UWO Family Day is a huge hit; generations of Titans gather for tailgate, Homecoming festivities

A glorious fall day was the backdrop for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Family Day featuring a Titan Tailgate and Homecoming football game-events that saw a large number of students, family members and alumni showing their Titan pride.

Pam and Paul Bohn of West Bend took in the Titan Tailgate celebration in Reeve Union with their three children who are students at UWO. Allysa, a senior environmental science major; Alex, a junior majoring in computer science; and Amelia, a first-year student who is majoring in human resource management; were with a large extended family and friend group including aunts, uncles and grandmother visiting the UWO campus and the students' dorm building.

"Alyssa wanted to be close to home, but not too close," mom Pam said, adding that her son, Alex toured other campuses but decided Oshkosh was a good fit for him. Amelia considered other higher ed options, including two-year programs, but decided to give Oshkosh a try. The parents said it is incredibly convenient to have all of their kids at the same school.

One car on campus is shared by all of them. And because they are at the same university, all of the students are on the same academic schedule.

The three siblings live on different floors of the the North Scott dorm tower. After the tailgate party, family members were planning to take a tour of the three rooms-each on different floors.

"This event is really nice," Pam Bohn commented about the tailgate and the close community feel of campus. It was a comment heard from a number of families and alumni in attendance.

The event featured balloon art, face painting, caricature drawings, Titan Gold coffee samples, T-shirt giveaway and games on the first floor; with an array of free food and drink on the second floor including walking tacos, chicken chili, Chancellor's buttered chicken, hot dogs, 5th Ward Brewing Titan beer, fancy cookies and pumpkin cupcakes.

Many alumni were on hand, enjoying the reunion with old friends and remininscing their memories of college days.

Current students Kendra Pagel of Neenah and her boyfriend, Danny Smith of Rio, both juniors, were spending some time with Danny's parents, Ann and Dave Smith of Rio.

"My older sister went here (to UWO) and I decided to come here too," Danny said. A communications major, he is planning for a future career in business, public relations or possibly sales.

Pagel, at art education major who will student-teach next fall, said she's on track to graduate in December 2027, and will be have the certification to teach students from K-12.

"Ideally, I'll work with younger kids," she said, adding that she's assisted at various daycares and a Boys & Girls Club and always liked working with young children.

"My mom babysat kids when I was growing up," she said, "and that's been a huge inspiration."

Learn more:

UWO Homecoming 2026

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