Scarecrows walking on stilts, pumpkins on the quad and neck tattoos on Northeastern’s Boston campus
“Northeastern does an amazing weekend with all its offerings to bring families together,” said Michelle Myers, a parent of two Northeastern students. “I was very much looking forward to this weekend.”
For the Rowlands, Northeastern’s Family and Friends Weekend started on a high note with a photo with the one and only Paws, Northeastern University’s universally beloved mascot.
From there, the day just kept on getting better.
Jennifer and Eric Rowland had traveled from St. Louis to visit their son, Carter, a first-year mechanical engineering student.
From the free apple cider donuts to the informational meeting about the College of Engineering, the family was taking full advantage of the day.
They were among thousands of families who had traveled from around the globe to participate in the weekend activities meant to celebrate the fall and reconnect students with their loved ones just a few weeks after the start of the academic year in what has become a much-anticipated annual tradition.
One highlight for the Rowlands was the fall festival on Centennial Common, where Eric Rowland received a Husky tattoo right on his neck to show off his school pride.
“I have tattoos for real anyway,” he said. “It’s not something that scares me. Obviously, it’s temporary, but I want to show him I’m supporting him, and this school.”
The festival also featured a live DJ, scarecrows walking on stilts, comfort foods such as caramelized apples, fried dough and corn dogs, and a pumpkin patch placed on the quad lawn.
There were also dozens of other activities going on around campus, including campus tours, excursions around Boston, and musical and entertainment performances, including a magic show hosted by Northeastern grad Jim Munsey and a comedy show performed by Boston’s Improve Asylum.
The Rowlands, however, said on Saturday that they were particularly excited about attending the men’s hockey game at Matthew’s Arena later that night. Northeastern University faced off against the University of Denver, and won 1-0 on a second-period goal by freshman Amine Hajibi.
While there were several activities to partake in, many families were just glad to soak up the beautiful fall day.
The Bolzan family enjoyed the pumpkin patch, with each of the four family members painting designs on their own pumpkin. The Bolzan’s were visiting their daughter, AnnaSophia, a first-year engineering major.
While designing the Northeastern logo on her pumpkin, Chris Bolzan, Anna Sophia’s mother, spoke about how excited the family was to be there that weekend.
“I am so impressed,” said Bolzan. “It feels like a real family environment with lots of chances to enjoy the best of New England. The campus looks beautiful and the foliage is gorgeous.”
Isabele Myers, a first-year engineering major, was making friendship bracelets with her mom after spending the morning showing her around the Boston campus, particularly the makerspace in the EXP complex.
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Myers’ mother Michelle is an expert at sewing and taught Isabele some sewing techniques using the makerspace’s resources.
“She taught me about sewing machines and she taught me how to change the feed,” said Isabele Myers.
Isabele Myers also used the makerspace laser-cutting machine to cut her parents’ two small hearts to commemorate the day.
Even though she is a first-year, Myers isn’t completely new to campus. Her brother, Tyler is a third-year engineering student at Northeastern.
As a parent of two Huskies, Michelle Myers said she has been impressed with Northeastern’s programming and support, and she was particularly looking forward to Family and Friends Weekend.
“Northeastern does an amazing weekend with all its offerings to bring families together,” she said.
The weekend also provided important insights for future Northeastern students.
Sophie Hyrn was with her family visiting her brother Matthew, a first-year environmental engineering major, but she hopes to Northeastern through early decision by next weekend.
While she’s toured the campus three times before, she continues to be impressed by it each time she visits it, she recounted shortly after touring the EXP building on Saturday.
Hyrn plans to major in biochemistry and she’s especially interested in using EXP’s wet lab space.
But that’s just one of the many highlights that makes Northeastern her ideal choice.
She also loves that it provides research opportunities for undergrads and is situated in a bustling city like Boston.
“Northeastern is everything I wanted in one school,” she said.
