Fostering connections at Family Weekend

This past weekend, campus was buzzing as over 5,600 parents, families and supporters brought warm, sunny weather to campus, breaking the week of overcast skies. Donning class-year buttons and plenty of green and gold, families filled the brick paths, ready to reconnect with students and experience campus life.

“It’s exciting,” said Katie Kilgallen ‘29. “It has definitely felt like home again. My parents have been in the back of my mind.”

From Oct. 3-5, William & Mary hosted its annual Family Weekend, welcoming parents, families and supporters to explore life on campus. The weekend’s events highlighted every facet of W&M’s community, including academic, athletic, and social culture. With more events, more student performances, and a record number of registered families, this year's Family Weekend was overflowing with opportunities for connection.

Families and Students

As families explored, students created shared experiences with their loved ones by proudly showcasing their new home and life on campus. Campus came alive with performances from bands, a cappella groups, and concert ensembles, while families joined students in classes across disciplines ranging from Marine Invertebrate Biology to Greek Archaeology and Art.

The presence of loved ones on campus provided comfort for many students. “I was looking forward to Family Weekend,” said William McGarvey ‘29. “Sometimes, I get homesick, so having my family here made a difference.”

Another student, Judith Malley ‘28, looked forward to teaching a FitWell class with her mom, open to students and weekend visitors.

“Teaching together for Family Weekend was lovely,” said Judith. “I learned group fitness from my mom, so at home, we always taught together. Teaching together, here, at my gym, where people know me, was really special.”

After exploring academics and recreation, the community came together for the weekend’s biggest event at Zable Stadium, where W&M faced off against North Carolina A&T. The football game brought a crowd of 12,783 fans avidly sporting green and gold.

Katie Nowell, coming to Family Weekend for Lizzie ‘29, was most excited for this event. “It will be our first college football game,” she said.The game did not disappoint with an exciting comeback in the second half and a win for the Tribe. With opportunities to explore every facet of the university experience, the weekend allowed families to immerse themselves in the lives of students.

Families and Campus

In addition to exploring the current student experience, visitors learned about W&M’s rich history of academic excellence and community. A family-favorite event, By Lantern Light, received key updates this year, allowing anyone to stroll the lantern-lit paths at their own pace and admire the glow reflecting on the historic brick buildings. Student interpreters stood ready at essential locations to explain the significance and answer questions.
A lantern light interpreter, Ryan Silien ‘28, enjoyed meeting guests from around the country and globe to share his enthusiasm for the university. “As a history major with a passion for early America, it was exciting to show off our historic campus to visiting families,” he said.

Brooke Lewis, another interpreter, appreciated the intellectual curiosity of visitors. “The people touring really made my experience,” she said. “One family even told me afterward that they had looked up the supplemental story I suggested online.”

During the day, families also toured buildings like Earl Gregg Swem Library and Miller Hall, home of the Mason School of Business. Others explored the Virginia Institute of Marine Science aquarium, the Biology Department’s rooftop Teaching and Research Greenhouse, or paddled on scenic Lake Matoaka. Whether historical or natural, families connected with campus and made lasting memories.

Families and Each Other

Family Weekend is not only a time for connection with loved ones, but also for families to connect with one another. To foster relationships between families over mocktails and light hors d'oeuvres, W&M introduced its first-ever Welcome Social at the beginning of the weekend. This casual drop-in event allowed relatives to mingle, share experiences, and bond over the bittersweet feelings of their student’s growth.
Katie and Cameron Nowell attended the event with their daughter Lizzie ’29. The social provided an opportunity to meet other families, after recently moving to Williamsburg to be closer to their daughter. “The history of Colonial Williamsburg is part of the charm,” Cameron said. “The immersion makes it so special.”

Later in the weekend, events like glow-in-the-dark minigolf and a friendly cornhole tournament offered even more opportunities to bond within the W&M community.

After a record-breaking weekend of events and attendance, families left campus with new connections to their students, the William & Mary community, and each other. Their support will continue to shape the student experience as they settle in their new home away from home.