The Office of Admissions will host “#FuturePanther Tailgate” Saturday to introduce prospective students to Eastern.

Students who are interested in attending Eastern will have the opportunity to attend the Eastern football team’s home opener and tailgate before the game.

Check-in will begin at 11 a.m.; the event will also include a presentation and campus tours from 11:15 a.m. to noon, a cookout beginning at 12:30 p.m. and kickoff at 2 p.m.

Molly Button, admissions events coordinator and admissions counselor, said the event allows students to get a more personal feel for Eastern.

“We have events like #FuturePanther Tailgate to allow students to get to know EIU and some of our student atmosphere, student organizations and, of course, our EIU athletics,” Button said.

While the event is meant to be a fun experience, students will still have the opportunity to learn about more serious topics like education and housing.

“We still do an admissions presentation for them and tours so they can see an academic building and residence hall, so we definitely still have the academic component of the day. We think it’s important that students also know that Eastern can feel like home, it can have that big school feel at the football games but also have small classroom sizes,” Button said. “EIU is the place for both of those, and I think (the #FuturePanther Tailgate) really showcases that.”

Button said she looks forward to seeing new students on campus.

“It’s usually their first visit so just teaching them about college and EIU specifically, just that first kickoff or taste of college I think that gets students excited about it,” Button said.

Button encourages the campus community to talk with the students who attend.

“Having events like this right after school starts keeps the fire going and keeps the conversation going about EIU,” Button said. “Anybody is welcome to stop by say ‘Hi’ to all of the students. We hope it’s a great day and that the Panthers win.”

Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or at cebrock@eiu.edu.