MMC Celebrates Family and Friends Homecoming Weekend

A rowdy game of flag football highlighted the annual Family and Friends Homecoming Weekend

Marymount Manhattan College’s annual Family and Friends Homecoming Weekend spanned across campus and from Roosevelt Island to Central Park and Chelsea, jam-packed with events and activities for the College community.

On Friday, October 18, guests were welcomed to campus for class visitations, an annual tradition which provides parents and family members with engaging glimpses into MMC classrooms and other creative spaces. In the afternoon, MMC’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) celebrated its 50th anniversary at a Golden Jubilee Celebration, packing the Regina Peruggi room with family, students, alumni, and staff. One of the afternoon’s special guests, City Councilor Adrienne E. Adams of Jamaica, Queens, praised MMC’s commitment to equal educational access in her keynote address.

October 18-20, 2019 Family and Friends Homecoming Weekend From left: President Kerry Walk, Ph.D., Eileen Bertsch, City Councilor Adrienne E. Adams, HEOP Director Harmony Cross, and Eileen's son, Mr. Bertsch.Eileen Bertsch, former Academic Dean and Grant Writer who helped form the Community Leadership Program (HEOP’s predecessor) at MMC, received an award for her contributions to the program and gave a beautiful speech on the history and legacy of HEOP.

MMC’s first-ever Chili Cook-Off spiced up the night with a contentious competition between Director of CAST Monica Colbert, Director of SDA Dayne Hutchinson, and Chef Joseph Boljonis. All three brought the heat with their signature recipes, with Hutchison taking home the top prize. The night concluded with a Homecoming Party at local bar StaxNYC, sponsored by Campus Activities Board.

President Walk had some fun on Saturday morning at Pony Field on Roosevelt Island for a spirited ... President Walk had some fun on Saturday morning at Pony Field on Roosevelt Island for a spirited game of flag football.On Saturday, families had several options to choose from, including; the Fall Carnival and Flag Football game on Roosevelt Island; a gallery walking tour with Jason Rosenfeld, Ph.D, Professor of Art History; an Experience Central Park walking tour with Julie Huntington, Ph.D.,Associate Professor of English and World Literatures; and an Upper East Side walking tour with Mary Brown, Ph.D., MMC’s archivist and adjunct professor of History.

In addition, productions of the Musical Theatre Association’s AMERICAN IDIOT and the Theatre Department’s The Balcony provided additional entertainment options for the community.

Sunday concluded Homecoming Weekend with the Dean’s List Convocation, celebrating academic achievements from the Spring 2019 semester. Thank you to everyone who made this weekend possible - we’re already looking forward to next year!