Families come in all sizes and shapes and not everyone鈥檚 family looks the same. Kent State embraces and celebrates our students鈥 parents, guardians and everyone they call 鈥渇amily鈥 at its annual Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend.
Eboni Pringle, Ph.D., interim senior vice president in the Division of Student Life, said "Kent State recognizes the important role that parents and families play in the success of their students. Our faculty and staff acknowledge and honor the importance of family as a foundation in building community and connecting Kent State, students and their families."
from on .
A full schedule of events kicked off beginning on Friday, September 29 with family check-in and the 41st Annual Black Squirrel Festival. This Kent State tradition celebrates the university鈥檚 鈥渦nofficial mascot鈥 and activities included food trucks, student bands, student businesses selling their products, information tables for student organizations, university organizations and university partners, a BINGO activity with businesses in downtown Kent. The event, planned and organized by the student-run Flashes Activities Board (FAB), attracts more than 3,000 visitors each year.
Other events on Friday included:
Make-and-take activities in the DI Hub Reactor utilized specialty equipment in the university鈥檚 largest makerspace in making vinyl-cut stickers, 3D-printed keychains and laser-cut magnets. Participants learned about the tools and technologies available to students as part of Kent State鈥檚 Design Innovation initiative.
A Family Movie Night at the KIVA Auditorium with a showing of 鈥淢onsters University.鈥
Kent State Esports offered a gaming demonstration, game play and an information session about competitive video gaming at Kent State鈥檚 Esports Complex on the 2nd floor of the University Library.
The Wick Poetry Center hosted an interactive creative writing workshop highlighting the center鈥檚 mission of advancing creative expression, through in-person workshops and innovative, online platforms.
The Blue and Gold Paint and Sip event provided fun, step-by-step painting instruction for parents and students to create lasting memories together.
Saturday鈥檚 big event was the at Dix Stadium. Prior to the game鈥檚 2:30 kickoff, there was a Legacy Tailgate event with food and entertainment honoring all the families who love and support their Kent State students. Alumni parents received a commemorative pin to recognize their commitment to Kent State.
At halftime, University Housing and University Culinary Services offered a Halftime Dessert Social with delicious treats, games and an opportunity to speak with staff members about student life on campus.
A record number of attendees registered this year. In all, more than 1,600 family members and students from Ohio and 23 other states came to Kent State鈥檚 Kent Campus for this exceptional fall event.