As students lined up for mocktails and families sampled Wisconsin specialties,
Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” overlapped with LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” echoing throughout Esker Dining Hall.
“It was fun,” freshman Avion McIntosh said. “They had the music playing, and the mocktails, and everybody’s families were there, so it was just a good environment.”
Family Feast at Esker was one of the first events to kick off Oct. 3-4’s Family Fest at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, inviting families to explore campus through their students’ eyes and immerse themselves in the Warhawk community.
First Year Experience collaborated with Warhawk Dining, the athletics department, UC Live, The Young and others to organize Family Fest. Highlights included FamFest Friday at the University Center, where families got to bowl in Warhawk Alley and play in group bingo; A Night of Jazz at The Young, featuring both vocal and instrumental performances; and Willie’s Fun Zone in the Williams Center fieldhouse for games and activities.
The biggest taste of the UW-W came during the football game against UW-La Crosse, which drew in 20,167 attendees – the second-largest crowd in Division III history.
The variety of events was intentional, Director of First Year Experience Jenny Krzyszkowski explained. Each one was designed to highlight a different aspect of UW–Whitewater’s campus life for families.
“Helping with [families’] social transition, part of that is becoming familiar with some of the popular spaces that students are in,” Krzyszkowski said. “When families are away, they’re always wondering what you are up to, and sometimes that communication chain changes. It might be daily communication during high school, and when you come to college, that may not be exactly the same. It might be every so often during the week or every other week. It’s different for everybody. Telling them, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to the UC.’ Well, what does that mean? So hopefully… they’re able to put a place to the experience that their students are telling them about.”
For many new students, Family Fest marked the first weekend when they brought their families to campus after their Drop N Go or arrival day. By then, students had already built new relationships and found favorite spots. The weekend events allowed them to share their campus experiences with their families.
“It was great having my parents here,” sophomore Derek Garver said. “I showed them all my friends, introduced them to what I’ve been doing here and how I’m adapting to the college lifestyle. My dad really likes tennis, and so I showed him the tennis courts here, where I sometimes play with my roommate.”
Beyond students showing off their new lives, Family Fest gave parents a firsthand look into the wider campus life – from the dining hall options to hangout spots in the University Center. This experience helped bridge the gap between what students described from afar and what their families picture.
“She’s pretty independent already, but I think now that we have a better idea of what she does every day and kind of where she’s going on campus,” parent Amy Riley said. “We’ll be able to ask some more specific questions, like when she says something, I’ll know what she’s talking about.”
One of the final events for many, the Warhawks’ first touchdown against UW-L set the crowd roaring. For families, it was a glimpse into the Warhawk community.
