Full Weekend Ahead for Wellesley with Homecoming, Alumnae Leadership Council, and Discover Wellesley Weekends Converging

October 16, 2014
three student greeters in Family & Friends and Homecoming t-shirts

A big weekend is in store for Wellesley. The College is looking forward to welcoming the family, friends, and alumnae coming to campus for Family & Friends Weekend and Homecoming, starting Friday, October 17. Approximately 600 guests will be on hand for the festivities.

This year, Wellesley is excited that the Alumnae Leadership Council will also meet during Friends & Family Weekend and Homecoming, bringing around 200 alums back to campus. Past club presidents, class officers, and other alumnae figures will converge during this festive weekend to reconnect with the College and be trained for Alumnae leadership roles.

Not only that, October 18 and 19 are a Discover Wellesley Weekend, hosted by the Board of Admission and student volunteers. This two-day recruiting event for high school seniors typically draws 300 students and 200 of their guests to campus each fall. Admission welcomes prospective students to enjoy a weekend of campus tours, panel discussions, information sessions with admission and financial aid counselors, class visits, cultural events, and an optional night in a Wellesley residence hall.

Family & Friends and Homecoming Weekend offers attendees more than 60 events to choose from: They can go to classes with their student, enjoy happy hour at Punch’s Alley, cheer on a varsity sport contest or participate in an alumnae game, take in special faculty lectures, and breakfast with the president (not necessarily in that order), and much more!

A few public events of note during Family & Friends and Homecoming Weekend include two nights of “open tower” hosted by the Wellesley Guild of Carilloneurs in Galen Stone Tower, on Friday, October 17, 4-6 p.m., and Sunday, October 19, 2-4 p.m. The Guild’s weekend is made even more special by the presence of carilloneur Laura Ellis from the University of Florida, who will teach a masterclass for the Guild. Additionally, visitors are invited to attend Wellesley’s first-ever induction ceremony for the Wellesley College Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Whether you’re a returning alum or a first-year parent , Family and Friends weekend is jam-packed with fun and inspiration for everyone.

A full schedule for the weekend is available online and via Guidebook. Other highlights of the weekend include:

Friday, October 17

  • 3-4:30 p.m.: Houghton Chapel Tour and Tea

  • 3:15-4 p.m.: Olga Shurchkov ‘01, Economics

  • 7:30-9 p.m..: Jazz/World and Acapella Concert

Saturday, October 18

  • 8:30-10 a.m.: Crew Shell Christening and Alumnae Regatta

  • 9:30-10:15 a.m.: President’s Address

  • 11:30-12:15 p.m.: Lecture, Paul Fisher, American Studies

  • 2:45 p.m.: Class of 2017 Tree Planting

  • 8 p.m.: Keynote Address, Persis Drell ‘77, “Full Spectrum: From Wellesley to the Big Bang”

Sunday, October 19

  • 9:30 a.m.: Blue Nation Fun Run

  • 10:30 a.m.: Head of the Charles Send-Off