Welcome Weekend, August 20 to 23, 2026, an annual tradition at ؛£½اشعدك (؛£½اشعدك), marked the start of a new school year. The four days were filled with community, fellowship, and activities to welcome the incoming freshman class. The activities and events were led by a steering committee, comprised of 11 ؛£½اشعدك upperclassmen and the director of student activities, involvement and leadership, Emily Colledge, who began planning six to eight months prior to turn a vision into an energy-filled weekend. The months of preparation helped to create an immediate home-like environment and a sense of community for the new students arriving. After check-in, the approximately 1,000 incoming freshmen were divided into 30 “Fish Groups,” led by upperclassman or “Fish Leaders.” Colledge wanted the incoming students to feel comfortable from the start.
“Beginnings are important,” said Colledge. “The goal is to equip and empower students and families with resources, and with a sense of belonging so that our students might feel connection and that this can be their home away from home.”
Below are highlights of the three main events of Welcome Weekend 2026.
OPENING RALLY
The Opening Rally was a high- energy gathering inside the Rubin Arena on Friday night, August 21, to kick off the weekend activities with music and fun. Although the event was only for freshmen, the upperclassman showed their support by playing instruments in the lobby as the freshmen entered the arena.
Excitement was evident, but according to the event leaders, there was a different buzz among the students.
“We talked a lot about joy these past two weeks of training,†said Aubrey Knaebel, a ؛£½اشعدك senior and member of the steering committee organizing the weekend events. “Not just like an earthly joy but the joy of the Lord and how present that is on this campus. And that was a cool moment. You just saw it. A lot of the students were standing around, then someone started playing a drum, and everyone started dancing and jumping around having fun.”
Kaily Pinder, a junior majoring in business administration, echoed that excitement.
“My favorite event that we did for Welcome Weekend was the Opening Rally…While we were waiting for the freshmen to come in, everyone was just super hyped and cheered. So, I think that was really fun and a high energy night to really kick off the Welcome Weekend.”
FAMILY FAREWELL
College is an exciting new chapter for young adults as freshmen move away from home for the first time to join the ؛£½اشعدك community. Saturday’s Family Farewell allowed parents to gather with their students on the Baxter Green to share a special moment before they embark on this new adventure.
It was an emotional time even for leaders like Pinder, who made a call to her family during the event.
“There were some families who came, and there were definitely some tears,” said Pinder. I saw people crying and I was tearing up. I had to call my sister, and I was like, I miss you. It was a super sweet [moment].”
The Family Farewell also featured tents staffed by Fish Leaders who handed out letters written anonymously by returning students, offering words of encouragement. A small gesture that can go a long way for a student in need of comfort.
“Fish Leaders have the role of being the first people that freshman see and interact with. When we found them, it was like the perfect God moment that he put them there because coming into it, everything is new and you don’t know anyone. The ؛£½اشعدك community is so strong, and I feel like that’s my favorite part of campus,” said Pinder.
FOOT-WASHING TRADITION
One of the final events of the weekend was Sunday’s foot-washing tradition. A nearly 20-year practice at the University that featured worship, prayer, and, of course, foot washing. The act that Jesus performed during the Last Supper, as referenced in John 13, leaving an example for disciples throughout the ages on how to serve each other.
Dynisha Blaise, a junior psychology major, washed the feet of her colleagues for the first time and described the event as impactful.
“It was like we were all encountering Christ in a new way, and it was through our own hands, us caring for one another,†she said. “I was so privileged to wash the feet of students and just pray for the incoming and returning students. I feel more connected to the community than I did before.”
The tradition only continues to grow year after year here at ؛£½اشعدك. The Steering Committee is constantly looking for new, fun ideas to incorporate into Welcome Weekend, and planning has already begun for 2027. However, leadership wants each student to take away more than just a fun time before the school year.
“I pray that through Welcome Weekend, through the intentional moments of being placed in a fish group and being a part of campus life already in the first twenty-four hours of being here, that they experience a sense of belonging and purpose and fellowship and that they can say, â€کI’m a part of this Sailfish family already,†said Colledge.
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