UK Family Weekend kicked off with a Welcome Reception Friday, Sept. 23, at the Gatton Student Center. The weekend featured a Pep Rally, Bluegrass Biscuit Bash and the Kentucky Doughnut Trail.

Freshman Caroline Hensley, a communication sciences and disorders major, grew up in Lexington and decided to attend UK after seeing her family members enjoy it so much.

“It was close to home, and I’ve always loved the school,” Hensley said.

Caroline Hensley’s mother Leanna Hensley is not a UK alumna, but the choice of college still remains important to her since she met her husband at the University of the Cumberlands.

“For me, it’s just having her close to home, being able to get together often, just spending time together,” Leanna Hensley said.

Families were also able to see the UK Marching Band, Dance Team and UK Cheer at Pieratt Fields for no charge leading up to the football game.

The UK Wildcats played the Northern Illinois Huskies, winning the game with a final score 31-23.

Junior hospitality, management and tourism major Sarah Randle and her mother, Lisa Randle, attended some of the events.

Lisa Randle said she liked the benefit of having her child close to home when needed, but where her daughter can also get the “big college experience.”

“My mom went to UK, and I’m from Lexington,” Sarah Randle said. “If I wasn’t gonna go out of state I wanted to be at a state school, so I chose UK”