Families visit W&M for weekend of fun

Welcoming families President Taylor Reveley greeted families in the Wren Yard Friday afternoon during the Family Weekend reception and open house. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Meet and greet President Taylor Reveley shares a laugh with Meghan Moore and her mom Amy during the reception. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Singing showcase Various a capella groups performed at the Lake Matoaka Amphitheater for over two hours on Saturday as part of the Family Weekend events. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

A capella An a capella group performs during Saturday's showcase. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Family support Family members watch as the students perform during the a capella showcase. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Paddling out Students and their families enjoyed the free canoeing and kayaking on Lake Matoaka during the weekend. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

A moment to relax Students and family members take a minute away from all of the Family Weekend events to relax on the shores of Lake Matoaka. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Business building Family members had a chance to tour the Mason School of Business' new Alan B. Miller Hall. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Tribe fans Families enjoyed a football game Saturday night in Zable Stadium. The Tribe faced off against Delaware. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Tribe pride A student celebrates William & Mary's triumph over Delaware, 30-20. The win puts the Tribe record at 4-0 this season. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

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by Greg Benson '11 | September 29, 2009

Howie and Donna Blum drove for over six hours from New Jersey to Williamsburg Friday night where they saw their son Matthew Blum '13 for the first time since moving him into his new room in Monroe during orientation.

"Travel was tough, but it was worth the trip" said Donna on Saturday afternoon as the family strolled through the Sadler Center terrace. "I love this campus," Donna remarked, adding "People are just so nice down here."

The Blums were one of several hundred families who made the trip to Williamsburg for Family Weekend, an annual event that ran from Friday to Sunday and included dozens of activities including a reception hosted by President Taylor Reveley, an a cappella showcase, and, of course, a football game.

In addition to attending planned activities, many parents and siblings remarked how much they enjoyed walking around and taking in the sights and locales the William & Mary campus has to offer.

Donna Blum, in particular, was delighted by the Daily Grind. "I loved it." she remarked "The guy who runs it is great."

Matthew was similarly glad to have his parents in town for the weekend. "It's nice to see them again," the freshman said. "I heard their voices a lot but it's nice to see them."

"He actually likes us, so that's good," his mom added jovially.

The weekend's festivities were not simply limited to students and their parents. Caitlyn McPeters '13 was showing her sister, also a freshman but of the high school variety, around the campus.

"I love it," McPeters' little sister Kelsey remarked when asked about her impressions of and possible future attendance at the College. "Everybody always asks ‘Where do you want to go?' and I'm like ‘William & Mary!' Everybody else is always like ‘Tech, Tech' but I'm all for William & Mary."

Laura Halley '11, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, mentioned that she was glad for the chance to show her and other students' mothers around her sorority house. She also added that she was glad for the opportunity to go out to dinner with her mom saying, "You always eat well when your parents are in town."

That family weekend was open to upperclassmen was a fact that Nancy Mohler, the mother of sophomore J.P. Mohler, was very pleased with.

"It's nice that there are parents here from all grades, and that it's not just a freshman weekend," Mohler remarked "There are a lot of good things about the school."

J.P. remarked that it was "definitely nice to see the parents for a while," and his mother mentioned that they had already received a crucial part of Tribe education.

"I learned the Alma Mater today," she remarked with a grin.

Of all the activities on the schedule last weekend, the big one by far was Saturday night's football game. The College's undefeated football team was set to square off against the University of Delaware Blue Hens, a game the Tribe went on to win 20-30, improving their record to 4-0 for the season.

The game presented an amusing turn of events for Halley's visiting mother Beth, who attended the University of Delaware as an undergrad and had been a cheerleader for the Blue Hens during her time there. However, clad now in a green Tribe T-shirt Halley says that her views on the subject have changed.

"As you can see," she remarked "I'm all William & Mary now."