Centenary Launches First Alumni, Parent, and Family Weekend Sept. 11-12
This September, Centenary College of Louisiana will bring generations of the Centenary community together for the first-ever Alumni, Parent, and Family Weekend, a new tradition designed to welcome alumni, parents, families, students, and friends to campus.
Set for September 11–12, the inaugural weekend will offer opportunities to connect with campus, make new memories, experience Centenary together, and celebrate the many generations who make up the College.
“There is something special about coming back to a place that shaped you and experiencing it again through the eyes of a new generation,” said Hannah Rachal-Hughes ’16, Director of Alumni and Family Relations. “As an alumna, I know how quickly college years become memories, and I wanted Alumni, Parent, and Family Weekend to create a space where those memories can be shared across generations while new ones are being made. This inaugural weekend is the beginning of what I hope will be a lasting Centenary tradition—one that brings alumni, families, students, faculty, staff, and friends together and reminds us that the life of a college extends far beyond the walls of a classroom.”
The festivities begin Friday, September 11, with Friday Night Live at the Hargrove Memorial Amphitheater, better known as “The Shell,” from 6–8 p.m. The evening will feature live music from The Hollow Decks, a local band known for its energetic ’90s covers that offer a nostalgic soundtrack for many Centenary alumni and parents. Guests are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket, enjoy dinner from a local food truck, and browse the bookstore during special extended hours.
The family-friendly evening is designed to give alumni and families a relaxed way to return to campus, introduce children to the Centenary College community, and reconnect with friends. Alumni are also invited to take advantage of the gathering as an informal networking opportunity, with no need to arrange a babysitter for the evening.
The celebration continues Saturday, September 12, with a pregame tailgate ahead of the Gents’ football matchup against Millsaps College. Alumni, families, and friends will gather before kickoff for another opportunity to connect with the Centenary community before heading into the stands to cheer on the Maroon and White.
The weekend will also support a new student-focused basic-necessities hub through an opportunity for attendees to contribute needed items and resources, extending the spirit of community beyond the weekend itself.
“Centenary is at its best when the people who are a part of its story have opportunities to come together,” Rachal-Hughes said. “We hope this weekend will bring a new energy to the campus and create the kind of experience that makes people want to return for years to come.”
Whether guests are coming for the music, the football, the opportunity to reconnect, or simply the chance to be back on campus, organizers hope the inaugural weekend will become a cherished Centenary tradition.
Registration is not required but highly encouraged. You may do so online here.