Northwest's annual Family Weekend is set for Sept. 14-16 and will provide families with plenty of opportunities to explore the campus while enjoying activities. (Northwest Missouri State University photos)

Aug. 29, 2018

Northwest to host annual Family Weekend activities Sept. 14-16; Family of the Year nominations due Sept. 7

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2018 Family Weekend schedule

(Times and locations are subject to change)

Friday, Sept. 14

• Alumni Awards Banquet, 6 p.m., Student Union Ballroom (reservations required)
• Bobby’s Bistro, 8 p.m., College Park Pavilion: Enjoy a delicious dessert and cash bar ($5 per person)
• Fly by Midnight, 9 p.m., College Park Pavilion: Enjoy music under the stars with this indie pop duo. (free, sponsored by the Student Activities Council)

Saturday, Sept. 15

• 5k walk/run/ 6:15 a.m. registration, 7 a.m. start, Lamkin Activity Center circle drive ($25 registration fee, sponsored by Northwest Athletic Trainers)
• Bearcat Breakfast, 8-10 a.m., Faust Center lawn: Join Bearcat families for breakfast with Chris Cakes ($5 per person)
• Scavenger Hunt, 10 a.m., Gaunt House: This “Amazing Race”-style activity will lead families throughout the Northwest campus. Follow clues to the end for a special surprise.
• Bearcat Tailgate Zone, 11 a.m., College Park (entry is free, meal available for $10)
• Bearcat football vs. Missouri Southern, 1:30 p.m., Bearcat Stadium.
• Comic Magician Derek Hughes, 7 p.m., Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts (free, sponsored by the Student Activities Council)

Sunday, Sept. 18

• Faith services throughout the community.

Northwest Missouri State University families will gather for a weekend of entertainment, athletic events and fun as the University celebrates its annual Family Weekend Sept. 14-16.

The weekend’s highlights include free entertainment, the annual Alumni Awards Banquet and a Saturday afternoon football game. Activities surrounding the football game include the Bearcat Zone tailgate and the halftime introduction of Northwest’s Family of the Year.

All Family Weekend events are open to the public, although reservations are required for some activities. Times are subject to change.

Additional details are provided below, and a complete schedule is available at www.nwmissouri.edu/getinvolved/familyweekend/. For more information, contact the Office of Student Involvement at 660.562.1226 or osi@nwmissouri.edu.

Family of the Year nominations

Each year, Northwest recognizes a family who best represents the “Bearcat Family” and demonstrates a strong commitment to Northwest. The Family of the Year is selected from submitted applications. The selected family will be recognized at halftime of the football game Saturday, Sept. 15.

In addition to being recognized on the field at Bearcat Stadium during halftime of Saturday’s football game, the family receives a $750 scholarship and other prizes sponsored by Campus Dining and The Northwest Alumni Association.

For more information and to submit an application, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/getinvolved/familyweekend/FamilyoftheYear.htm; the deadline to nominate a family is Friday, Sept. 7. One application is allowed per student. The family must be present to accept the award.

Entertainment

Northwest’s Student Activities Council (SAC) is sponsoring two nights of entertainment, beginning with Bobby's Bistro, a delicious selection of bite-sized desserts, at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion. Tickets may be purchased for $5 in advance or with cash on the day of the event.

Then, at 9 p.m., stay at the College Park Pavilion for a free concert featuring Fly By Midnight, a retro pop duo from Staten Island, New York. Set up a lawn chair and enjoy the music under the stars.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, Northwest hosts a comic magician Derek Hughes at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts; the performance is free and open to the public. Hughes has performed his magic on MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and the CW’s “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.” He also is consulting producer on TRUtv’s hit magic series, “The Carbonaro Effect” and was a finalist on season 10 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

Other activities for families during the weekend include the annual 5K Run/Walk sponsored by Northwest Athletic Trainers, beginning at 7 a.m. at the Lamkin Activity Center Circle; a Bearcat Breakfast featuring Chris Cakes from 8 to 10 a.m. on the lawn of the Michael L. Faust Center for Alumni and Friends; and the Amazing Place Family Scavenger Hunt, beginning at 10 a.m. outside the Thomas Gaunt House.

Registration is required for most events. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/getinvolved/familyweekend/Events.htm  

Athletics

Kickoff for the Bearcat football game against Missouri Southern State University is 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bearcat Stadium. For ticket information and other details about the game, visit www.bearcatsports.com. 

The Bearcat Zone, Northwest’s tailgate area prior to all home football games, gets underway at 11 a.m. at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion. The Bearcat Zone features performances by Bobby Bearcat, the Bearcat Marching Band, Bearcat Steppers and the Bearcat Cheerleaders and other family-friendly activities. Fans may bring their own food, or a tailgate meal is available for $10.

Alumni Awards Banquet

Seven distinguished members of the Northwest family will be honored during the annual Alumni Awards Banquet, sponsored by the Northwest Alumni Association. The event begins with a social at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 14, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the awards presentation at 8 p.m.

This year’s honorees are Dr. Matt Becker, Dr. Bayo Joachim, Dr. Joyce Piveral, John Moore, Dale Wion, Kelly Quinlin and Ryan Heiland.

For more information about the Alumni Awards Banquet, contact the Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248 or alumni@nwmissouri.edu. Reservations are required.