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������ welcomed special guests to campus from Sept. 20-22 for its annual Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend. Each year, nearly 1,000 students and their families participate in activities that invite them to explore campus, make key connections with the people, departments and support services of Kent State – and to have fun.

This year’s all-campus activities included the Black Squirrel Festival, a pep rally, games, technology demos, college open houses, a movie night and dining events, which included an Oktoberfest-themed dinner.

A Special Honors College Experience

Kent State’s Honors College hosted parents and families of students in the Honors College and provided an exclusive opportunity to engage and connect with honors students and college faculty and staff. Stephanie Moskal, associate director, strategic communications and external affairs shared details of the day's activities with Kent State Today. 

The Honors College, in coordination with its Peer-to-Peer Support Mentors Program, staged fun outdoor activities outside near two of the Honors College’s Living-Learning Programs housed in Stopher and Johnson Halls.

Honors students and their families enjoyed participating in a variety of outdoor activities, ranging from cornhole to pickleball, in addition to testing their knowledge of Kent State trivia through a friendly game of Kahoot.

There also were opportunities to connect with Honors College staff and Dean Alison J. Smith, Ph.D., while at the afternoon event, as well as current honors students involved in the Peer-to-Peer Support Mentors program. Attendees also enjoyed a self-serve popcorn station, complete with customizable flavored toppings.

Erin Ahrens, Honors College community engagement coordinator, said, “We enjoyed having the opportunity to interact with our honors students and families on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The Honors College Peer-to-Peer Support Mentors set-up fun outdoor activities and created a fun Kent State-themed trivia game for families to compete for Honors College t-shirts. It was nice to get to know the families who support our honors students.”