Family Weekend is a big deal here at the University of North Dakota for both the students and their families. During the final weekend of October, families will travel to Grand Forks to visit their students to get a feel for their way of life on campus. They will attend events, visit classrooms, and even attend games so that they can get a better understanding of the student life there is here on campus. This also gives parents an idea of what is going on in their students’ lives and shows them what their learning experience is like. 

This semester’s Family Weekend came to a start on Friday, October 27th and lasted all the way until Sunday, October 29th. It officially began around 1:00 p.m. on Friday when parents were invited to take tours of the campus or the Ralph Englestad Arena. Later in the day, there was a painting event held at the Memorial Union, which consisted of families getting together to paint the UND Arch with the guidance of a live artist. Friday night came to an exciting end at the Ralph Englestad Arena where UND Hockey faced off against Minnesota State and won 6-2. This was an exciting win for everyone on campus and a great experience for the families who got to attend the game. 

Saturday’s activities began around 10:00 a.m. with brunch being served at Wilkerson Dining Center for students and their families. After they got their brunch, some families found themselves attending the Bingo event that took place later in the day. Others took one of the tours of the Ralph Englestad Arena, which continued throughout the day before the football and hockey games began. UND Football played against Indiana State at 1:00 p.m. and brought home yet another win for the Fighting Hawks. While UND Hockey faced off against Minnesota State once again later that night. 

On Sunday, families said goodbye to their students and packed up to head home after a long and eventful weekend. The weekend was full of new sights, experiences, and lots of pride. The pride was toward the students of these families as they got to see their students in a new environment. There was also a lot of pride throughout the students and staff on campus as the Fighting Hawks brought home multiple wins. Overall, this year’s family weekend should be considered a large success for everyone involved. 

Nora Lee is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].