Photo by Jerry Tang ’21
For homesick freshmen and nostalgic Hamilton graduates, the annual Fallcoming and Family Weekend is much-needed. The weekend, dedicated to welcoming Hamilton parents and alumni to the campus, took place this year from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22.
While prospective visitors for the weekend are invited to register a few months in advance, the Alumni office begins their planning five years in advance. Sharon Rippey, Director of Alumni Relations and Secretary to the Alumni Council, is in charge of organizing the event and has been for 10 years. Around 1,w500 parents and alumni registered for this year’s Fallcoming and Family Weekend, though more than that showed up.
The idea of a weekend homecoming for alumni and a glimpse into campus life for parents is not unique to Hamilton; many other colleges have similar programs. As the organizer of Hamilton’s, Rippey works alongside other NESCAC schools to share ideas. For Hamilton, Fallcoming and Family Weekend has been a tradition for over two decades. However, the combination of Fallcoming Weekend and Family Weekend is relatively new. The first combined weekend was for the bicentennial kickoff in 2012, as Rippey thought it counterintuitive to host a large kickoff event and then another major event so soon afterwards.
“It’s all about connecting the threads in the community,” Rippey said of her work. Rippey states that the Physical Plant and faculty deserve much credit for helping the weekend run smoothly and providing a multitude of activities for visitors to choose from.
The feedback from visiting parents and alumni has been largely positive. Rippey surveys parents after the weekend has concluded and receives a plethora of feedback, ranging from the napkins in the dining hall to the parent’s overall experience. Rippey takes all of this into account when planning future Fallcoming and Family Weekends.
Natasha Lane ’21 had a positive experience of Family Weekend. Her mother drove up to Clinton from New York City and took part in many of the planned activities for visitors, such as climbing at the Rock Climbing Wall and watching the women’s rugby game.
“My mom said a lot about the Hamilton community and the people she talked to. One thing that really stood out to me was her saying, ‘these are your people,’” Lane said. “She has similar views to the Hamilton community as I do. Everyone here is so nice and so willing to talk to you.”
For Lane, the opportunity to spend time with her mother on-campus was invaluable. “She got to see some of the stuff I do. I think it’s important to understand that it’s easy to talk on the phone with your parents and say what you did that day, but it’s very different from actually being here,” Lane said, adding, “Parents are able to go off on their own and see what [the students] do and see how the campus works.”
Rippey also believes Fallcoming and Family Weekend holds great importance for the Hamilton community. “It really is a chance to reconnect with your parents. And from the institution’s point of view, it’s a way for parents to get a sense of what it’s like at Hamilton and who the professors are,” commented Rippey.
“I love that parents and alumni get to come,” Rippey said. “I think it’s an opportunity for us to show what Hamilton is today.”
