Thousands attend 14th annual UCLA Parents’ Weekend

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Working at the Pentagon did not stop Jesse Wilson from traveling thousands of miles to see his daughter, a first-year English student, for this year’s UCLA Parents’ Weekend.

When Wilson became the executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations in 2012, he had to move to Virginia while the rest of the family stayed at their home in California. As a result, he and his daughter have not seen each other regularly for the past year.

“I just miss her being around,” Wilson said. “I’m just very excited for her because now she’s moving on to another chapter in her life.”

Wilson and his wife were among thousands of other parents, clad in UCLA gear, who visited their children during UCLA’s 14th annual Parents’ Weekend, which took place Nov. 1-3.

A record-breaking 4,100 registered parents and students participated in the weekend’s activities, said Rhea Turteltaub, the vice chancellor of external affairs.

Events included faculty presentations, family meals in the blue-and-gold-decorated Dickson Plaza and a mixer for Bruin alumni parents and their students. Student admission was free, but most parents paid $65 each to attend Parents’ Weekend.

UCLA allocated $790,000 to fund the three-day event. Of the total cost, $625,000 came from the UCLA External Affairs budget and the remaining $165,000 came from the weekend’s registration fees.

The weekend’s festivities climaxed with Saturday’s Rose Bowl game, where UCLA’s football team won against the University of Colorado at Boulder.

John Jeske, the father of first-year math economics student Danny Jeske, said he flew from Chicago Friday night so he could tailgate with his son and other Bruin families at the Rose Bowl.

Some students said they were pleased to have their parents learn more about their day-to-day experiences at UCLA during Parents’ Weekend.

“Everybody’s all excited, and I get to show my parents what I go through daily, so I like it a lot,” said Bria Chappell, a second-year political science student.

Her father, Aldo Chappell, had initially wanted to attend UCLA. Chappell played linebacker for his high school’s football team and was recruited by the campus’s coaches back in the ’70s. However, after he met with UCLA coaches in person, they said he was too small for the position and did not offer him a scholarship.

But he said that he was glad that his daughter was able to become a Bruin.

“I told her that this is the place for you. I’m glad that she decided to go here,” Aldo Chappell said.

Bria Chappell’s sister, Cydnee Chappell, also came with her family to visit her. Cydnee Chappell is a senior in high school who said she plans to follow in her sister’s footsteps by applying next year.

For Aldo Chappell, this weekend won’t be his last time attending Parents’ Weekend.

“This is my second, and I’ll be here for all four of them,” Aldo Chappell said.

Clarification: Most parents paid $65 each to attend Parents’ Weekend. Parents who registered late paid $90.