West Virginia University parents will have a chance to experience the lives of a college student this weekend as part of the third annual Spring Family Weekend.

This weekend (April 13-15), parents can work out at the award-winning Student Recreation Center, tour campus, take part in a career seminar, attend a women’s soccer game, experience their first WVUp All Night or even go to class with their student.

“West Virginia University welcomes families to campus. Spring Family Weekend is a great time for them to visit their students and take part in campus and community life,” said Sabrina Cave, executive director of the Mountaineer Parents Club.

Here is a list of events this weekend for parents and their students to attend:

Friday, April 13

All Day – Classes Without Quizzes
Experience a class without all the work! Attend class with your student and see first-hand who’s teaching them. Please have your WVU student check with his or her instructor in advance.

6 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Student Recreation Center open to families
Enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities through the Student Recreation Center during this weekend including swimming, basketball, the climbing wall or choose a group fitness class such as yoga, spinning or Zumba. Families will be permitted to use the facilities for free.

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – WVU Bookstore opportunities
Shop at the downtown WVU Bookstore beside the Mountainlair for your official Mountaineer Parents Club and WVU merchandise. Remember to show your Mountaineer Parents Club membership card for a 10 percent discount.

10:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. – Tour the WVU campus
If you have not yet visited our campus, the WVU Visitors Center provides an experience unlike anything you’ve seen. A visit, combined with a campus tour, is the perfect way to introduce you to WVU. Our expert student guides will give you a walking/driving tour of the campus and take you inside a residence hall and the Student Recreation Center. An admissions presentation will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the campus tour. The admissions counselor will discuss admissions requirements, cost and more. Reservations are required. Call the Visitors Center to set up your tour at 304-293-3489 or register online at http://www.visit.wvu.edu.

3 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Speech Pathology & Audiology Awards and Cord presentation (Blue Room of the Evansdale Residential Complex)
Families are invited to attend the event where seniors will be recognized for academic achievements. In addition, awards will be presented to seniors who presented Outstanding Capstone Posters, which were selected by the entire faculty. For more information, visit http://spa.wvu.edu/.

7 p.m. to 2 a.m. – WVUp All Night (Mountainlair)
Experience our nationally renowned program – WVUp All Night. Come enjoy comedians, movies, TRON laser tag, custom dog tags and much more. In addition, billiards and bowling are half-price and the food is free.

7:30 p.m. – Opera Scenes (Antoinette Falbo Theater in the Creative Arts Center)
WVU students present an evening of scenes from famous operas, under the direction of Robert Thieme, head of the Opera Theatre program. The excerpts are fully staged and costumed with accompaniment by WVU piano students. For information, call 304-293-SHOW.

7:30 p.m. – “The Visit” by Friedrich D�rrenmatt (Gladys G. Davis Theater in the Creative Arts Center)
When Madame Zachanassian returns to the town of her youth, she offers an awesome sum of money to the town (which is, frankly, desperately in need). Her only stipulation: kill the man who “done her wrong” so many years ago/ Shocking, yes, but there are already whispers circulating in the shadows. This dark comedy is part cautionary tale and part fable of human nature. For tickets, visit http://ccarts.wvu.edu/ or call 304-293-SHOW.

Saturday, April 14

All Day – Visit Coopers Rock State Forest
Spring is here in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. Stop by Coopers Rock State Forest, located 13 miles east of Morgantown on I-68. It’s a short walk to the main overlook, which features a panoramic view of the gorge and distant horizons. Picnic facilities are also available as well as a concession stand and gift shop. Visit http://www.coopersrockstateforest.com for more information.

8 a.m. – WVU Pump-N-Run Endurance (WVU Student Rec Center)
The WVU Exercise Physiology Club is coordinating a heart-healthy event called the PUMP ‘N’ RUN to seek out the ultimate athlete by testing strength and endurance. All proceeds of the event will benefit the American Red Cross and the Exercise Physiology Club’s Scholarship Fund. For more information, call 304-293-6509 or visit http://studentreccenter.wvu.edu/.

10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. – Tour the WVU Campus
Reservations are required. Call the Visitors Center to set up your tour at 304-293-3489 or register on line at http://www.visit.wvu.edu.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – WVU Bookstore opportunities
Remember to show your Mountaineer Parents Club membership card for your 10 percent discount.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Chocolate Lover’s Day
Ticket buyers are invited to indulge themselves in an array of chocolate creations while experiencing all that Downtown Morgantown has to offer. There are more than 30 businesses participating, and each one will be preparing a different chocolate treat. Register to win a trip for four to Hershey Park. Registration will be in the historic Metropolitan Theatre lobby and also at the Monongalia Arts Center. Cost for registering is $5 per person (children under 5 free). To learn more, visit: http://www.downtownmorgantown.com/events/chocolatelovers/

3 p.m. – WVU vs. Eastern Kentucky women’s soccer game (Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium)
The spring soccer season continues with WVU taking on the Lady Colonels of Eastern Kentucky. Admission is free.

3:15 p.m. – Opera Scenes (Antoinette Falbo Theater in the Creative Arts Center)
For information, call 304-293-SHOW.

5 p.m. – Africa Night (Mountainlair)
Join us for Africa Night, which will feature African food such as goat stew, jollof rice, egusi sauce made from melon seeds and served with pounded yam and more. There will also be entertainment including the Balafon West African Dance Ensemble and the WVU African Dance Ensemble among other other student organizations. For more information, visit http://socialjustice.wvu.edu/news/2012/2/29/springdiversitydays2012.

7 p.m. to 2 a.m. – WVUp All Night (Mountainlair)
For more information on what’s happening, visit http://mountainlair.wvu.edu/wvupallnight.

7:30 p.m. – “The Visit” by Friedrich D�rrenmatt (Gladys G Davis Theater in the Creative Arts Center)
For tickets, visit http://ccarts.wvu.edu/ or call 304-293-SHOW.

Sunday, April 15

8 a.m. to noon – Religious Services
Looking for local religious services in Morgantown? Check out http://maps.live.com/localsearch/Default.aspx?what=Christian+Churches&category=561&cobrand=1&FORM=LLSV for options.

1 p.m. – Spring Ring Day Ceremony (Erickson Alumni Center)
Ring Day is held each spring and fall to present those students who have attained junior status with their WVU class rings and to share the moment with family and friends. Each recipient’s name is penned into the Ring Day Book, a historical record of those who have received the official class ring. Reservations for participants and guests are required. For more information, visit the website at http://classring.wvu.edu/.

2 p.m. – “The Visit” by Friedrich D�rrenmatt (Gladys G Davis Theater in the Creative Arts Center)
For tickets, visit http://ccarts.wvu.edu/ or call 304-293-SHOW.

7 p.m. Mountain Stage with Larry Groce (Creative Arts Center)
Mountain Stage is a two-hour music radio show produced by WV Public Broadcasting and distributed worldwide by National Public Radio, NPR. The program showcases diverse music from traditional to modern. For the weekend’s lineup or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.mountainstage.org/.

For more information on parking and transportation during Spring Family Weekend, visit http://parentsclub.wvu.edu/spring_weekend/parking.

The Parents Club has worked with the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau to secure discounted rates at various Morgantown hotels. The rates are listed online at http://parentsclub.wvu.edu/spring_weekend/hotel_discounts.

-WVU-

td/04/12/12

CONTACT: Sabrina Cave, Mountaineer Parents Club
304-293-2506, Sabrina.Cave@mail.wvu.edu

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