This past weekend Florida A&M University hosted its Parents and Family Weekend, from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3. Parents, family members, and friends of FAMU students gathered on campus this weekend for three days filled with events and activities.
Parents and Family Weekend kicked off Friday, Oct. 1 at 10:00 am in the Grand Ballroom lobby. Parents and family lined up to check-in for on-site registration for those still in need of tickets. The day went on with the ‘Back at the Ranch Welcome Lunch’ in the Grand Ballroom and continued to the ‘Old School Set Friday and National Panhellenic Council Yard Show’ at the newly built amphitheater.
“Being back on campus surrounded by the Set Friday spirit was almost surreal! Everyone performed wonderfully; no crumbs left behind! I look forward to future events at our new and improved amphitheater,” Nya Cummings, Miss Junior 2021-2022, said at the yard show.
The day concluded with the ‘Sundown at the Frontier – featuring the FAMU Jazz Ensemble’ at FAMU’s Viticulture Center at noon.
Saturday’s events started in the afternoon with the ‘Bowling & Billiards FAMUly Roundup’ at Galimore Lanes in the Rattlers Den. From there, parents and family got welcomed to Bragg Stadium to join fellow Rattlers at the ‘End Zone Tailgate’ before the kickoff of the FAMU vs. Alabama State University game at 6 p.m.
Brother and sister, Trevor and Ashley McKinney, participated in the festivities of Parent and Family Weekend, supporting their family member who recently graduated from FAMU.
“We came all the way from Albany, Georgia to support… It’s especially good to have that black experience again, that black college experience, always,” Trevor McKinney said.
“It’s nice to be around people and be social again,” Ashley McKinney said.
Parents and Family Weekend ended Sunday, Oct. 3 with the ‘Stetsons & Spurs Farewell Brunch’ at 10:30 a.m. at the AC Hotel by Marriott Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol.
Leeshun Frison, an aunt of a third-year student here at FAMU, had some encouraging words for everyone participating in the parents and family weekend.
“I am excited, and I’m glad that we are able to come back together in large groups,” Frison said. “I am encouraging everyone who is not vaccinated to come vaccinated so we can hopefully keep the numbers going down for COVID, and I am asking everyone if they’re not vaccinated to wear your mask still even though we are outside and to just be mindful of others.”