The 600 parents, siblings and grandparents who visit every Hillsdale College for Parents’ Weekend every semester leave their mark on the community as well.
Johnny T’s Bistro owner Rick Tropiano said the restaurant “absolutely” notices an increase in patronage over the weekend.
“Sometimes there are larger parties that stay and talk longer because families come in,” Tropiano said. “We have to make some adjustments just like we always do whenever there’s something going on in the community.”
Jilly Beans owner Jill Nichols brought in one extra employee to help with the increase of customers.
“We had a good weekend,” Nichols said. “ Lots of parents and students came in. It was better than normal.”
Lodging in Hillsdale county also fills up rapidly, and not just the Dow Center or Days Inn. Mike Venturini, owner of the Munro House in Jonesville, said that parents of students fill his bed and breakfast.
“There are only about 130 rooms in Hillsdale county, so it’s in our best interest to serve the needs of the parents of Hillsdale students,” Venturini said.
Multiple events over parents weekend required extra effort from Saga, Inc. Chef and Production Manage Doug Rogotzke said that working the event for several years has simplified and streamlined the process, even when the staff has to make over 800 meals.
“[General Manager] Kevin Kirwan usually orchestrates the meals to be high quality but not complicated,” he said.
Saga relies heavily on its student workers to cook the meals for the parents luncheon and the “orphan” lunch.
“We have some excellent student workers,” Rogotzke said.
Parents started the weekend on Friday evening with a mixer for parents, faculty, staff and students. College President Larry Arnn also hosted a reception for members of the President’s Club at Broadlawn.
On Saturday morning, 595 parents met with professors in parent faculty conferences in the Knorr Student Center.
Mary Brown, mother to freshman Clayton Brown, said the conferences attracted her and her husband to Hillsdale as parents.
“At other schools, parents we know have called and the schools won’t even speak to them without the student present,” Brown said. “The respect that Hillsdale has for the parents and the parent – student relationship is phenomenal. It’s very clear.”
At one of the conferences Brown and her husband Tom attended, the professor said, “What do I need to know about Clayton that that would help me better relate to your son?”
Brown said the focus was on how to help her son continue to succeed.
“We leave there feeling even more positive that he’s in the right place,” she said.
