“For me, I only have my roommate, and I don’t have my family here. So I usually hang out with my family,” said Huang. “I feel like kind of we are the family.”
