Despite prime leaf-peeping colors across campus and the calendar’s October heading, Friends and Family weekend at Haverford felt anything but fall-like. Record-setting temperatures in the mid-70s and 80s were matched by record-setting attendance of more than 700 guests who flocked to campus for a busy weekend of learning, exploring, and catching up with loved ones from Oct. 27 through 29.
The weekend saw students accompanying their families and friends for tours of the Arboretum and Haverfarm and soaking in compelling exhibitions that examine sound as a medium in contemporary art practices and the exceptional legacy of alum and trailblazing art historian Paul B. Moses. They toured VCAM’s Maker Arts Space and walked away with new squirrel keychains. At Lutnick Library, Conservator Bruce Bumbarger was on hand to showcase the library’s tabletop printing press, and guests could print coasters with quotes that extoll the benefits of a liberal arts education.
While sporting new merch from the Arboretum’s apparel sale or spirit wear they picked up at the bookstore, students and their loved ones capped off Friday evening with stargazing at the Strawbridge Observatory or the Annual Ensembles Concert hosted by the Department of Music. On Saturday, they cheered on Fords as they took on rival Swarthmore College in soccer and field hockey matches.
Continued after the gallery...
Haverford’s plans for the future also took center stage at Friends and Family Weekend this year. On Saturday afternoon, President Wendy Raymond shared campus updates and a broad overview of Haverford 2030, the College’s ambitious strategic plan. Director of Athletics Danielle Lynch discussed a new plan for Haverford athletics, which charts the program’s course across the next seven years.
After having their photos taken with Haverford’s black squirrel mascot, families and friends joined an array of panels covering vital topics ranging from student mental health, Haverford’s resources that support the career and internship search, opportunities to study abroad, and resources available from the Advising team and the Center for Gender Resources and Sexuality Equity. The Center for Peace and Global Citizenship hosted a poster fair and a series of talks featuring dozens of students from across majors who spent the summer advancing peace, justice, inclusion, and sustainability worldwide, from Ardmore to Amman.
Throughout the weekend, one thing was clear: the warmth of Haverford’s community was only rivaled by the unseasonable October temperatures.
Photos by Patrick Montero, Holden Blanco ’17, Paola Nogueras, Jessica Korgen ’24, Mac Sanders ’24, and Jingzhe Jiang ’25.