Fall semester to kick off with a wave of fun

It’s a safe bet Purdue University Fort Wayne students will be energized heading into next week’s start of the fall semester. To capitalize on that enthusiasm and help get those new to campus better acclimated, there will be much to see and do.

Some activities start even before classes; the official Move-in Day at Student Housing on the Waterfield Campus is this Friday. It will be capped off by a welcome back barbeque at 5 p.m. And Sunday’s S’mores with the Student Activities Board that includes lawn games and fire pits for socializing gets started at 7 p.m.

As classes start Monday, the annual Campus Kickoff celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Science Mall. It will feature free food for students, T-shirts, frisbee spin art, live music, lawn games, and more. This is traditionally one of the most well-attended events of the fall.

Tuesday brings an enhanced Splash Battle at student housing, this year including a water fun slide and ice cream, starting at 7 p.m. That leads into Wednesday’s Student Organization Resource Fair, a chance to check out some of the 104 student organizations sponsored by the Student Government Association. A few community organizations will also be represented.

Day on the River, a relatively new campus event that’s growing in popularity, will be held that Thursday on the St. Joseph River from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Options based near the Venderly Bridge include kayaking, free bike rentals, airboat rides, root beer floats, a dunk tank, face painting, caricatures, henna tattoos, and lots of food and giveaways.

Billed as an international student celebration, Friday’s main event is a 2 p.m. men’s soccer kickoff that includes a match against Eastern Illinois at the Hefner Soccer Complex.

Students are then encouraged to rest up and enjoy the long Labor Day weekend because the action picks back up the following week with the sixth annual Don’s College Picnic on Sept. 2. Various academic units are showcased from 2 to 5 p.m. on the Science Mall. Entertainment for this event includes a zip line, ice cream, lawn games, tons of giveaways, and the chance to see what’s new in PFW’s four colleges and two schools.

The women’s soccer team gets the spotlight on Sept. 3 with a 7 p.m. match against Indiana Tech. This takes place in conjunction with another international student celebration.

The Well-being and Rec Fest is Sept. 4, on the Science Mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with information and introductions to intramural and club sports, ice cream, and lawn games.

Later that day, another student-favorite event closes out the second week of welcome back fun. It’s the Foam Party at the Disco at student housing starting at 7 p.m. This year’s event will also include a water slide.

That finishes the “official” campus kickoff schedule, but more is on tap throughout the month, including the annual Party on the Lawn on Sept. 9. It’ll feature musical performances by Noah Sties, Kangaroo Kourt, and Indigo Society.

The Party at the Pitch soccer doubleheader is Sept. 10, and the first-ever PFW Day of Service around campus is scheduled for Sept. 11.

Be sure to check out the updated digital display network around campus or the Events Calendar to stay in the loop all year long.