Family Weekend 2012: Celebrate ‘Boardwalk on the Boulevard’

By Sarah Hanan
SMU News

A record number of SMU families have registered to attend Family Weekend 2012, set for September 28-30. The weekend includes a student talent show, tours and open houses, and Boulevarding before the Mustangs take on TCU.

“Families are a very important part of our community, and this weekend is about celebrating them,” says Antonea Bastian, chair of the Student Foundation committee that plans and oversees the weekend’s events. “We’ve worked hard to make this a memorable experience.”

Bastian is a junior majoring in communication studies in Meadows School of the Arts and history in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. She has served on Student Foundation since her first year at SMU and describes Family Weekend as one of her favorite traditions.

“For first-year students, this is a chance to show your parents how you’ve made campus your home away from home,” she says. “For older students, you can show parents all of the good reasons they’ve invested in your time here – and just have fun together.”

Bastian encourages families to attend the 37^th annual Talent Show at 8 p.m. Friday at McFarlin Auditorium, which will showcase the weekend’s theme, “Boardwalk on the Boulevard.” “The beach, carnivals, sand and SMU spirit all will come together,” she says. “This is going to be a great show.”

The weekend also includes tours of Ford Stadium and the Meadows Museum, opportunities to meet faculty members, an open house at the Hegi Family Career Development Center and All University Worship at Perkins Chapel.

While Boulevarding, families can stop by Centennial Hall at Hughes-Trigg Student Center and have a family photo taken. The interactive exhibit celebrates student and faculty achievement, Hilltop history and the University’s future.

In addition, SMU alumni and their legacies are invited to have their family portrait taken at the Red Zone alumni tent on the northeast corner of Binkley Avenue and Bishop Boulevard (register here).

Single tickets are still available for the game against TCU, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Ford Stadium. Also on sale are mini plans that include tickets for TCU, Houston (Oct. 18) and Tulsa (Nov. 24). Learn more at smumustangs.com or call 214-768-4263.

• Find a schedule of Family Weekend events and other information here.
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