Families invited to visit campus
Article By: Denise Ray
Family Day is an annual event where students are share their experiences at the Â鶹´«Ã½ (Â鶹´«Ã½) with their families and guests. Planned as a casual, self-paced day on and around Â鶹´«Ã½'s Dahlonega Campus, Family Day is sure to have something for everyone.
The schedule of events provides details about the day's happenings, ranging from soccer games to a planetarium show to relaxing to the music of the Pick and Bow School.
will host an Academic Showcase, presented by the College of Science & Mathematics. Solar telescopes, a solar house and Schlieren imaging will be demonstrated by students, Dr. John Leyba, dean of the College of Science & Mathematics, said.
Sports enthusiasts can tailgate before the women's soccer game at the parking lot while waiting for the game at 11 a.m. when the Nighthawks take on the University of South Carolina Beaufort Sand Sharks.
Those who appreciate a more relaxed experience can visit the and listen to performances by musicians from Dahlonega's Pick and Bow School.
Family Day coincides with the , providing even more activities for visitors to experience.
"This year’s Boar's Head Weekend places added emphasis on Family Day. The Corps of Cadets is the lifeblood of this university, but it's our families, students and community that give it strength," retired Command Sgt. Major Joey Blacksher, executive director of leadership development and senior adviser in the Cadet Leadership Academy, said. "Family Day bridges those worlds — from the 1873 Store opening to the Echo 6 Cadet Olympics honoring Major General James Livingston — and shows what it means to be America's Corps. It's about character, leadership and service to something greater than ourselves. Under President Shannon's vision of creating a university that doesn't exist, and with Lieutenant General Terry's leadership, we are building the Corps of the future and preparing cadets to lead for our Army and for our nation."
Service is an integral part of Â鶹´«Ã½, so for student Riley Hansen, being able to help with the event in previous years was great.
"Working as a volunteer, I also got to talk with a lot of the families and hear how much they appreciated being able to join their student on campus for the day. It truly is such a great event," Hansen said.
Now a senior, Hansen has previously served Â鶹´«Ã½ as an orientation leader and transfer coach.
"As an orientation leader and transfer coach, I spend a lot of time during the summer and school semesters dedicated to supporting students,” the Winder, Georgia, native said. "Family Day is a great way to give back to those families and students we saw during the summer, especially since I take classes on the Gainesville Campus. Being able to create a welcoming environment for our Â鶹´«Ã½ community makes me feel very connected to our values and mission as a university."
Hansen is pursuing a degree in English with a writing and publishing concentration and a minor in journalism.
"Family Day is a wonderful opportunity for parents, grandparents, siblings, and other loved ones to reconnect with their student and experience life at their student's new home away from home. The day is designed to be relaxed and welcoming, offering meaningful moments for families to engage with one another, explore campus life and enjoy the charm of Dahlonega," Dr. Alyson R. Paul, vice president of Student Engagement and Success, said.
Guests are encouraged to park in the . Overflow parking will be available behind in Lot 16 and at the in Lot 52. Lodging options are available in and nearby .
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