More than 200 grandparents arrived on campus at 7:30 a.m. to check in for Azusa Pacific’s annual Grandparent’s Day on March 7. At $25 per person, the day began with a coffee and doughnut breakfast in LAPC to welcome the grandparents and ended with an opportunity for them to have lunch with their grandchild, visit his or her dorm room or attend a sports game.
Upon arrival, grandparents rode on the trolly with their grandchild to chapel on West Campus. The gospel band welcomed them from stage and invited them to join the crowd in an all-worship chapel.
“Seeing grandparents worship with more energy than most of the students is awesome. I hope to be like that when I am their age,” sophomore applied health major Cole Niessink said.
Following chapel, the grandparents were given the choice of a leisurely campus tour or time with family. Cougar Walk was full of grandparents enjoying coffee, learning more about APU and sharing stories with their grandchildren.
“I have loved visiting with my grandson and seeing his life on this campus,” attendee of the event and first-time guest to APU, Marilyn Richards, said. “It was a wonderful day and I am so thankful he is at a great school that values such a Christ-centered community, and allows parents and even grandparents to be a part of that community.”
At 12:30 p.m., grandparents were invited to a luncheon with the president. The APU Saints Choir performed and there was a raffle opportunity, in which grandparents were entered to win items from APU’s bookstore.
After lunch, they were free to explore the campus, go to class with their student or visit the bookstore. Some grandparents chose to take a peek at the student art exhibits in Duke, watch the tennis matches on West Campus or enjoy the baseball game on East Campus.
“My favorite part of having grandparents on campus is seeing the many generations represented,” said event photographer for the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, Hannah Barrentine. “This year, I met a family who brought four generations with them. It was beautiful! There is just something about grandparents that brings a sense of home to our campus. It’s nice having an intergenerational campus for a day.”
According to Barrentine, It is so important for grandparents to visit their grandchild and see his or her life on campus. It allows that relationship to deepen on a completely different level, said Barrentine.