238 FEB. 23-25 MTSU FAMILY WEEKEND FULL OF ACTIVITIES

Date: Jan. 26, 2007


Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
New Student and Family Programs contacts: Rob Patterson, 615-898-2454
Gina Poff, 615-898-2454

(MURFREESBORO) — Organizers planning for the first spring Family Weekend Feb. 23-25 have an event-filled lineup.
Sponsored by New Student and Family Programs, students and their families can attend athletic events (basketball, softball and baseball games) the entire weekend, attend a play, “Ramona Quimby,” Feb. 23 or Feb. 24, hear the MTSU Symphonic Band and Chamber Winds Feb. 23 or attend a performance by illusionist Wayne Hoffman Feb. 23.
“This should be a fun weekend, and certainly will be busy,” Rob Patterson, New Student and Family Programs coordinator, said recently.
“This is the first time we’ve done it with basketball, baseball and softball,” Director Gina Poff added. “Hopefully, the weather will be good. We think it will be a big success.”
MTSU usually holds Family Weekends during the fall, but the 2006 home football schedule, which included two Thursday night games and a Friday night game in Nashville, was not conducive, they said.
Patterson said a main focus will be promoting attendance for the Feb. 24 Senior Day basketball games.
The nationally ranked Lady Raiders will entertain Sun Belt Conference opponent Florida Atlantic at 2 p.m. in Murphy Center. The Blue Raiders will meet the Owls’ men’s team at 7 p.m. in Murphy Center.
A silent auction sponsored by the MTSU Parents Association, with all proceeds going for a book scholarship, that will be awarded to a student next fall, will begin with registration at 9 a.m. Feb. 24 and continue into the 10 a.m. brunch and 5 p.m. dinner.
Patterson said another weekend feature would be a CANstruction food drive. Students and their families will be encouraged to bring cans of food when they register. Event organizers will construct a pyramid of cans as high as a basketball goal. Later, it will be donated to a local food bank.
MTSU students will attend free with ID. The cost for family members is $30 per package. The Feb. 23-24 baseball games vs. Bowling Green and the “Ramona Quimby” performances will require additional admission fees. Family Weekend T-shirts will be available for $10 each. Registrations need to be returned by Feb. 16.
For more information including a list of sponsor hotels and weekend schedule, call
615-898-2454 or visit www.mtsu.edu/~nsfp.

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