Palm Beach Atlantic parents will visit the University’s downtown West Palm Beach campus next weekend for a flurry of Family Weekend activities.
The schedule of events – including trivia with the faculty, parents’ prayer with the campus pastor, lunch with the president and first lady, a service project, theatre and symphony performances and athletic contests – will give parents a feel for campus life at PBA.
First, LeMieux Center for Public Policy Fellows Aaron Buch ’19 and Nate Esbenshade ’19 will present their public policy research papers 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 in the Lassiter Rotunda of the Warren Library. Buch’s paper is on gene editing research, and Esbenshade’s is on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Campus Pastor Bernie Cueto and Chapel Praise Team Coordinator Jeanny Alexandre will open a parents’ prayer time Friday morning. Afterward, PBA parents Tim and Renae Burtrum will coordinate a prayer walk throughout campus.
“I love that our parents can see who puts on our chapel time,” said Mary Jacobs, assistant vice president for special projects and parent relations. “The power of prayer is our theme this year, so, absolutely, let’s cover our campus in prayer.”
Also Friday, parents may sign up for the West Palm Beach Food Tour, with a group reserved for PBA families. The cost is $59 per person; parents should reserve a spot early by calling 561-331-1158.
West Palm Beach’s popular Green Market along the waterfront will open for the season Saturday, offering yet another way for parents to explore the city with their students. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Golden Pumpkin, a fall-themed trivia competition 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, offers faculty and staff an opportunity to interact with parents and their students.
Parents can put their athletic skills to the test 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday by signing up to play doubles tennis with PBA players as their partners. The contests will be held at the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus.
President William M. B. Fleming, Jr., and his wife Pam will visit with parents Saturday over lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the upper level of the Lassiter Student Center. Professors and staff from all areas of campus life will be on hand. There will be a drawing for gift certificates from PBA’s partner hotels that parents may use for future visits.
After lunch, parents volunteer alongside their talented students, who will put on a variety show for the residents of Lourdes-Noreen McKeen Towers Retirement Community. Emceed by Anthony Verdesca, Jr., an assistant librarian for the University, it’s become a Family Weekend favorite over the years, Jacobs said.
“It’s a great tradition,” she said. For the residents, “just someone being with you, laughing or holding your hand is awesome.”
