Photos and story by Olivia Power
Between the hours of 1 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, students and their families could play corn hole, eat brownies, drink lemonade, and chat with Honors College Dean James Ruebel at the Honors Family Weekend Backyard Bash.
The Backyard Bash was planned and presented by the Student Honors Council. The group’s president, Valerie Weingart, said that the Backyard Bash began only last year.
“[The Backyard Bash] is just a quick little thing, an hour, just for people to stop by and get a snack before they head off to the game or go on with the rest of their day,” Weingart said.
One of the families in attendance was the family of Tristian Holzhausen, a freshman telecommunications major. Holzhausen has been keeping his eye on Ball State since a visit in eighth grade.
“Ever since I saw it, I was hooked” Holzhausen said, though joining the Honors College took a little persuasion. “I was anxious going into it, but I like [the Honors program,]” Holzhausen said.
Another family in attendance at the Honors Family Backyard Bash was the family of sophomore journalism major Rose Skelly. Skelly served as an Honors Peer Mentor at the beginning of the year. Her younger brother is a Ball State hopeful, and said he was happy to visit Ball State for family weekend.
The family of Ryan Monahan, a freshman who is currently undecided on his major, also stopped by the Backyard Bash. Monahan’s parents attended Northern Illinois University, who some say is Ball State’s biggest sports rival in the Mid-American Conference.
Monahan is the first in his family to attend Ball State. He said he was drawn to Ball State because of the campus, modern technology, and the Honors College.
“The small class sizes and the fact that [Honors classes] are discussion-based was very appealing,” Monahan said.
Weingart said that SHC was delighted to be able to host an event like the Backyard Bash.
“We love having the Honors House. It’s something that a lot of departments don’t have, so we try to use it in settings like this as much as we can,” Weingart said.
The Backyard Bash was planned and presented by the Student Honors Council. The group’s president, Valerie Weingart, said that the Backyard Bash began only last year.
“[The Backyard Bash] is just a quick little thing, an hour, just for people to stop by and get a snack before they head off to the game or go on with the rest of their day,” Weingart said.
One of the families in attendance was the family of Tristian Holzhausen, a freshman telecommunications major. Holzhausen has been keeping his eye on Ball State since a visit in eighth grade.
“Ever since I saw it, I was hooked” Holzhausen said, though joining the Honors College took a little persuasion. “I was anxious going into it, but I like [the Honors program,]” Holzhausen said.
Another family in attendance at the Honors Family Backyard Bash was the family of sophomore journalism major Rose Skelly. Skelly served as an Honors Peer Mentor at the beginning of the year. Her younger brother is a Ball State hopeful, and said he was happy to visit Ball State for family weekend.
The family of Ryan Monahan, a freshman who is currently undecided on his major, also stopped by the Backyard Bash. Monahan’s parents attended Northern Illinois University, who some say is Ball State’s biggest sports rival in the Mid-American Conference.
Monahan is the first in his family to attend Ball State. He said he was drawn to Ball State because of the campus, modern technology, and the Honors College.
“The small class sizes and the fact that [Honors classes] are discussion-based was very appealing,” Monahan said.
Weingart said that SHC was delighted to be able to host an event like the Backyard Bash.
“We love having the Honors House. It’s something that a lot of departments don’t have, so we try to use it in settings like this as much as we can,” Weingart said.
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