Alumni Weekend activities designed for Blue Hens of all ages

1:31 p.m., April 19, 2013--Plenty of family friendly events are planned for University of Delaware Alumni Weekend, scheduled May 31-June 2, according to organizers.

Those who plan to attend are encouraged to register now.

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

• Doctoral hooding
• Old Swedes
• Summer SAT, ACT prep
• 'Opus 13' pre-sale

Activities include:

Lunch with the UD Mascots on The Green, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, June 1. Those who attend can join YoUDee and Baby Blue for fun and food on The Green. There will be a photo booth, face painting, a balloon artist, a bounce house, games and an opportunity to get a photo taken with the University’s national champion mascots.

The lunch will include the announcement of the new UDairy Creamery ice cream flavor made especially for Alumni Weekend.

Also, parents and children are encouraged to stop by the Kid Zone, sponsored by the College of Education and Human Development, for crafts, activities and more.

Blue Hen 5K Walk/Run and 1K Kids Fun Run, Sunday, June 2, 8:30 a.m. A popular feature of Alumni Weekend is the Blue Hen 5K run for adults and 1K fun run for children. At the finish line, there will be a celebration and awards ceremony led by Frank Newton at 10 a.m. on the Laird Campus patio. Pre-registration for the 5K is $20 and is required and can be completed at this website. The fun run for children is free.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will offer family friendly activities throughout the weekend.

Families are invited to a presentation on “Backyard Gardening: Grow Your Own Food” on Saturday, June 1, from 1-2 p.m. at the UD Garden for the Community on South Campus next to the Girl Scouts building. The program offers information for the home gardener or someone looking to start their own small farm, with tips from UD Cooperative Extension experts.

While the UDairy Creamery tours are sold out, the creamery will be open to the public. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Alumni also are encouraged to visit the UD Botanic Gardens that surround the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. A series of 12 gardens on 15 acres, the gardens serve as a research center, laboratory and classroom, maintaining more than 3,000 species and cultivars of perennials, shrubs and trees.

For a complete list of family activities, see the Alumni Weekend website.

Alumni Weekend

Held the first weekend after Commencement each year, Alumni Weekend is a tradition that is growing in popularity and in size. More than 3,900 Blue Hens and friends attended in 2012, participating in activities such as Mug Night, the Blue Hen 5K, President Patrick Harker's State of the University address and the Alumni Wall of Fame Ceremony.

Office of Alumni Relations

The University of Delaware Office of Alumni Relations promotes a lifelong relationship between the University and more than 160,000 living alumni, all of whom are members of the UD Alumni Association, by providing programs, events and awards for alumni and students, maintaining traditions and fostering Blue Hen pride. For more information, visit www.UDconnection.com.