A Parents and Families Services’ (PFS) signature event, Spring Fling is NC State’s annual spring experience for Wolfpack parents and families. One of two family weekends held each year, Parents and Families Services, part of the Division of Enrollment Management and Services, welcomes families back to campus to experience NC State and some of the university’s most beloved traditions alongside their students.
It’s a fun and unique way to experience NC State. Parents and families are invested in their students when they attend college, and hosting these events allows families the opportunity to connect, make memories and build their affinity for NC State.
“Spring Fling was a wonderful opportunity for my parents and I to be on campus and participate in meaningful NC State experiences together!” said Meredith Gaskill, a Park Scholar and part of NC State’s Family of the Year. “We especially loved the Paint with the Pack event hosted by the Office of Parents and Families Services, and we got to take home handmade NC State-themed paintings!”
PFS works intentionally to offer different programming at all signature events. What makes Spring Fling unique is “PacKIN Action,” an event for NC State students and their siblings ages 7-17, a DIY paint event sponsored by Pinot’s Palette, regional dinners at some of the best restaurants in Raleigh, and a partnership with NC State Athletics to offer special family seating options for basketball games.
Additionally, PFS makes a concerted effort to promote NC State’s commitment to service. That’s why there’s an educational component to all Spring Fling activities that include the entire family. This year, the Spring Fling aligned with both the 19th Annual Play4Kay Game and the Krispy Kreme Challenge, and PFS encouraged all students and their families to attend and participate.
“My personal favorite event from 2024 was a new addition to the weekend lineup, an in-person Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training,” said Kerri Fowler, director of Parents and Families Services. “Not only did we have parents attend but they brought their students and other older children and family members as well. As we know, the discussion of mental health is critical, and we wanted to make it as accessible as possible. It was certainly a highlight and I look forward to doing it again next year.”
As an institution, NC State strives to cultivate a positive relationship with parents, who are one of the biggest allies in supporting student success. PFS signature events — Spring Fling included — are one of the many special ways through which the unit achieves this goal.
Whenever a parent or family member visits campus to spend time with their student, they have an opportunity to take in new experiences across campus. For this reason, Parents and Families Services work closely with several campus partners to develop creative programs and activities for their signature events. They also offer popular tours such as Dr. Tom Stafford’s Memorial Belltower tour and Tim Peeler’s Hallowed Places tour for both family weekends in the fall and spring, which are also exciting ways to get families out and about around campus.
All of these events wouldn’t be successful without campus partners and the goal is to keep finding new ways to incorporate and support their efforts to enhance student success. Families are always excited to explore NC State’s state-of-the-art facilities, programs and services, and it’s even better when Parents and Families Services can provide educational components that highlight future opportunities for their students.
Signature events such as Spring Fling and Parents and Families Weekend are excellent opportunities to showcase NC State, emphasizing education, and experience while strengthening relationships and building lifelong memories.
