The Student Alumni Relations Board (SArB) works every year to put on the annual University of Idaho Dads’ Weekend. However, the 2019 iteration of the event will be under a different name.
“We are going to shift to a Parent & Family Weekend beginning in fall of 2019 for both the fall and spring event,” said Marie Duncan, UI associate director of Alumni Relations. “Many of our peer institutions have gone that route, so we are excited to make the change. We will still do many of the same events over the weekends, but we will continue to add to our event offerings to make sure the weekends are meaningful to the families.”
Duncan said despite the upcoming changes, Vandal families should still take advantage of this year’s activities.
Marie Duncan | Courtesy
“It can be a great point of pride to introduce your family to your peers and their families,” she said. “These weekends are full of stories of families coming together and making connections that last much longer than the weekend.”
There will be a beer tasting at the Best Western from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Powerade-Pong in the Physical Education Building Gymnasium 7:30 p.m. Friday, donuts and wood carving 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Moscow Building Supply, a cornhole tournament 11 a.m.
There will also be several athletic events families are invited to, including women’s volleyball, a swim meet, and the Vandal football game.
“It’s important because it’s a time when the university invites parents, families, guardians to come back to the university and learn a little bit more about the University of Idaho and the Vandal traditions,” said Mia Goodwin, the student alumni program coordinator. “For the students, it’s great to spend time with their Vandal family, both the one they’ve made on campus and their family from back home.”
At the football game, the 2018 “Dad of the Year” will be announced. Students submitted applications for who they think should be the “Dad of the Year,” and SArB chooses the winner.
“I am most excited for the dad of the year announcement at the football game,” Duncan said. “I usually am teared up when they talk about how much the dad has done for the student. It is a really special moment for the student and their family.”
However, Goodwin said, Dad’s Weekend isn’t just for students and their dads, it’s for the entire family.
“It’s not just for Vandal dads,” Goodwin said. “Even though we call it Dad’s Weekend, we invite everyone’s parent, family, grandparents, guardians. Anybody can participate in any of the events. If their family isn’t able to come, we still encourage students to participate in quite a few events on campus.”
Mia Goodwin | Courtesy
Duncan said students should take advantage of the weekend’s events, as it serves as the perfect opportunity to give their family a glimpse into student life as a Vandal.
“It is a great time for students to showcase their university, their living situation, their classroom, their community to their family,” Duncan said
For more information on “Dad’s Weekend 2018” and the events, visit uidaho.edu/dadsweekend.
Brianna Finnegan can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @BriannaFinnega8