September 28, 2021

Family Weekend Festivities

Family members reunited with students and got a taste of Lafayette College life during Family Weekend, which took place September 24-26. The schedule of events, organized by a student-led committee, was aimed at educating, engaging, and entertaining parents and families who visited campus. Here are a few highlights from the weekend’s festivities.

Please see more photos from Family Weekend on Flickr. 

Campus Solar Array Tour

On Friday, families had the opportunity to see the College’s first on-campus solar panel array on roof of Kirby Sports Center. Families learned how the project will provide experiential learning opportunities for students and how faculty will integrate the project into courses.

Guides for this experience were Delicia Nahman, director of sustainability, Kira Lawrence, professor of geology and department Head, and Bruce Ferretti, executive director of facilities.

Families gather in the lobby of Kirby Sports Center
Both wearing masks, Delcia Nahman speaks next to Bruce Ferretti
Professor Kira Lawrence, masked.
Families, wearing masks, stand in the lobby of Kirby Sports Center
Families, masked, walk up stairs of Kirby Sports Center
Bruce Ferretti speaks to families inside of Kirby Sports Center.
A group of families and Lafayette guides on top of Kirby Sports Center.
A group of families and Lafayette guides on top of Kirby Sports Center.
Professor Kira Lawrence, masked, leads a conversation on top of Kirby Sports Center
rendering of Solar Panels on Kirby Sports Center
A rendering of a solar panel array on the roof of Kirby Sports Center.

coffee at the President’s house

President Nicole Hurd and her husband Bill invited members of the Class of 2024 and their families to their home to enjoy Saturday morning coffee and donuts.

President Hurd mingles with family members outside
President Hurd mingles with family members outside
parents in masks mingle outside
parents in masks mingle outside
members of three different families smile outside, wearing Lafayette gear
young Lafayette sibling in Lafayette sweatshirt and mask raises arm in the air
parents mingle outside
families mingle in masks outside
Parent's Weekend, Sophomore Parents, Coffee with the President, Nicole farmer Hurd,
parents stand together outside president's house
parents smile outside
student and parent in mask outside

Geology Mineral & Rock Show & Tell

Brian Lejeune, curator of Lafayette’s Art Montgomery Mineral Museum, shared insights about the collection of minerals and rocks, housed in Van Wickle Hall.

A masked person in front of rows of rocks in Van Wickle Hall.
Rows of labeled rocks.
Families inside of Van Wickle Hall, masked.
Technology inside of Van Wickle Hall.
Families inside of Van Wickle Hall, masked.
A person in a mask inside of Van Wickle Hall

Lafayette 101, Why we Celebrate the Marquis

Who was the Marquis de Lafayette ? What was his background? What motivated him to come to America and get involved with our war with Britain? Why was our College named after him?  Families learned more about the Marquis de Lafayette from  John Becica ’69, a member of the American Friends of Lafayette, the historical society dedicated to the Marquis, which was established at the College in 1932.

John Becica ’69
Families sit outside at Goodwyn Plaza, Rockwell Integrated Science Center, listening to John Becica ’69
Families sit outside at Goodwyn Plaza, Rockwell Integrated Science Center.

Solar Power in a Tiny Home Converted School Bus

Remy Oktay ’23 created a solar panel powered tiny house on wheels from a used school bus. Families had the opportunity to take a tour of the converted bus and learn about the building blocks of the solar power system that runs all the household appliances.

Remy Oktay '23 outside of converted bus.
Remy Oktay '23 inside of converted bus.
Remy Oktay '23 outside of converted school bus.
A converted school bus.

President’s Address

Families and members of the Lafayette community met our new president, Nicole Farmer Hurd, who pledged to bring her head, heart, and hands “to a community that will pursue a braver, bolder future as a model of academic and inclusive excellence in higher education.”

President Nicole Hurd speaks at a podium.
Students speak at a podium.
Students hug President Nicole Hurd.
A family member speaks into a microphone.
Families listen to Nicole Hurd's speech.
President Nicole Hurd speaks at a podium.
President Nicole Hurd speaks at a podium.
A family member talks into a microphone.
President Nicole Hurd speaks at a podium.
Families listen to President Hurd's speech.

Tailgates & Celebrations

Lafayette families got together for some delicious food, games, relaxation, and pre-game fun. Music on the Quad was provided by WJRH and the Lafayette Pep Band, and student EcoReps were stationed at waste stations during lunch to help sort waste into trash, recycling, and compost receptacles. Additionally, members of the Class of 1956 reunited and met President Hurd.

Two masked students hold clarinets
Students play clarinets in front of Hogg Hall.
Masked student plays the drums in front of Hogg Hall.
Families mingle on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Families mingle on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Families mingle on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Families mingle on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Families smile on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Families smile on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Families smile on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Families smile on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Families smile on Markle Parking Deck while tailgating.
Nicole Hurd stands in front of a Class of 1956 flag.
Members of the Class of 1956 stand in front of a flag.
Members of the Class of 1956 stand in front of a flag.
Members of the Class of 1956 stand in front of a flag.

Lafayette Vs. Penn Football

Lafayette football took down Ivy League foe Penn, 24-14, on Saturday evening at Fisher Stadium.

A family watches the football game from the stands of Fisher Stadium.
President Nicole Hurd and Bill Hurd sit in the stadium of Fisher Field.
A family watches the football game from the stands of Fisher Stadium.
Band members play flutes.
Band members play flutes.
A student conducts the band on Fisher Field.
The Lafayette Leopard runs across Fisher Field, carrying a flag with a Leopard on it. Football players run behind.
Football players chat.
A football player carries the football, blocking the opposing team.
A family watches the football game from the stands of Fisher Stadium.
Football players talk on the sidelines of Fisher Field.
The back of a football player in uniform.

College hill’s porch fest

The Hill was alive with live music Sunday afternoon. More than 40 performers entertained the College Hill community and Lafayette College family visitors with live mini-concerts from 1-5 p.m.. Musicians performed everything from jazz to classical to rock while attendees roamed from porch to porch. A parade through town followed.

Photos by Caroline Burns ’22

performer sings and plays guitar on a porch with audience in folding chairs
performer sings and plays guitar on a porch with audience in folding chairs
singer and guitarist performs on a porch
group of percussionists sit in circle with drums
young person smiles in tie-dye shirt
young person smiles wearing sunglases
person smiles as holding camera up to take a photo
young person plays keyboard and sings on a porch
young person plays keyboard and sings on a porch
person plays guitar in front of a house
German Shepherd sits with owners
group of students, one has big smile
person plays guitar and sings in front of house
masked parent holds young masked child on rocking chair
Categorized in: Campus life, Featured News, Inauguration, News and Features, News for Families, Parents & Families, Students, Sustainability