Family Weekend 2025

University Bookstore Hours
9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Brandt Student Center, Lower Level

Welcome Table
3-5 p.m. | Brandt Student Center

Stop by to gather information about Family Weekend activities and pick up your welcome gift!

Parents Council Reception*
5:30-7:30 p.m. | Hazel Pruitt Armory, Collaboratory

Meet and mingle with current Shenandoah University parents on the Parents Council and Shenandoah senior administration. Refreshments, wine and beer will be provided. Register using this Google Form.

*Dinner on your own (explore restaurants downtown and in the Winchester area).

Cross Country: Hornet Harrier and Commonwealth Challenge
9:30 a.m. | Kernstown Battlefield

University Bookstore Hours
10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Brandt Student Center, Lower Level

Reception & Open House
10 a.m.-noon | Brandt Student Center

Enjoy breakfast pastries and coffee while connecting with senior administrators, faculty, staff, and parent council members. Refresh yourself on resources available to students with informational tables and ask questions of staff and faculty. Families attending will be able to enter a raffle for Shenandoah swag. Questions? Contact Tamiya Earley at tearley@su.edu.

CANCELED – Tubing at Cool Spring
1 p.m. | Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield

Join Shenandoah Outdoor Adventure Recreation (SOAR) at the Cool Spring River Campus for tubing or a self-guided hike along the beautiful trails. Sign-up required using this Google Form.

Fall Fest
1-3 p.m. | Wilkins Athletics & Events Center

During this autumn tradition at Shenandoah, you’ll experience the joy of the fall season with games for all ages, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, music, food and more! For more information, contact alexandra.johnson@su.edu.

“Murder on the Continental Express” Murder Mystery
3:15-5 p.m. | Smith Library, First Floor

Join a cast of SU suspects as you try to solve the mystery of “whodunnit.” Those who guess correctly will be entered into a raffle for some fabulous SU swag. This event is open to all SU students and their families; appropriate for pre-teens and up. Contact Holli Phillips at hphillip@su.edu for any questions.

Framing Family Memories: A Family Weekend Photo & Craft
5-6 p.m. | Brandt Student Center, Room 123 (Borden Student Associations Center, aka B-SAC)

Capture the magic of Family Weekend 2025 in a truly personal way! Join us for an unforgettable evening of creativity and connection. We’ll provide all the supplies you need to paint and decorate a unique wooden picture frame. You and your family can work together to create a one-of-a-kind keepsake that perfectly reflects your time here. To make the memory even more special, you’ll get the chance to take a complimentary Polaroid photo with your loved ones to instantly place in your new frame. It’s the perfect opportunity to create a lasting memento that you can take home and cherish for years to come. No artistic experience is necessary—just come ready to have fun and make some memories! For more information, contact Dahlia Ashford at mosiaccenter@su.edu.

Catholic Vigil Mass & Reception for Families
5-6:30 p.m. | Henkel Hall, Room 105 (Hester Auditorium)

Catholic Campus Ministry will host a Vigil Mass and family reception on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 5–6:30 p.m. in Henkel Hall, Hester Auditorium. Mass fulfills the Sunday obligation, and a dinner reception will follow where families can meet CCM staff and student leaders and learn more about the ministry’s programs and events. For more information, contact Mike Filamor at shenandoahccm@gmail.com. 

An Evening of Magic with Shenandoah Alum
8 p.m. | Halpin-Harrison Hall, Stimpson Auditorium

Prepare to be amazed as a talented Shenandoah University alum Michael Misko returns to campus for a night of mind-bending illusions, sleight of hand, and crowd-pleasing comedy! Doors open at 7 p.m. This event is free for current students and $5 per person for guests and families. Tickets can be purchased with cash at the door. For more information, contact Alex Johnson at alexandra.johnson@su.edu.

“90% Comedy. The other half is magic.” Once described as “the Zach Galifianakis of magic,” Michael’s greatest asset is the ability to combine comedy and sleight-of-hand technique to form an evening of pee-in-your-pants entertainment…or so he was told by one little old lady. After seeing his show, renowned stand-up comic Brian Regan said, “I love the part where you harpooned the guy in the chest!”

In 2015, Michael was hand-picked to create the role of the “Magic Maker” in the World Premiere of Stephen Schwartz’s Magic to Do, and can be heard on the Original Cast Album, available on iTunes, Amazon, or Spotify.

Currently, Michael is a highly sought after consultant for Fortune 500 Companies, as he helps connect them with their employees and clients in an astonishing and memorable way. Some of his clients include Workday, Carnival Corporation, CBS, bioMérieux, and UPMC Health Systems. Additionally, Michael performs on cruise ships, at Universities, comedy clubs, and private functions all across the world.

He lives in Pittsburgh, PA with his beautiful wife, Sarah, their perfect daughters, Rosalind and Sloane, and scruffy Double Doodle, Aurora.

Coffee Walk
9 a.m. | Meet at the Brandt Student Center

Meander along the Winchester Green Circle Trail and visit local coffee shops along the way.

University Family Chapel with Eucharist
11:30 a.m.-noon | Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall

A dynamic ecumenical (multi-denominational) worshiping community exists at Shenandoah University. Students and families are invited to worship together at a special Family Chapel, that combines ancient and emerging, diverse and unified, safe and challenging, artful and thoughtful, playful and profound elements.

Family Lunch with the Chaplain
Sunday, September 21 | 12:15 p.m. | Allen Dining Hall

Immediately following Sunday Chapel, please join Chaplain Celec and her family at the Allen Dining Hall for an informal lunch and conversation. If you do not have a meal plan, Spiritual Life is happy to cover the cost of your lunch. Contact DeLyn Celec at dcelec@su.edu for more information.

Cornhole Tournament
1 p.m. | Aikens Stadium

Put your cornhole playing skills to the test! Teams of two will compete in a format determined by the number of entries. Students are encouraged to bring a family member who is in town for Family Weekend to compete with. Each person on the winning team will win $50 in gift cards, and the second-place team members will receive $25 in gift cards. Advanced registration is required. Please register your team by Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. on IMLeagues.

Catholic Mass & Reception for Families
5-7 p.m. | Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall

Catholic Campus Ministry will host Mass at 5 p.m. in Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall. Confessions are available at 4:30 p.m. A dinner fellowship will follow Mass at approximately 6 p.m. in the chapel lobby. All are welcome, whether Catholic, of another faith or simply curious about the Mass. For more information or to join the mailing list, email shenandoahccm@gmail.com.