Family Weekend Schedule
There’s no shortage of activities planned for the 2014 Family Weekend, which runs Friday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 28. Highlights include the following:
Beach in the Creek Dance (Friday, 8 to 11 p.m., Academic Circle
Autumn Festival (Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m., Academic Circle)
Family Tailgate before Campbell football game (Saturday, 4 to 6 p.m., Burkot Parking Lot)
See full schedule –> 2014 Family Weekend
BUIES CREEK — Campbell University has named student Kalabria Gilbert and her family its 2014 Family of the Year. The Gilberts are scheduled to be recognized during halftime of the Camels football game against Valparaiso Saturday evening at Barker-Lane Stadium as part of the university’s 2014 Family Weekend activities. Kick off for the football game is set for 6 p.m.
”My family is so thrilled to have the honor of being the 2014 Campbell Family of the Year and is beyond grateful to be recognized by such an amazing university that we are so passionate about,” said Kalabria, a freshman communication studies major concentrating in broadcast journalism from Apex, North Carolina.
Though her parents, Jacques and Meshara, did not attend Campbell, they have become nonstop promoters of the university, Kalabria wrote in the essay to nominate her family for the award sponsored by Campbell’s Student Life office.
She added that her parents and brother have been with her each step of the way as she has embarked on her Campbell journey. They attend every family event and follow Campbell Athletics and university updates. Her mother advocated for a church member to attend Campbell. And her brother, Logan, a seventh grader, already considers himself a Camel.
“I will never forget my first true experience of being a part of Campbell with my family at the medallion ceremony and them being so proud to be part of the experience,” Kalabria wrote.
Kalabria chose to attend Campbell, in part, because of the family atmosphere. She writes of President Jerry Wallace taking the time to speak with her and her parents during a campus visit before she enrolled. “He really made us feel like we were already at home,” she wrote. “That’s when my parents truly fell in love with the school and the caring spirit of the staff here at Campbell University.”
In addition to being recognized during Saturday’s football game, the Gilberts are invited to ride a float in Campbell’s Homecoming Parade, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. Kalabria also receives a book allowance to cover the cost of her textbooks for the spring 2015 semester and four free tickets to attend Saturday’s football game and tailgate.
“I am so blessed that God put me right where I needed to be here at Campbell University,” Kalabria said. “We as a family are so thankful that being a part of Campbell was in the Lord’s plan for us.”
Below is the fully essay Kalabria wrote about her family and their affection for Campbell.
Campbell University’s 2014 Family of the Year, left to right: Kalabria, Jacques, Logan, and Meshara Gilbert. (Photo courtesy of the Gilberts)
Kalabria Gilbert: “My family and I felt that God was calling me to Campbell”
When God brought together two people from different states and cultures, a family began in a town approximately 45 minutes north of Buies Creek — the Peak of Good Living, or Apex, North Carolina. Being the first child of two parents who didn’t have the opportunity to attend a university, I never would have imagined being able to call Campbell University my home. Like any father and mother, Jacques and Meshara did everything they could to encourage me to pursue my dreams despite the challenges.
While weighing my pros and cons of colleges I had been accepted to, the Lord worked amazingly by putting an acceptance letter to Campbell University in my mailbox and the decision was made. Because of the family atmosphere, the love of God all around, and the feeling of not having to compromise who I was to fit into “college life” like other universities, my family and I felt that God was calling me to Campbell.
Like any decision, there came adversity, but my family never stopped pushing for Campbell to be my home and helped me through each obstacle financially by doing everything possible to allow me to attend Campbell, emotionally and spiritually. Wherever you see my family, you will see a “CU” shirt or something orange close by, even my little brother Logan would sleep in his “Campbell Camels” snapback hat if he could.
Being so close to home, my parents come to every family event and keep up with sporting events as well as all the new things around the Creek. My father, who is a police captain, was thrilled when a Campbell student became an intern with the department, and my mother recently advocated for a fellow church member to attend Campbell. My mother and father have both agreed that if they ever got the chance to go back to school, Campbell University would be their first choice. Even my seventh-grade brother already considers himself a Camel.
As we were finalizing admissions papers, we ran into Campbell University President Jerry Wallace on campus and were able to speak with him. He really made us feel like we were already at home. That’s when my parents truly fell in love with the school and the caring spirits of the staff here at Campbell University.
God has brought my family through a lot of trials and tribulations and I am beyond thankful to have my family together for this chapter of my life. As Campbell’s motto states, “Ad Astra per Aspera,” meaning “to the stars through difficulties,” my family and I believe that we have reached our first glimpse of the stars here at Campbell. With my family having such a close-knit relationship, I was fearful that going off to college would be hard. My family changed by perspective on that when they showed nothing but joy that I was safe and sound with my new extended family at Campbell.
Like every child, I want to make my parents proud and be a positive example to my younger brother and my decision to attend Campbell helped me do just that. My parents are quick to say they are proud parents of a Campbell Camel and are large advocates for the university. I will never forget my first true experience of being a part of Campbell with my family at the medallion ceremony and them being so proud to be a part of the experience.
Proverbs 22:6 says “Start Children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” I am so grateful to be raised by two parents who were always there for me no matter what and guided me in the right direction. I believe that is a large reason God brought me to Campbell.
Campbell University is where I can be true to my beliefs, make my parents proud, and most importantly be a faithful servant of the Lord. As I embark on my journey as a freshman here, my family has been with me each step of the way. Each day my mom, dad, and brother text or call to check in on my studies, ask how I am doing, or simply just to offer a word of encouragement. I never will be able to thank my family enough for all they have done for me and everything they continue to do to encourage my success at Campbell University.