As students and faculty prepared to return to campus for the fall semester, a new cohort of Canes eagerly awaited their first year on campus.
To get in early on the excitement, 11 Canes Communities across the nation hosted Summer Send-Offs to welcome incoming students to the Canes family. Students practiced throwing the U, basked in orange-and-green-themed homes, and posed with their parents next to a 6-foot inflatable Sebastian the Ibis.
The New York City Canes Community kicked things off at the chic rooftop bar Versa, where the Backal family and current sophomore Amanda Backal hosted the newest Canes. Students wore subtle pops of green and orange, while parents sported University merchandise proudly purchased from the campus store.
In Maryland, Clarita and Tim Dawson, B.G.S. ’88, opened their home to the next generation of Washington, D.C.-area Canes. On their beautifully manicured lawn dotted with orange and green tables, students and parents met and mingled with their new Cane family. Once again, the inflatable Sebastian the Ibis made an appearance.
In Atlanta, Canes hosted students at the Buckhead Club, where Dean Myers, B.B.A ’80, M.B.A. ’81, taught the youngest Cane in attendance how to make the shape of the U with her toddler hands.
Vivek Pandya, the parent of an incoming first-year student, said “I work for a university, and I have never seen an event like this anywhere else.”
Louisville Canes knew they were in the right place when Dean Furman, B.A. ’90, greeted them at the door dressed in orange and green. Then, as they stepped into his orange and green-painted living room, they also realized they could learn a thing or two from him about school spirit.
“This Summer Send-Off was among the best! Everyone enjoyed themselves,” said Michael Friedman, B.B.A. ’74.
Green and orange balloon arches led Dallas Canes to Elke’s Market Café, serving coffee, canapés, and University-themed cookies for the incoming students as they chewed over their excitement for their freshman year.
Back in Philadelphia, students met in the home of Sandy Goldstein, B.B.A. ’81, M.B.A. ’84, where they posed in front of impressive city views and an abundance of green, orange, and Class of 2029 balloons.
In Chicago, incoming Cane Molly Chernawsky was all smiles as she met her fellow first-year students. Chernawksy and her mother posed along the traveling Sebastian the Ibis, who appeared in charging stance ready to rally the new students.
In Houston, the Voss family proudly proclaimed “Welcome to the U! Class of 2029” in large marquee letters on their front lawn, welcoming incoming first-year students and their parents to their Summer Send-Off.
Just south of Boston, rising sophomore Maggie Kusmin spoke to incoming first-years about her own experience at the previous year’s Summer Send-off:
“I won’t lie; I was nervous, and I was scared—scared to leave home, scared I wouldn’t meet people, scared I wouldn’t find my place,” she said. “Now, I know what actually awaited me were some of the best times.”
To the winners of the ice-breaker bingo went the spoils at the Palm Beach Canes Community Summer Send-Off. After finding dormmates, fellow majors, Foote Fellows, and legacy students in the crowd, the winners had a choice of University swag to outfit their first day of school.
In Naples, Nancie Samet, B.B.A. ’80, opened her home to incoming students, where they made new friends, sought advice from alumni, and ate excellent food.
Now, as new students settle in on campus and attend their first week of classes, they can look forward to meeting up with their newfound friends and seeing familiar faces all around them.
Check out the latest updates and events from your Canes Community.
