Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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Family Weekend • 19 As part of the Festival of Cultures, an entertainer with the Haskell Thunderbird Dancers performs for the crowd. Other components of the festival were the Fiddle Factory, the Alliance of Black Collegians, the Chinese Student Organization and a jazz ensemble. Family Weekend events provided something for everyone, no matter what their age. Photo by Sarah Phipps During a carnival for Family Weekend, a clown caters to a young patron in the Bearcat Arena Block. The weekend ' s festivities included face painting, as well as .games like Guess the Weight of the Senior Bearcats, Northwest Trivia, a ring toss, and a ping pong ball throw. Family Weekend let families spend time together and also have fun. Photo by Craig PIburn Who they are: The family of Laura 5chu enberg Where they are from: FlatXeniouth. t-le ' c. Why they were nomi- nated: My family all went to echool here and they were all etill active with Northwest, 5chulentperg eaid. I thought it would be a nice honor for them. Runners-Up: The families of Chris Doud and Natalie Nowak Ready for the ride of his life, Bobby Bearcat gets strapped into the Orbitron. The ride pro- vided entertainment both for those who rode it and for onlookers. Photo by Craig Piburn

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Student Life • 18 Quality Time the beginning of a cultural, activity-packed weekend ' 5! « s by Courtney Stensland The anticipation of Northwest ' s Family Weekend was evident all across campus. Two hundred green and white balloons were put up around the block of Bearcat Arena, greeting signs were hung, tickets were purchased, schedules were planned and the rumble of vacuum cleaners echoed through the residence halls in prepara- tion for the arrival of family and friends on the weekend of Oct. 3, 4 and 5. It was a lot of work to put everything together, coordinator of the weekend ' s events, Shari Schneider, said. It took cooperation from everyone. Elimination of some events from (1996) that yielded a low participation and the addition of more festivities and decorations helped to make the weekend a good experience for both the students and their families. Many activities were planned on Saturday for all age groups. Small children were invited to take part in events along the block of Bearcat Arena. A carnival was set up. with such attractions as the M-4, a personal motion theater which simulated riding in jets or ships while the participants twisted and turned in their seats, and the Orbitron, a NASA-like space simulator which spun its riders around in a circular motion. Boys and girls in the second to eighth grades were also invited to take part in a basketball camp for kids to learn how to shoot hoops like the Bearcat basketball team. One dollar or a non-perishable food item was collected for the Nodaway County Food Pantry to participate in the camp. Northwest mens ' basketball coach Steve Tappmeyer headed the program and said the camp proved to be successful, although the number of participants dropped from 1996. The kids really seemed to be having a good time, Tappmeyer said. All fifteen Bearcat players showed up to help with the camp, which included six stations to teach the kids the fundamentals. We knew that many of these kids showed their support for our players during the season so this was a way of paying them back. All ages were also invited to attend events such as the University Welcome, at which the winners of the Family of the Year competition were announced. • continued on page 21

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Student Life • 20 Bobby Bearcat is nev- er too busy for a pic- ture, but Kyle Ford was not too excited about being in tlie photograph with Bob- by and Catherine Ford. Family Week- end brought out many administrators, facul- ty members, students andtheirfamiliesfora day of entertainment on the Northwest campus. Family Weekend allowed parents to see the Northwest campus for themselves. Photo by Sarah Phlpps As he leans against the fence, Boston Schneider watches the football game with his grandparents. Shari Schneider, Boston ' s mother, was the Family Weekend coordinator and was in charge of getting all the events planned. Photo by Sarah Phipps