Students, family, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends of 黑料吃瓜网 (PBA) gathered on campus February 5 through 9 to celebrate Homecoming & Family Weekend.
The event kicked off with PBA鈥檚 oldest club tradition: the 43rd annual Great American Bug Race. Legend says the tradition was started by faculty who set up the race as a fundraiser for the science club. Today, students rent the bugs from an external source for $3 apiece and return them to safety after competing.听
The competition itself is simple: students stand听on a circular platform and urge their bugs to听the听perimeter. The first bug across the finish line wins.听
鈥淚鈥檝e been doing it for 13,听14 years,鈥澨齭aid Dr. Fred Browning,听chair of PBA鈥檚 engineering department,听who听has taken up the mantle of keeping the听tradition alive.听鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy and exciting and unusual, and I think that鈥檚 why it keeps going.鈥�听
Familiar Roads听
Another听highlight of the weekend came from Dove Award-winning Christian rock band Tenth Avenue North鈥檚 performance听on Friday night.听At a special chapel service earlier in the day, lead singer Mike听Donehey听was honored as PBA Alumnus of the Year before sharing a devotional.听His message of defining oneself by听identity in Christ rather than accomplishments or goals was reflected in the music听later that evening.听Read more about Donehey鈥檚 return to his alma mater here.听
Anchor Worship, the student-led听band听on which听Donehey听debuted as a musician,听opened the听concert听and held听additional听worship听sessions听throughout the weekend. Following their set,听original band members made a surprise appearance to reunite on stage, mixing early tracks in with the听latest releases.听
Ahead of the concert, guests perused听the 561 Night Market, where students displayed and sold handmade听artworks听and wares.听
“The most special part of the 561 Night Market was the chance to build a foundation for the business I want to start up in the future,鈥� said听Siri Dewey,听a business administration sophomore听who听sold unique jewelry and items made with epoxy resin. 鈥淎s听a student, I am听truly grateful听for the opportunity to begin gaining practical, hands-on skills involved听in听selling and running a business as well as being able to start growing my brand and sharing my company with the community. As an artist, I loved the chance听to share something I put so much work, time,听and听care into.鈥�
Bringing Everybody Home
Other activities throughout the weekend included a sailboat tour along the听Intracoastal听Waterway,听chapel services, lectures听and artistic workshops听led听by faculty,听Sailgating听before听men鈥檚听baseball听and听women鈥檚听beach volleyball games,听tours of campus and听food tours of听local听cuisine,听a Super听Bowl听watch party,听and听other opportunities for students to听spend time with听their families and friends听on听the campus they call听home.听
Former students also had the chance to reconnect at听alumni听reunions and meals, marking the weekend as a meaningful time to reunite the entire Sailfish community.听
to watch a recap of the weekend events.
