Family Weekend 2004

Eugene L. Zdziarski, II, Dean

The University of Florida celebrates Family Weekend 2004:
Bringing Home the Orange & Blue

University of Florida’s Family Weekend 2004: Bringing Home the Orange & Blue is taking place on October 15th and 16th. Close to 1900 first-year students and family members registered for this program last year, making Family Weekend 2003 the largest in recent history at UF. Participation in Family Weekend 2004 should be just as large, as this event is a wonderful opportunity for first-year students and their families to connect with university services and resources in a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere.

Major programs for the event include a reception, breakfast and keynote address, workshops for students and families, and the Welcome Home BBQ lunch featuring pumpkin decorating and musical entertainment on the North Lawn of the J. Wayne Reitz Union. Other highlights include a College Fair during the reception; Gator Nights!; a University Honors Program breakfast; Volleyball matches against Louisiana State University and the University of Arkansas; Soccer games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State University; and various open houses and informational sessions.

In addition, Family Weekend participants will be partnering with the Office of Community Service by donating children’s books and computer programs to the libraries of East Gainesville and other mentoring programs in which the Office of Community Service participates. Items will be collected at specific locations during Family Weekend. Last year 500 children’s books, 40 pieces of educational software, 2 computers, and a printer were collected through this drive.

If your area would like to participate in Family Weekend activities by hosting an open house or other event, please visit http://www.dso.ufl.edu/preview/familyweekend/submissioninfo.html to submit event information. Previous events have included open houses and tours of the museums on campus, tours of the recreational facilities, informational sessions, and performing arts events.

To access the complete schedule of events for Family Weekend 2004, please visit http://www.dso.ufl.edu/preview/familyweekend . Please direct general questions regarding Family Weekend to Melissa Johnson, Assistant Director of New Student Programs at (352) 392-1261, ext. 1 or melissalj@dso.ufl.edu.