Family Weekend and Homecoming
Family Weekend and Homecoming Schedule of Events
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome our alumni, parents, and families to campus for a truly memorable Family Weekend and Homecoming celebration. On Friday, Oct. 11, learn about student research and faculty experiences, and participate in the inaugural Ripon College Multicultural Alumni Network meeting. On Saturday, Oct. 12, celebrate with us at Hopp Stadium’s tailgate featuring food, drinks, yard games, and live music. Don’t miss the chance to cheer on our volleyball and soccer teams and catch the inaugural evening football game!
When you arrive on campus, please check in at the Lower Level of the Commons (Friday, 12-6 p.m. or Saturday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.).
| Oct. 10-13 | Time | What/Where? *Student Only Functions | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Registration Saturday Registration | 12-6 p.m. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | Registration and Check In - Lower Level, Pickard Commons | Stop in, register, and pick up a Ripon College swag bag, plus an official name tag and wristband for event entry and complimentary Red Hawks Tailgate drink ticket. | |||
| THURSDAY | OCT. 10 | |||||
| 2-4 p.m. | *Ask Me Anything Career Services - Lower Level Pickard Commons | Hosted by the Center for Career and Professional Development, the Alumni Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, students have the opportunity to connect with alumni and ask questions about life after Ripon. | ||||
| 9-11 p.m. | *Late Night Breakfast - Main Dining Room, Pickard Commons | Students will be served by Faculty, Staff and members of the Board of Trustees and Alumni Board. Hosted by SAGE Dining Services. | ||||
| FRIDAY | OCT. 11 | Show your Ripon pride by wearing your Red Hawks gear today! | ||||
| 7 a.m.-4 p.m. | Common Grounds - Lower Level, Pickard Commons | Serving made to order Starbucks beverages and bakery items. | ||||
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Cookie Giveaway - Upper Campus Locations | Students, Faculty and Staff can enjoy cookies between classes. | ||||
| 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Catalyst 120: The Science of Coffee - Franzen Science Center 348 | Join this Catalyst course focused on quantitative reasoning taught by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Bryan Nell '09. | ||||
| 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | The Spot - Harwood Memorial Union | Food and beverages available for purchase. Students can use points. | ||||
| 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | SOAR Poster Session - Lane Library | Participating students in the 2024 Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research (SOAR) program will share poster presentations highlighting hands-on research completed over the summer with a faculty mentor. | ||||
| 11:35 a.m.-12:35 p.m. | Catalyst 220: REVOLT! RESIST! REFORM! Theatre for Social Change - Rodman, B21 (basement level) | Taught by Assistant Professor of Theatre Lillian Brown, this course elevates students into thinking critically about the human condition working in small groups to create short performance studies inspired by relevant socio-political issues. | ||||
| 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. | Multicultural Alumni Network Luncheon - Great Hall, Harwood Memorial Union | The inaugural gathering of the Multicultural Alumni Network (MCAN) will feature a time for alumni and students to connect with MCAN leadership and share insights for group development and priorities. | ||||
| 2:30-3:45 p.m. | Health Professions Alumni Panel - Todd Wehr 104 | Students, families and alumni are invited to learn more about the role of the liberal arts in a variety of healthcare fields from Ripon College alumni: Greg Furdek '04 DDS, Weston Radford '07 MD, Emma McDonald, '18 DPT, Lauren Marshall Squire '04 PA, Stephanie Jenisch Rheingruber '12 MOT, OTR/L and Naomi Jiter '19 MPH. Hosted by the Chemistry and Biology Departments, and the Office of Annual Giving and Engagement. | ||||
| 5-6:30 p.m. | R Connections Cocktail Hour - 2nd Floor, Knuth Brewing Company, Downtown Ripon | All alumni, families, faculty and staff are invited to a special reception honoring those donors and volunteers who provide the Ripon experience to current and future students. Special guests include President Folse and members of the Board of Trustees, Alumni Board of Directors, and Ripon Parent Network. | ||||
| 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Ripon Rhythm and Brews Craft Beer Celebration - Downtown Ripon | Hosted by Ripon Main Street, this craft beer walk in Downtown Ripon is open to the public, but Ripon families and alumni who register for Family Weekend and Homecoming can purchase discounted tickets courtesy of the Office of Advancement for $20 per person. for more details about this event, click here. | ||||
| 7 p.m. | Chamber Music and Jazz at Ripon Series: Christopher Avilez, guitar - Demmer Recital Hall, Rodman Center for the Arts | Internationally acclaimed guitarist Christopher Avilez is one of the teaching faculty with whom Ripon College students have studied through the college’s study abroad program in Barcelona. Avilez enjoys engagements in both recital and concerto settings, playing most recently in Austria, Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico. He has recorded five albums to date, with each one highlighting a passion for music of Latin American composers. All events in the Chamber Music & Jazz at Ripon Series are free and open to the public thanks to generous support from Ripon College’s Friends of the Arts. | ||||
| 8-9:00 p.m. | *Student Pep Rally - Weiske Gym, Willmore Center | Featuring a performance by the Rally Band, Lip Sync contest and minute to win it games. The first 100 student attendees get a free Homecoming t-shirt. | ||||
| SATURDAY | OCT. 12 | Wear RED to show your support of Red Hawks Athletics! | ||||
| 7 a.m.-4 p.m. | Common Grounds - Lower Level, Pickard Commons | Serving made to order Starbucks beverages and bakery items. | ||||
| 9-10:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast & Campus Resource Fair - Great Hall, Harwood Memorial Union | The Ripon Parent Network will host a complimentary continental breakfast for families to enjoy while learning about key campus resources from faculty and staff. | ||||
| 9-12 p.m. | 46th Annual Frisbee Golf - Outside Pickard Commons | Join the brothers of Theta Chi fraternity for a caddied round at the 46th Annual Frisbee Golf philanthropy event. Students, families and alumni are welcome. All proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. | ||||
| 10-11 a.m. | Walk on the Prairie - Meet at the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy trailhead west of the Willmore Center | Enjoy a Ripon tradition, by joining Associate Professor of Biology Ben Grady, and Professor of Biology Memuna Khan for a guided trail walk through the College’s 130-acre conservancy that features native prairie, oak savannah, and wetlands habitat. | ||||
| 10-12 p.m. | Alumnae Softball Game - Tracy Field | All program alumnae and current players and their families are invited to the annual Alumnae Softball Game. All alumnae are invited to gather for complimentary pizza after the game at Knuth Brewing Company in Downtown Ripon from 1-2:30 p.m. | ||||
| 12-7 p.m. | Pop-Up Apparel Store - Hopp Stadium | Special hours for alumni and families to purchase Ripon College apparel. | ||||
| 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Red Hawks Tailgate - Hopp Stadium | Featuring food and beverages available for purchase, music, cornhole tournament, plus designated tailgate zones for Men's and Women's Basketball alumni and Track & Field, Cross Country alumni. Plus, registered guests receive one drink ticket. | ||||
| Red Hawks | Athletics | Featuring performances by the Rally Band and Rally Band Alumni, contest entry and Red Hawks Rally towels are included with Family Weekend & Homecoming registration. | ||||
| 11 a.m. | Men’s Soccer v. Beloit College - Hopp Stadium | |||||
| 1 p.m. | Volleyball v. Cornell College - Weiske Gymnasium, Willmore Center | |||||
| 1:30 p.m. | Women’s Soccer vs. Beloit College - Hopp Stadium | |||||
| 6 p.m. | Football vs. Knox College - Hopp Stadium | |||||
| SUNDAY | OCT. 13 | |||||
| 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Brunch - Main Dining Room, Pickard Commons | Enjoy a delicious brunch provided by SAGE Dining Services. Students will swipe, and guests are just $9.50 at the door. |